Year: 1874

"A r..


boat and rigging up the stay and yard bur-
tons for hosting her out. In half an hour
the boat was safe alongside, and provisions
and water enough for fortnight's allow
ance were with considerable difficulty got
out from the store-room and slowed away
in her stern-sheets. The boats mast was
next stepped, with its sail brailed snugly
up, the stays were hauled taut, and the jib
rugged in its place. The men took with
them such arms and ammunition as they could
procure, besides the charts, compasses,
quadrants, and other small articles of value
that could be got out, then the two woun-
cd men were assisted into the boat, and
shortly afterwards Nolan and his compan-
ions followed. III,


AL was now in readiness, and at the
word from Nolan the painter was cast off,
the boats head showed of, the sails loosened,
and with bound almost of animation, the
frail bark started from tho vessels side.
The sea was not very heavy, and the swells,
though somewhat high, were long and
steady. The young hunter cast his eyes
back upon the brig, q strange feeling of
awe crept over his soul as he saw the heavy
fabric reeling to and fro upon the verge of
its grave. While yet he looked, the vessel
rocked more heavily--then stood for mo-
ment still, as if contemplating her doom
then a perCeptible tremor shook her vast
frame, and with one heavy throe she pitch
| ad rI I'll, hny int Aba
flood, and in few moments more the blue
water closed over her forever.


In half an hour after the men had taken
the last look at the old ocean dwelling, the
dark curtain of night settled over the vast
deep, and Nolan divided his men into
watches, giving to the second mate the
charge of one, while he took charge of the
other, and after making arrangements for
the course through the night, half of the
men drew their blankets around them and
lay down beneath the thwarts to seek re-
pose for their weary limbs 5


When the morning dawned, the wind,
which had been comparatively low during
the night began to freshen, SO much SO
that it was found necessary to take reef
in the mainsail, and as soon as this was
accomplished Nolan and the mate distrib.
uted the mornings meal. While the men
were engaged in eating their breakfast, one
of them, who had stationed himself in the
bows, uttered sudden exclamation of joy,
and as the boat rose upon the bosom of the
next sea sail was distinctly made out to
the northward and eastward.


A new hope instantly sprang up in the
bosom of the men, and putting up the helm
they eased off the sheets and stood towards
the discovered sail. The pistols were load
ed, and one after another they were dis
charged into the air, with sort of recl-
less hope that the sound might reach those
who could save them. Nolan had stationed
himself against the mast with glass, and
for long time he gazed steadily upon the
distant sail. The men watched his count
enance as though it were an index to their
prospects, and they hung upon each vary
ing lineament of his features for the raising
or the crushing of their hopes. At length
the glass trembled in Nolan's hand, "a shade
of deep disappointment overspread his face,
and with groan stepped down from the
thwart


my men," said he as he closed the
glass, she's steering from us, and is al
ready more than hull downp' tt.,fs


The boat was once more hauled upon
the wind, and with sad and heavy hearts
the crew turned their eyes towards the
point in the horizon where the object of
their sudden hopes had disappeared They
were nearly five hundred miles from land,
with nothing but single inch of plank
between themselves and eternity, a heavy
sea running against them, and prospect
of having their provisions destroyed by the
salt water that came dashing over the
bows. f b-.- rans.a. ,G


Hearts that had been tied TO earth for
years now began to turn to a Power
mightier than their own, for their late con-
quering strength, and the weapons that lay
about them, were utterly void against the
relentless storm.god, and as they lay upon
the bosom Of the treacherous ocean the i'll
fated men knew not how soon II might
open its broad, deep grave to receive them /


CHAPTER x. tne
i