Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1918-04-05

20 MIN and the sound OF the Dinnacie
lights being removed from their places,
then the opening and closing OF the
cabin companlonway. He could see
nothing, but knew that the steward
had gone below to his storeroom. In
minute more q shriek came from the
cabin. II rang out again and again
and soon sounded from the companion
way: "I'm blind. I'm blind. capt'n. |
can't see. Lit the lantern and burn
ed my fingers, but can't see the light.
I'm blind" The stewards voice enc
ed In howl.
"shut up. you blasted foolg' answer.
ed Captain Swarth. Get down there
and light up"
"where's that llghtT came tho
mates voice in a yell from nmidships.
"Shank painters iammcd, Bill. Can't
do thing without light"
"Come aft here aud get It! Stewards
drunk" Shouts came from forward,
borne on tho gale. as the men CROPPED
aft and climbed the poop steps.
"we'rc stone blind. cappen" they
walled. I'VE lit the fo'c'sle lamp. an
1t don't show up. We're all blind"
"Come down here. BILL" called the
mate from below.
As Captain Swarth felt his way
down the stairs sudden shock stilled
the vibrations caused by the dragging
anchor. and he knew that the chain
bad parted.
stand by on deck, Angel; were
adrlft." he said. ITS darker than
ten thousand black cats. What's the
matter with youf"
"Can you see the light, Bill? can't.
I'm blind as the steward, or I'm
drunken"
"No. Ii 1T llt2 where2 The men
say they're blind too"
Here, forrard end o. the table"
The captain reached this end, search.
ed with his hands and burned them
on the hot glass Of lantern. He re-
moved the bowl and singed the hair on
his wrists. The smell came to his
nostrils.
"rm blind. too!" he groaned. :An-
gel, It's the moon. We're moonstruck
moon blind. And we're adrift in Il
sQuali.
"ltll only last a few days, boys
said the captain bravely. 1--WE
shouldn't have slept In the moonlight
in these latltudes. Drop the lead over
one of you-weather side. The devil
knows where we're drifting, and the
small anchor won't hold now. Well
save It," One man, more self pos
sessed than the rest, had dropped the
lead over the side. An able seaman
needs no eyes to heave the lead.
"a quarter sixr' he sang out, and
then plaintively: "We'l fetch up or
the Barrier, capt'n. S'pose We try an
get the other hook over"
"Let the anchor aloner' roared the
captain. "No anchor chain'n hold IL
this. Keep that lead a-going. Tom
Plate, IL it's you. What bottom d.
you findf"
"Quarter less Six" called the leads
man. soft bottom. We're shoaling.
"Angel," said the captain to his mate
who stood close TO him. we're blow
ing out the south channel. We've beeI
drifting long enough to fetch up ol
the reef II Ii was in our way. There
hard bottom In the north channel, ant
the twenty fathom lead wouldn't reacl
It half length from the rocks.
And the south channel lay du
! an
tinued the captain. Winds nor'west
I should say, right down from the hill
tops, and I've known these blaste
West India squalls to last three days
blowing straight and hard. This ha
the smell of gale In it already. kee
that lead a-golng. there"
"N0 bottom" was called repeated
until the captain sang out, "Thatll d
the lead" Then the leadsman collie
up the line. and they heard his rasI
ing. unpleasant voice. curslng softl
but flercely to himself. Captain Swart
descended tho stairs, sllenced the stew
ard with a blow, felt of the cloc
hands, secured his pistols and return
ed to the deck.
We're at sea-" he said. Two hand
to the wheel. Loose and set the for'
topmast staysails and the foretopsail
"What forT' they answered complain
lngly.
mo arguments" yelled Swarth.
They knew their captain. and the
knew the ropes on the blackest Of dar
nights. Blind men climbed aloft an
felt for foot ropes and gaskets. Bin
men on deck felt for sheets, halyart
and braces, and In ten minutes Il
sails were set and the brig was char
ing wildly alpng before the g le, VII
two blind mtp at the wheel endeavo
ing to keep her straight by the risl
md left viau OR t}cir faces,
Keep t." N'na NJ rl2eh on the 20