The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-08-02
SU cHARLE5 PEACE ana DI0N BOUcIcAOLT
CHAPTER XIII (Continued.)

CHAPTER XIII (Continued.)
' yor five days they beat to wind.
0fd and never saw q sail. Then
it fell dead calm; and so remained
for three days more.
The men began to suffer great
" from cramps. During the calm
they rOwed all day, and with this,
and a light westerly breeze that
sprung up. they got into the sea-
road again, but, having now sailed
three hundred and fifty miles to
the southwark, they found a great
change In the temperature; the
nights were cold.
On the fift nth day of their
voyage It began. . rain and blow.
The sky black. Nthe sea on fire
with crested pillows, that broke
fover them every minute; their
light was washed out; their pro-
visions drenched and spoiled; bail
as they would, the boat was always
filling.
Day broke, and the first sight it
revealed to them was a brig to
windward staggering along, and
pitching under close-reefed top
sails.
She crossed the boats track a
mile ahead. Her people looked
over the bulwarks and waved their
hats to encourage those tossed and
desperate men.
They ran down to her, and
crept under her lee; down came
ropes to them, eager grasps seized
each as he went up the ships side,
and 80, in very short time, they
were safe on board the whaling
brig Maria, Capt. Slocum, Of Nan
tucket, u. 8.
The brig was short-handed; but
nav trimmed and handled by a
full crew and the Proserpine's
men. who were first class seamen.
and worked with a will. because
work was no longer duty, she ex-
hibited speed the captain had al
most forgotten was in the craft.
When about three hundred miles
south Of Buenos Ayres, Wylie pro-
posed that they should be landed
there, from whence they might be
transshipped to q vessel bound
for home.
This was objected to by Slocum,
on the ground that, by such devi
alton from his course, he must
lose three days, and the port dues
at Buenos Ayres were heavy.
Wylie undertook that the house
Of Wardlaw & Son should indem-
Nifty the brig for all expenses and
losses incurred.
Still the American hesitated; at
last he honestly told Wylie he
wished to keep the men; he liked
them, they liked him. He had
sounded them, and they had no
objection to a three years whaling
voyage. provided they did not
thereby forfeit the wages to which
they would be entitled on reach
ing Liverpool Wylie went for
ward and asked the men II they
would take service with the Yam
kee captain. All but three ex-
pressed their desire to do SO;
these three had families in Eng
land. The mate gave the others
release and an order on Wardlaw
& Son for their full wages for the
voyage; then they signed articles
with Capt. Slocum.
Two days after this they sighed
the high lands at the mouth of the
Rio de la Plata. After three hours
they were boarded by pilot and
then began to creep into the port.
Wylie was sitting on the taffrail,
cOnversing with Slocum, when the
lookout forward sung out. sail
ho!"
Another voice yelled out of the
fog, Port your helm!"
Suddenly out of the mist, ana
close aboard the Maria, appeared
the hull and canvas of a large ship.
The brig was crossing her course
and her great bowsprit barely
missed the briggs mainsail.
That was a narrow squeak"
said Slocum.
Wylie made no answer. He had
:. Recognized her figurehead.
It was the Shannon!
-
CHAPTER XIV.
Wylie and his three men were
shipped on board the boadicea.
bound for Liverpool. while the 9TH
ers sailed with Captain Slocum for
Nantucket.
* The Boadicea was a clipper with
miscellaneous cargo. For IL days
I3Be flew before southerly gale,
'sand then lay to, outside the bar,
> off the Mersey. 1t wanted but an
hour to daylight. The pilot sprang
aboard.
They passed a large bark, with
kper topsails backed.
" vAy," remarked the pilOt - she
~ waited since thyt< r-s6; there
Amt mmv r1la1 Pr hours in the
p p" that such gas that can get
"What is she?'s asked Wylie.
"She's the Shannon, from Sgd.
ney."
A chill of fear struck the mates
frame. Yes, there she lay, and in
her hold were safely slowed a160,.
900 in gold, marked lead and cop
per.
Wylie landed. II was barely half
past o'clock.
IJa ualLad ont IN Tho for<t, nv M, A