Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-03-28

to see the Acadia coast. Then, with
this wind, a day should carry us south.
or two at the most. A few more such
voyages, and l shall buy myself a fair
brick house in Green lane of north Bos-
bay or on the Charles or the Mystic
and see the ships comm and goin'. SO
I would end my life In peace and
quiet"
The mates watch that night was
from II to 4, and the moon was shin
ing brightly for the first hour Of II. In
the early morning, however, 1t clouded
over, and the Golden Rod plunged in
to one Of those dim, clammy mists
which lie on all that tract of ocean
So thick was 1t that from the poop one
could just make out the loom of the
f~oresail, but could see nothing Of the
f~oretopmast staysail or the jib. The
wind was northeast, with a very keen
edge to II, and the dainty brigantine
lay over. scudding along with her lee
rails within hands touch of the water.
II had suddenly turned very cold so
cold that the mate stamped up and
down the poop, and bis four eamen
shivered together under the shelter of
the bulwarks. And then In a moment
one Of them was up, thrustlng his fore
finger into the air and screaming.
while a huge white wall sprang out
Of the darkness at the very end of the
bowsprit, and the ship struck with a
force which snapped her two masts
like dried reeds in a wind and changed
her in an instant to a crushed and
~shapeless heap of spars and wreckage.
The mate had shot the length of the
poop at the shock and had narrowly
escaped from the falling mast, while
Of his four men two had been hurled
through the huge gap which yawned
in the bows, while a third had dashed
his head to pieces against the stock
Of the anchor. Tomlinson staggered
forward to find the whole front part
Of the vessel driven inward and a sin
tered spars, tapping sails and with.
ing, flashing cordage. 1t was still as
dark as pitch, and, save the white
crest Of a leaping wave, nothing vas
to be seen beyond the side Of the yes
sci. The mate was peering round him
in despair at the ruin which had come
so suddenly upon them, when he found
Captain Ephraim at his elbow, half
clad, but as wooden and serene as
ever.
IAN iceberg" said he, shifting at the
chill air. Did you not smell it, friend
Tomlinson?"
Truly I found it cold, Captain Saw
age, but | set it down to the mist"
There is a mist ever set around
them, though the Lord in his wisdom
knows best why, for it is a sore trial
to poor sailor men. She makes water
fast, Mr.. Tomlinson."
The other watch had swarmed upon
deck, and one of them was measuring
the well. There is three feet of wa
ter" he cried, and the pumps sucked
dry yesterday
Hiram Jefferson and John Moreton,
to the pumpS' cried the captain. "Mr.
Tomlinson, clear away the longboat
and let us see If we may set her
rightr'
'The longboat has stove two planksl"
cried a m
1.-THE jolly boat, then!"
"She is in three pieces"
'Where is Amos Green?"
"Here, Captain Ephraim. What can
I dor'
"And II" asked De Catinat eagerly.
Adele and her father had been wrap
ped In nantes and placed for shelter
In the lee Of the roundhouse.
"Tell him that he can take his spell
at the pumps" said the captain to
Amos. And you, Amos, you are a
handy man with a tool. Get into yon-
der longboat with a lantern"
For half an hour Amos Green ham,
mered and trimmed and calked.
you've not much time, Amos lad"
said the captain quietly.
"She'l float now, though she's not
quite water tight"
Every good. Lower away. Keep UP
the pumping there. Mr.. Tomlinson, see
that provisions and water are ready.
as much rs she will hold. Come with
me, Hiram Jefferson"
The canaan and the captain swung
themselves down into the tossing boat,
the latter with a lantern strapped to
his waist. Together they made their
way until they were under her man.
gled bows. The captain shook his head
when he saw the extent of the dam
age. "Cut away the foresail and pass
II over" said he.
Tomlinson and Amos Green cut
away the lashings with their knives
and lowered the corner Of the sail. Cap
tain Ephraim and the seaman seized II
and dragged 1t across the mouth OF the
huge gaping leak. How much In the
wellf' he asked.
Five and a half feet"
Then the ship Is lost. I could put
my finger between her planks as far
as I a see back. Keep the pumps
going there! Have you the food and
water, Mr.. Tomlinsonr'
Here, sir"
Lower them over the bows. This
boat cannot live more than an hour or
two. Can you e anything Of the
bergT'
The mist had thinned away suddenly.
and the moon glimmered through once
more upon the great lonely sea and
he stricken ship. There. like a huge
sail. was the monster piece Of Ice upon
which they had shattered themselves.
"You must make for her." said Cap
tain Ephraira. There Ia no other
chance. Lower the gal over the bows.