White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-01-12
INsTALLMENT 26.

lNSIALlIME4N Go
Down | went upon my knees-hold-
ing on by the locker, or else had
been instantly dashed across the toss
ing cabin-and lifting up my voice
In the midst of that clamor of the
abating hurricane, impiously prayed
for my own death. 20 God" | cried,
81 would be liker man If l rose
and struck this creature down; but
Thou madest me a coward from my
mothers womb. o Lord, Thou madest
me so, Thou knowest my weakness,
Thou knowest that any face of death
will set me shaking in my shoes. But
10! here is Thy servant ready, his
mortal weakness laid aside. Let me
give my life for this creatures; take
the two of them Lord take the two,
and have mercy on the innocent!
In some such words as these, only yet
more irreverent and with more sacred
adjurations, l continued to pour forth
my spirit; God heard me not, l must
suppose in mercy; and | was still alb
sorbed in my agony of supplication
when some one, removing the tar
paulin cover, let the light of the sun
set pour into the cabin. Secundra
Dass, who had slept off the effects
of his drug, stood in corner not far
off gazing at me with wild eyes; and
from the open skylight the captain
thanked me for my supplications.
Its you that saved the ship, MT
Mackelar," says he. There's no craft
Of seamanship that could have kept
her floating; we'll may we say: Eek
cept the Lord the city keep, the
Waterman watch in vain!'"
"Ah, Mackellar," said he, mot every
man is so great coward as he
thinks he is-nor yet SO good Chris
tian." He did not guess how true he
spoke! For the fact is the thoughts
which had como to me in the violence
of the storm retained their hold upon
my spirit; and the words that rose
TO my lips unbidden in the instancy
of prayer continued to sound In my
ears. With what shameful conse-
ouences, 1t Is fitting l should honest
ly relate; for could not support {
part of such disloyalty as to describe
the sins Of others and conceal my
own.
Sea Hove Higher.
The wind fell, but the sea hove ever
the higher. All night the "Nonesuch"
rolled outrageously; the next day
dawned, and the next, and brought no
change. To cross the cabin was
scarce possible: old, experienced sea-
men were cast down upon the deck,
and one cruelty mauled in the con-
cussion; every board and block in the
old ship cried out aloud; and the great
bell by the anchor-bitts continually
and dolefully rang. One OF these days
the master and I sat alone together
at the break Of the poop. should say
the "Nonesuch" carried high, raised
poop.
About the top of it ran considerable
bulwarks, which made the ship I'M
weatherly; and these, as they ap-
preached the front on each side, ran
down in a fine, old-fashioned, carven
scroll to join the bulwarks of the
waist. From this disposition, which
seems designed rather for ornament
than use, 1t followed there was dis
continuance of protection; and that,
besides, at the very margin Of the
elevated part where Gin certain move
ments of the ship) it might be the
most needful
1t was here we were sitting; our
feet hanging down, the master be-
twixt me and the side, and l holding
on with both hands to the grating
Of the cabin skylight; for it struck
me 1t was a dangerous position, the
more as l had continually before my
eyes a measure of our evolutions in
the person of the master, which stood
out In the break of the bulwarks
against the sun.
Chose Graceful Posture.
He was quite capable of choosing
cut a graceful posture. even with no
one to behold him but myself, and all
the more If there were any element of
peril. He sat now with one knee
flung across the other, his arms on
his bosom, fitting the swing of the
ship with an exquisite balance, such
as feather-weight might overthrow
All at once l had the vision of my
lord at the table with his head upon
his hands; only now, when he showed
me his countenance, it was heavy
with reproach. The words of my own
prayer were liker a man il l struck
this creature down-shot at the same
time into my memory. called my
energies together, and (the ship then
heeling downward toward my enemy
thrust at him swiftly with my foot. 1t
was written l should have the guilt
of this attempt without the profit.
Whether from my own uncertainty or
his Incredible quickness, he escaped
the thrust, leaping to his feet and
catching hold at the same moment of
a stay.
I do not know how long time