Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-05-29

"Gulf Stream! ne yelleO Iranucduy.
Gulf stream! How did we get up
here? We ought to be down near St
Helena.
1--WE were blown out Of the north
entrance O the bay. Angel. instead Of
the south, as we thought was fool.
ed by the soundings. This is West
India cyclone. and we're somewhere
around Hatteras."
The crew now put the brig on the
starboard tack and took hourly sound
ings with the deep sea lead. As they
hauled It in for the fourth time the
men called that the water was cold,
and on the next sounding the lead
reached bottom at ninety fathoms.
"We're inside the stream and the
hundred fathom curve. Angel The
storm center's leaving u.s." said the
captain. II know pretty well where ]
am. These storms follow an invariable
track. and Judge the center Is to the
east of us, moving north. Wen square
away with the wind on the starboard
quarter now. and If we pick up the
stream and the glass don't rise I'll be
satisfied to turn In"
Tts too much for me. BILL" answer.
ed Mr.. Todd wearily. II can navigate.
but this amt navigation. This Is blind
mans buff."
It was nearly breakfast time now.
and the men would soon be eating.
With his pistols in his coat pockets
the captain stationed himself beside
the entrance to the forecastle and lis
tened to comments on his folly and
bad seamanship which ascended from
below until the harsh voice Of Tom
Plate on the stairs indicated his com.
Ing up. He reached toward Tom with
one hand, holding a cooked pistol with
the other, but Tom slid easily out OF
his wavering grasp and fed along the
deck. he followed his footsteps until
he lost them and picked up instead the
angry plant Of the negro cook In the
galley amidships.
tT do know who you are. but you
want to git right out o. my galley now.
You heah me? Use had enough O. dis
comm inter my galley. Gwan, now!
Is you de man dats all time stealth
my coffee? I'll glib you coffee. you
trash. Take datr'
Captain Swarth reached the galley
door In time to receive on the left side
of his face a generous share OF a pot
Of scalding coffee. 1t brought an In
voluntary shrek OF agony from him.
All that day and the night following
he chose to lie in his darkened state
room with his face bandaged in oily
cloths. In the morning he removed
the bandages and took in the sight OF
his stateroom fittings. and his clothing
hanging on the hooks. It was q Joy
ous sight He could not see with his
right eye and but dimly with his left,
but a scrutiny Of his face in a mirror
disclosed deep lines that had not been
there, distorted eyelids and the left
side where the coffee had scalded puff
ed to a large, angry blister. he went
on deck.
Three miles of on the port bow was
a large, square bowed, square yarded
ship, hove to and heading away from
them, which might be frigate or
subsidized Englishman with painted
ports.
Angel Todd stood near, his chin rest
ing in his hand and his elbow on the
companionway. Forward the watch
sat about in coils Of rope and shelter
ed hooks or walked the deck unsteadi.
", and q glance aloft showed the cap
tain bis rigging hanging in bights and
yards pointed every way. The sane
glance apprised him Of an English en-
sign. union down, at the end Of the
standing spanker gaf, with the hal
yards made fast high above the reach
Of bungling blind fingers. Tom Plate
was coming aft with none Of the hest.
fancy Of the blind and squirting aloft
at the damaged distress signal.
He secured another ensign-Ameri'
can-from the flag locker in the BOBBY
hatch and hoisted 1t, union down, in
place of the other. Then he dropped
to the deck and looked into the pistol
Of Captain Swarth.
Hands up. Tom Plate, over your
head, quick!
White in the face, Tom obeyed.
"Mr. Todd" called the captain. The
mate came quickly.
"What soundings did you get at the
lead when we were blowing outf" ask
ed the captain of Tom Plate. "What
water did you have when you sang
out a quarter six and a quarter less
sixY"
"N-n-one, capt'n. There warn't any
bottom. Jess wanted to get you to
drop the other anchor and hold her on
the reef"
"How long have you been flying sig
nails of distress, Tom Platter"
"Ever since could see-second day
out, SIR"
"What's your idea In keeping still
about It? What could you gain by be-
Ing taken aboard q man-of-war?"
IT didn't want to have all the work
piled on me jess cause could see.
capt,n. I slept partly under No. 2 gun
that night and didn't get It 80 bad"
"You sneaked into my room, got my
keys and raided the treasure chests.
You know what the rules say about
that? Death without trial" A search
brought to light a tobacco pouch In
which were about fifty unset diamonds
and few well jeweled solid gold or
naments, which the captain pocketed.
"Not much Of haul, considering
what you left behind" he said calmly.
81 only took my share. sir. did no
harm. I didn't want to be driftin'
round wi blind men. How'd I know
anybody could ever see any moreT
"Sad mistake, Tom. All we wanted,
It seems, was a good scalding with hot
coffee. There must be some medical
virtue in hot coffee which the doc
tors haven't learned, and-well1rom.
you've earned your finish"
"Capt'n, you can't do It. The men
are with me-" suffered tho man. a
POSSIBLY they are. I heard you all
growing yesterday morning. You're q
pack Of ours. I'll get another crew:
Mr.. Todd" he said, steward told me
he was out Of coffee, 30 wen break
bag out o. the lazaretta It's a heavy
lift 30 wen hoist 1t up. Let Tom,