New-York tribune. [volume], March 30, 1884, Page 12, Image 12

About New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
MY PBATBB.
1 wemiler if there may net he.
Sonics herc h. Chart eternitr.
A workday **essou, lens .iud orient.
f*S souls belated? winni) the night
Bornilaee ere their tasks are dons?
\\ ho gi ii ve o'er golden thresds npspu*
ii,-, rinse of wearinesssad srt si sun'
1 know nut. vtt it BSeSM OWW Mest.
? Mon blissful weis the sonl's iwei I n ti
That sometime, somewhere, ihaU have wrougbl
I ? ;,.>t pm j?,s,. deed 01 tl.mi-.iit.
Ami -.-1 pray,' Oh, ii thew be
A place in God'* Immensity
Where life work maj be rounded?give it mc.
Hannah A. Io-iik.
JACKAS COURTOHIP*
/..?-.mi.i.'C'.'-v.m.'N 01 i-uvi:a>:i>*-".iu'Wi;e('K
HY W. CLAMS KOKAKSAa
Auiim et "Tbs ottii. ni Tat iv? ?* '? "A Sta
?,itcfu," "An Ocean !>?? La ?? ." tte.'
CHAPTER Xl.V -('..vii" ri !?.
A mini f't-is u Mimili.mi "I horror like this
_? .- )?. ba* Just eecsped tram it, niorethsn
?*?., '?? . ni it, There ii ? eurdling
. | ' tc bl.'...l, ii sickly seiis.itum et fcur
i ,, kief down the precipice over whieh you were
,.-;....? danging, holding your lifo by grasping ?
i nt HBchssssaj be you were nei senaible of when
a i'.v. hundred-lout full v-iis below you, iiml thc day?
light wm growtaf fsint npon your eyes.
However, the sound ol thc bc/Bna'a roice called
?in- away flees theee thoaghto: Florence end her
anni t ..mc alt ?. ind in ? len minutes, .-iii hands were
? tau deck, snd the winditta! clinking hsndsomeljr. aa
Int by bli the chain eil,lc waa hove in, t" u rattling
thom I that awoke a hundred echoes in the island.
"Jump aloft, two ul you." I sung out, "and loose
the topsail*. IW* in, gel thc fore-topinsst-stsyssi]
hoisted. I.""-, the tongaliant-aail I., t.u-'you como
do** n and stand bytoovcrhaul yom clew-linos:" I
bowled to the fcllov*. whowaa trottii'B np the main
rigging. Clink, clink went thc windlass pawl for?
ward, and thc v.-iifs of the men broke away in a
hurricane note.
?? il..vt short, air" roared the boran.
*? sin*t lu>me t" the tore-topsail, tlicn. Hoial
sway tho jib there"; and Ina fsw minutea there wa*
aail enough to pay the brig's head off. Once again
the windlass waa manned, thc snchi r broken oul ot
tlie ground, snd with the helm bard over, tho light
old timber-wagon slewed alowlj round on her heel,
and began t" nu.vc through the wnb r.
?' Loose the foresail. Masthead the main-topsail
vnnl. Gel your main snd main-topmast-staysails
hoisted. Loose thc trysail. Wheel there, steady!
llow'fl lier lu nd f
?? North by eaet-half-eaat, cir.''
" Keep lui nt thal."
It wss all bustle and singing out, and tumbling
about. Hut never, I daresay, fi oin tim hour mi
whieh abe waa launched bad sail been made on tin
liVm moro rapidly. I'd notice old Anni Damaris
?taring at nae with wide wonder aa I shouted out
orders, while Florence, sitting alongside of her, fol
lowedsM with s smile of pride. When all the can?
vas the brix cai inti was aet, and she was leaning
?nuder the pleasant west Wind, that was righi
abeam, with the farther reaches <>f tbe inland open?
ing otu into thc ?uniisht.snd the hollow contract
lagas thc islam! receded, 1 sprang on to tbe rail
nml, with a wibi flourish of my cap cheered till it
?was n wonder I didn't crack my pipes. My example
was instantly imitated bv all hands, who, jumping
into the rigging, and taking theirtnne from the
bo'sun, thundered out cheers spain and again re?
peated. You wouhl liavc tli'.niilit there wen- people
un the island, aiul that we were biililmjt them fare?
well. Florence waved lu-r pocket-handkerchief,
und I believe the old lady Joined in our sin.nts-. Bit
hy bit ;',,)? loni Iv rock diminished in size, point after
roint fading into brown, and the great ninepin rock
melting into thc land. The hnge blue ocean was
before us, twinkling mistily un.hr the play of the
itlssagnt] wind ami thc old brig, courtesying over
be light head-swell, was throwing enough foam
ntl her weather Low to furnish out a wake to make
lier look to be sailing ten miles an hour.
-+
CH4PTEB SLVI.
8THl*(.(jI.lM; KA*-) WARD.
Tim sun Bssaasd to grow hotter as ho westered,
and tin- sky northward took a deeper liquid tint;
luit gradsslly the bieexe. bri.ikcue.il until, at 4
o'clock, it wss basking a loud humming alofi, vs uh
whits clim.I- in tim e\c nt it c..mill'' np large snd
lull, snow-tinted in their brows, ami prismatic
ooIbh like hits of rainbow ka their skins; theil
shadows gave a mw hie ie thc, s,;t, thtt waa now
rnnningin narrow ridgee of as beautiful a blue as
tho l,. um ns. every store summit Bashing into foam.
Ibu 1 was nu.re eoooeroed with the brig and with
I keeping a bright lookout for laud ahead than with
thinking ?>( t'.,f picture tbe ocean mink', th.muli I
Iiml tv - for a ihowei of dying-fish th.it sparked "ai
te windward in a glittering flight, repeated half a
Booro of tiroes* and fora gleaming green body that
mighl nave liaised foi a huge wedge of emerald, ami
th..: 1 reckoned t.. he a dolphin, which kepi pace
with ai to winda ...1 in the wake of the timid,
lovely little incy it waa chivvying.
. There was a reel-log ai.nit tlie deck-bonse, and I
had it bowe, and made the speed a trifle lees than
Sis knots. This a is better than I ch.mid have
boped limn thc bowsaud nm of tin-obi booker:
un.I yet tin- breeze now blowing wonld hav.' Beni
tl.e Strathmore ahead at t.u milos an hour. The
(?l;: . -lui- tlie bril.' Wanted WCW thc foic-tujit-'al lilli t -
ball ami the flying jib; for she carried no royals,
ha yards perhatM being thought square enough to
enable her t>. do withoul them; yet, with all her
osnvas ss well se! et hauling taut ...ul.l bring it, the
yanks Irrae <I in, every cloth doing its work, the
hull so light tliat itjiuu'lit have passed for a floating
balloon, tbe water smooth and the bead-swell much
.too gentle to bother her, the Sarah Jane waa barely
giving tis six kimts. Well, thought 1 to in.v
H'li. .i v.,'i ta of her by some passing
Bbiponr voyage t<> Australia bida fair to be a long
(.iu-; fol it *?*.">:. n't do better than this under tbe
un st tn\ 11r.,1,if conditions which contd befall a ves?
sel, what's tn bappeu ii we un ct w ith bead w inda or
Ji?flit. baffling ai)- f
three hours after we had quit St. Paul's Amster
ilain Isl.uni was lil night about a point on the lee
bow, a looming bil ol blue, with thc running waters
trembling between it and us. Fourteen fir Qi teen
miles astern a ns the island we had left, like ? bil ..)
amber rn the western sunshine. We had another
three limns ol daylight before us, ann ula.I was I to
feel Un \\ ind freshening yet, and the l.inn bows for?
ward bunting with a roaring noise through the
water, foi lung before the fl.uki." ss fell the hreozi
wonld hnv brought us wi li witl in the scope til any
eyes thal might be upon the land there, and it was
md lik. ly to draw np io M > k bnt thai a boat could
s ? .'ut fetch .1-. i we hove to, and waited a bit.
All tins while alltbe bauds bad been full of busi?
ness, makins nully iiu- deck-house t<u themselves,
skinning and cutting np tbe goats into joiuts, boil?
ing thc i-ialts aiul shellfish iii capful* to make room
in the tub- nu those which were left uncooked,
cleaning up the des ks, wu-i log blankets (which had
beea eui,a- rn by the i -.-k i ir cabin uso, I c
bo'sun kept .lt with me mu. I, -.i the time, ai il there
waa a band in the foretop with the brig's i ?-.?-.?* s.j.?-.
ww king awn] witb it at tbe gron ing aud ?? litt-n
?*' -" island, i ulv l.port a signal "i s boat, ii evei
hu, li a thing should heave Into tho nos of his
lenee* A lil th before fl, anent he men wsre think?
ing ol going to supper, 1 told the bo'sun wc might ns
ivt-ll divide them into watches there and then, and 1
ask.il lum io send tbem alt, ai I wauted to say
something to them. His hoarse voice sounded, and
in twos uml threes the crew cami along t" j.a-t the
Boaiiuuast, and stood In a cluatei fronting thu cabin
door, if ti uni,!" dou'l sweeten humanity, I can au
mci foi ii thal Ibo) make fellow-feeling sliarp, and
lu,tl a warm heart lor a man to think <>f his com?
rades in iron bl* with. I could not, look si tboee
seamen withoul ? kind ol longing to grasp every
one's band. Rough they were, uml grimy as the
deiue, for yon see they d had no leisure yet for a
down, snd what with hunting for crabs and
shooting goats and clearing up the decks, and ao
forth, their toil hm! been both dirt) aad hard ; and
rou lound them, us they then appeared, in a
shipplug-vard, rn cruising aloin-' aa Eaat l.ml street,
you'll have backed oal ol theil re ai, and psessd on.
thinking them ? peek oi greasy rascals, ana
wondering what os earth thc British merchant
sailor was coming to. Hut how will they Iih.1 don.
their fluty'. how uncomplainingly they had accepted
the privations ol shipwreck! what basil they had
maintained, wi..ii spirits, wh.it au honest sense oi
discipline! and could I forgel how they had taken
their rest br ths cold, damp nigh! sir, upon tbe
rocks ..i that non uland, that Aunt Damaris and
rioi'-iice, might anio* such poor privacy as Um
wretched but had yielded tbem f Ob, my lads let
us always thmk kindly; ..f poor Jack. Bough snd
reckless be may Im., with more faults than v.ni have
ame ead patience to count; bm in raj opinion be is
nevcrno bsd luit that thetVs more good i_ him than
you'll find in Booree of nun whs sre reckoned really
good sshorsi ami lot ship-owners sud captains say
what they hkc v, the contrary, my belief is that
their e no slnu -, fore lastle atloui that fines not bold
kinder hearts, wanner fi clings, more gail timm na?
tures more manly aud more unselfish qualities av
mixed up as they may be with kuthch .-uni growunna!
God knows tooofteu richly JosUatodJ than ford
7m 'Vi o-tiK"**1 building in liieat Britain, choke
full of laudsoien, from tho nobleman donn to the
cliiinnov-sweep.
?My lads.' said I,' I've ordered yon to step aft to
pitt S question to you. I've taken charge so far, bo
I'uubo a head's wanted and we're bound to make a
?tart. But 1 don't want to be skipper here without
%t tm'*n\\u*\o>'*****' *MUUatl"n?*'-""Jtms -jtui-cA*t,A
nwt siiiu Hon. Von men of Ih.- poor Old i-'irathi.i.'i"
mow who 1 am, what my qualifications asa sailor
_w?the bo'sun t"hl yon In the nip. The others be
onging to the Bowan Jane may sa well bear thal
've been second mate m tho service to which the
Strathmore belonged, and thai I held s chief mete s
cilili. ii!.-. Nov. i- it \mii wish that I should take
.unman.! .'I lim- brig P
'Moat certainly it la/promptly replied William
tonier**, an.i in a breath there waa a volley of' Ye-?
f- tlu.t'- om *a'lah.'
? Very well,' said I.'mj Intention is to he.ul inr
lu-Aii-triili.ni coast,on sccoi.ntoi thc prevailing
rinds in these seas. Is tlmt sn >? ..M.- to you all V
? Av,' they answered : l was boss * whatever 1 did
mis bound t" I"* all right.
'If we s],.ak a ship willing to receive us,'I cou
iniictl. ? I si e ti.ni- ti i the Indies nb< url
in, ami myself io..; bul a- the ni iginal crew tit this
-rig might not choose to leave her, then, if 1 cuni
rii anybody from tbe ship we speak to navigate
u-r. Ill stick to her and tc as mani as may remain.
iou'-.e stuck t>. the ladies and me, boys, vou've bi
laved as'Englisb seamen should, in trouble, and leal
litchi you acted toward these ladies in such a way
hm I know they'll nol be satislied unless I thank
rou in theil name tm your kin.lu- dera
.lon.'
Thc poor fellows cheered tin** heartily, as I looked
ii Florence nod Aunt Damaris, wbo stood ni
Mv darling was blushing and smiling, i nd glancing
Hatefully ni the rough Inc.-* whicb confronted her.
aunt Damaris, clearing her throat, exclaimed ;
? M\ niece and I aredeeplj obliged to you nil for
the use of thc hut, ami tor yonr excellent condncl
throughout I hope it will be in my power to thank
wn by nomething better than words a hen wc reach
Sydney.'
Here there wore murmurs of: ' We don't wan! no
thauks ..I that kind, lady. We've il..ne m.then to
deserve thanks. We're all Miry tbal you ladies
thou ld hu' been broughl ml" snch a joh as ship?
wreck: but had \f been sailors y< couldn't bare
gmic through it with more pluck.'
- Ami uow,'said I. ? who a ill you choose for mate T
They answered that th y wonld leave that tn me.
- lin n,' 1 exclaimed, ' 1 choose Mr. Shilling; ami
;ts William Bomera has h.ul thc handling ..t the brig
since her mate has been down with sickness, wc
can'! flo better than let lum I"' se* "inl male.'
This wm agreed to; the crew were tben divided
inlo watches, ami all liiiiiilsw.nl down to gel their
supper.
?I pon my word. Mr. Seymour.' sam Aunt Da?
maris, ? you manage Bailors > a* itally.'
? These are men \ try ? tu \ te manage ' I replied.
?I think ron wouhl make a ven popular captain,'
saul she. ' I >t.n't \ on, I l"t - ll' '? 1"
* Von w ill bf sending .in ?*, !?. s. ,i again if you talk
to him like that,' answered in) 1 u ling, a nh a little
pout, inui sim jiut her hand thin ith my arm.
1 noticed lin- hi-ik 1h.it i un" min the ubi la.Iv's
face winn she saw ami heard tin-. Ii ever she hail
wondered whither rion nee were I cally in love
willi me. 1 fancy, from the expression on ner, tlmt
her minn then .inti lhere wa- lui.I complete!] at ret
on thut heall.
1 In* cook bronchi some ten aft for us ami we went
into the cabin tor a neal. Thc fellow ou th.- look?
out bsd com.' down out of tilt- foretop, ami ihe tele?
scope was handed to thc bo'sun, who, with tin- glass
under his arm, stumped the weat her side ol' tin- neck
as knowingly as if he had never been at any other
sun nf wmk Hil his life, 'rhe Incl of the brig was
\fiv great, for the breeze was nowaatroag wind,
ami all that the vessel carried she bad. and she
seemed to he sailing on her beam-ends. Why, even
in ihe deck-house we could hear ber lee-ebaonela
tearing through thc water, ami the screaming alofi
Hinonir tho rigging was as though tin- poor old
hooker were shrieking to have tin- tierce strain
taken oil her ancient bones. Rut I meant to give
ber no respite: especially this evening, winn the
island was to he made in daylight it possible; and it
pleased me mightily to hear her thrashing through
it, with an occasional half-smothered roar ol water
fora uni w lu-n -lie Jumped her round bows Into a bit
of hollow?a ti itic oi bbs dow rnnning nnd burled
tin- surge away from her, while her hull appeared t..
tren.i.b- fore and aft aa if she were alraadj breath?
less ami ill witb the excitement of such driving.
It was DO easy job to make out q meal in that
deck-boose. The little table sloped u-i to our
mouths, and nil that was imf upon it slid away in a
huddledown to where lt waa binged to the side of
the structure. There were no' fiddles,'no comforts
nor conveniences aboard thc Sarah .lane It was
like colliering; only instead of having civiliied
coasts within nail, we were fair betwixt the Indian
and Southern oceans, midway between Africa and
Australia, 'lhere were u couple of biir crabs cooked,
brought to us, and we tried to cat them; but it was
a hard job. The meal in them was delicious to our
appetite, jaded by preserved foodaand dry biscuit;
ami desperately tantalizing w as the beba\ inr of t he
legs und shelis ami claws, which defied our forks
Bodell our struggles to detain them upsn the tin
dishes on thc table, and *-l*iiiiin<)l apon the deck
bonse Boor with s vast deal more of alacrity than
thej* could ever bsve exhibited in life At last n
.;inie to my hm iii}.' to feed Aunt Damaris ami 1 lor
fii.t-: w In, h I managed by popping hits, ai. th.- end
of a fork, lirst into my darling's monta and then
into lier aunt's; uu.l ueed I t>-'.i yon, boys, which
mouth had tin* choicest morselBl It waa a funny
iiuiil, and they both laughed heartily as they
bobbed at my fork, which I dourisbed with great
grace and ease; hut the crabs were ru ic eating, and
wi,, ii lin- t".i "I- -ni'!,cr or whatever you like to call
it was finished, Aunt Damaris declared timi sin
hadn't enjovedsuch a meal siuce she had lef I Eng?
land. 1 looked into the mutt-- cabin to see bow the
ju..ir fellow- waa getting on j I nad given orders to
the cook to boil hun some broth oul of a piece ,,i
goat's lb- li; ami ibis, lilting with a crab, he told me
In- hud eaten and neatly relished; but when I
looked at him 1 eonld not but feel tlu.t food had
nothing to do with Wa illness; not ? I,..ni Mayor a
banquet, broughl every div t" Ins bedside, was
likely tn tb' hun any g.1 ; ni- mal.,ily w u- onlv ton
surely some wasting disease, some failure or decay
otu vii.il organ, nol to be mended bj tbeioyalleal
fare that au emperor's cook could turn out. Vet 1
found hu.i iu pretty good spirits. Ile s.n.I it did him
good to hear the brig buinmiug through the water,
and added: ' Hbo's tender down ton certain point:
l.ut atta-.' that tin- canvas would have to blow oul oj
tho bolt-ropes before she'd bur} herself by another
ha I l-t lake.'
?Well, I mean to give her no rest,'said I. ll 1
w,-iiml time, maybe I'd bave shipped more ballast
at Ut. Paul's. i..r it'll l.f ail sagging with ber, I'm
afraid, ou a bowline. Kui I'm too thankful to Hod
to feel ber nnder mc t'< gi nu.bl.- at any point in lur.
D'ye know,1 I asked him. ' if there's a razor aboard .'
I reel 1 look like a ring-faced monkey lor tin- want
ot a shave.'
'I think you'll And one in tim captain's cabin,'
saul Inr -. ' I don't know w hit tic poor mau hu.I I'm
sure; bu! there'll bc more conveniences i"i yon
there than I am able to otter you, sir,'and he just
, lifted his bead to look, with a wau, apologetic, sor
j mw lill smile, at his chest.
I bit li.m. mel asked Aunt Damaris's leave to
? enter her rabin, explaining thal I wanted to ? > '-.
j fm- ;i razor ti..-rc, ami also remove tho lui.' skipper's
nu ii tif ul inst i u m.-n.--, i-hu rt-, etc., to my own ben h.
_ ? The idea ot a'*l<ii)7 ir..'/ permission !' she exe! timed.
1 Mr. Jack, von can be very sarcastic sometimes, 1
shall not sunn forget your explanation foi having
i chosen ihe name ul Egerton.'
However, sh.- was Btuiling as she said this, so]
laughed out, sn.'iii- she meant nothing bv it.
'Jack,' said florence, 'can you conceive how
: Aunt Damaris ami I are to manage for tl'-'iun-l li
the voyage is to last for two months -and you said
that was quite probabii what an we !?? du foi
i drew
? \\ hy, mv dm linn," I answered,' what I said, wai
| that it might take this brig all ol two months, aud
? perhaps three, av, and eveu four, to reach Australia.
; Iiii! that's supposing we bave to perform t h.* \ oj agt
' in lei ?nu idea much tun improbable t.> disturb us.
We're sine to nu et with ships g.I .h. "i'll i.i trans
f>i ourselves to, and it'll he strange If there are nol
, women aboard who will help you io wearing ap?
parel enough to Issi you till you reach Australia.'
I ? Hut how long is thai likely t.. l.f, Mr. Seymourf
I cried Anni liam.his. ? i,v.inber please, tbal Flor
.nie :iiul 1 an- ab-nl itch w ithout a change ol . i
a change of?'
? l v ,-b I eould t- ll for certain,' -.ii,) I-. ? *\,. ton*}
lu- mit ul lin- lum in a week?wo may be nut ni lui
to-morrow. Wh.. cangnessf Bnt, ni* pet,'said I.
' turning ho ber,-don't worry yourself! over such t
; trill* as a chaiii;.' of dress. ' Think of thc fearful
1 ii laud of St. Paul's already being mlle* astern of us,
and ihat wa are fairly nnder way for a port thai
will terminate all tin- abominable anxieties anti
: Butlering* you ami Mi? Hawke bave undergone.'
i - Women can'i help thinking ni' dress, even in ship
| wreck,' saul slit-, laughing, 'li's i.nt uni- fo feel ti
j fright even Inthemiusl of dunster. Mow / look
( I'm sure I cannol imagine, 1 mn thankful there li
no looking-slass in the brig; I know I should nee]
' at it. aiul I'd much rather not lind out how I ap
1" ar.'
?How you sppearr cried I. ' Be essy, love. Ap
. pear ats you will, you can't lui") being lovely.1
lt mane lui as ictl uh .1 inst- tn hear mc, for *ht
km-w by the passion m mv voice, nml by mv eyi s
? that I waeapaaking Heaven's truth, sa ii seemed U
me.
? And how .hi / look, I wonder ?: exclaimed Anni
; Damaris) 'fearful, no doubt;' and herold lu..
bobbed np at nie wits a peek, sa much as to tay
? ' No nonsense, young man.
'I'll hay no iiioie than this,'I answered,?and 1
, mean no compliment j yon look ten yeera rouugei
I thmi you dui when 1 tirst saw you et Gravesend.
'I'h mk what you will of tba sea. Il has serve J yee
well, Miss Hawk.- , mid your friends will toil you 8(.
when >..u int Moore, lu iu-t.- nae.'
I Wac I humbugging ber! not I. I rucaut tu pul
I her into ii good-numor with herself, and if e fellow
I can please sa oh) lady lo that way he ought to do it,
Pleased she was, and I saw her adjust her starboard
? wnvagjn cuil, as sho (danced a! Fkwsnee witk j
- smile
' Hut,' continued i, ? 1 bone there ie a looking stael
in the brig?even a bit ol one -lor if I don't shu vc
Boon, my dulling, I shall ha\ir lo koop clear of you
out of BsU-raapeeU
?You certainly would look bitter for a shave,
Jack' wm.1 nbc, 'whisker* miuht beooBaeyon wi,, n
von g<-t themi hut a tooth-brush, dear, OT what
looks like the tip* of a Uno of them?**
I bolted into their calnii, uml was followed hy a
p. al of laughter from bot hi of thom. 1 founds
sailor's chest and a sinall locker I thc chest WOI
half full of clotho* lind nothing else* hut in thu
locker, besides an old sextant, 1 found a li u-.li uml
couih, a hand-glass with a loop attached to the
bundle, three razors in oases, several pieces of soap
wrapped in paper, along with some boxes of cigars,
a handful of wooden pinea, ? boasewifa well
stocked, and a score of other odds and ends. lu a
earner was a bagful of i harts, and on ? small shelf
fiv.-r tim door a chronometer nml a caee of Inatrte
ments for navigating purposes, such as a sector, a
plain -ellie, (Hld lill-like, l'lli'sc alt nbs ' conveyed
tu my cabin, mid then, emerging with tin- hsnd
glaa8,I flourished it before Klorence-fl faee. Hhs re
coiled ami slim lui eyi -, aiul pul up ber banda, an.i
cried: 'No, I daren't took.' So I cave th,- cia*"* to
Aunt Damans, who Immediately tell to exploring
hf; own countenance. Baying, well, on t hf whole abe
did mu l.n.k -.. .li. adful a- abe han ten.fl. \\ bore*
un.ni Florence said sh,- did nol mimi taking inst .mc
pi e.i. Dui it was now lime t.u- me to bundle on
deck; t-", taking the brush and comb,! tallied
forth, culled to ill"' ."uk alni Ifiile lum ir. I llieui
washed uml carried ult tn tin- ladies, and then
joined the bo'sun, lt waa 7 o'clock; tin-sun wm
u> high in tin- west, and sway abonl tbres
points mi i In- port boa wu- Amsterdam I -I ml. di -
tani nhoul thirteen or fourteen miles. It 1 iv green
a -i.rilli.' ui ,1 ii lb" larL'e rc I
i'u-Ii , ? !<>ii-.l cloud* -ailinn niel' n min tin- eaat;
astern, nothing was to be seen, noi un eith r hand,
rhe inn was rising aud falling am mm' the lump* ol
vapor "huh win- coming up iu shoals out <?! the
western sea, and whenever h.' hove himself eleei
uf tun- ol those bodies tho i ,si redden?
ing light would come down iu a perfect ram.
gushing Into tbe hollows ol tho sans till they looked
us deep again as Ihey were, end Ailing oul thees t
.ii, si il Minni in a manuer t" make tim water-line
there appear le.mun- farther ofl than the western
li,,ii',,n: ami u tic,' sigh) it wa-, [can tell yon, to
watch the effort oi tbi*. lifting sunshine, when a
. inn.| drove up io ihe orb, and seemed with its
shadow to shoulder ll]> tin- u,l-ll Ol Iii Lt . I.MI" oil tlu
Mil l.lf. ..i tin- o. fan inio thc if vi I sky, where it
vanished, present!) tu reappear in our wake ami
come with a hup along tin- snow of lt and tbe
brealdhg brows oi th'- surgei till ihe brig would be
bathed in tbe pink glon'i while, scuppera nnder,
iiml th.-w ind Bashing fair into her topsails with a
si riff h a- ii split upiiu i tn- rigging, a lui a i m.ai i ns ii
swept "Ut ot tin- inp,u-i, .in ibrove,lumping and
groaning through it,draggiug lui bed of loam for?
ward with lei a- she wein.
Heading an we wera. Ural thc southern, then the
western, ami then the northern portions ot th."
island wt.ubi be ..pen,,I and i ompasaed bj ns j and I
might h.- as Mire a- fate tbal if there were people
tlnic tiny would spy us coining, 'lim th ing light
tb rcw . h- bimi ap clear snd ken in the field of the
telescope?thal was a very g.i,ul glass, tnough its
en it wa- deplorably ragged ami obi -iiml IM see tte
green "i plentvof vegoiation then-, aiul an island
mi much moil* cheerful and habitable to behold
than tin h..How. sterile, crater rock on which wi?
lla.I passed tbe night Bul look as I would there
was m> appearance ol a signal of snj kimi to ne sen
nn the south ami east side of it. I swept the rugged
line and foreground ol' the water with extraor?
dinary eare, but nothing reeembling a ho.it v is tn
be discerned; (bongil I reckoned that, if auy of tlie
Strut hm..re's people luci found an asylum tlicrc.
they'd make baste to pul oft"and Intercept ns when
they saw the brig bending dead for tho island. I
went into thc cabin !-> overhaul the charts, snd.
comim aero* one of the Indian Ocean with the
prickings of half s dozen voyages npon it, I ex?
amined it t.< make sure of my nai igatton, for 1 had
no di lire to plump the Sarah Jane on a sun ken reef
hereabout*, and finding the coast clear, returned on
deck, and stood conversing with tho bo'sun while
the sun -auk lower ami lower and the island tm the
lee "'.'? gree bigger and greener with tbe ilu-h of
the setting daylight upon it. aud fl coming and
going "i it- emerald hues as thc cloud shadows
swept over it. Yoi the sun was still above the
water when the land was lit!!,' mora than tbree
miles distant, plain ii the gloss as a mali's lum,! to
his eves, ami the Burt ringing it with tin gleam of
IV 111 \ .
?I'm afraid wc ihallAnd nobody there, bo'sun.'
said I.
? I'm afraid s,. loo, sir,' be replied, letting the ghi IS
fall from bis face; ' there's plenty -ti stuff to make
a smoke with, anyhow j there's plenty of clear top
for a signal, too, and wer'a close enongh to see ?
pocket-handkerchief if such a thing was hoisted. Ii
none of our people are there, w bein are they, sir /'
- Picked np, ot drew ned, or still ki.king about-?
i>nc of the throe certainly : foi we know they're not
mi Bt. raul's Island, ami I'm afraid they're noi
here either.''
Aunt Damai is rm.l I'loreace'joined us to bink, aiul
forward you could see all the men banging over tbe
rail, staring at lhe land
Fathom I.y fiit hom we drove along, theold brig
?plashing savagely us she dives, and trembling
im.l.i the pressure timi wa- urging her her bow?
sprit pointed to give the island a clear berth, and
tue sun, whose lower limb wea close to tbe water,
was nearly abeam; fixedly I watched tbe land as il
(dowly drew af 1 past the -tar....ard cathead on !?.
abaft the fore rigging, nnd so aternward, until the
red glory, creeping up and np the green slopes till
the topmost heights looked like" burning sold, sud?
denly melted upon the blue of the sky ana burned in
the clouds beyond; and winn I withdrew my eye
Irom tbe glass theran waa gone, and thc greenish
? i i rolling np to us oul of a horizon thal was
like a whirlpool ni ci uiis,,ii lin/.'.
? Whe.-l there !' 1 rang ont,' Iel her go oft, Bo'sun,
gol the yards braced in for rounding into the east
w .nil.'
This was done, and the wind by being brought aft
gave usa.re comfortable deck. Courtesying and
rollins, as onli an i ld wagon in ballas! knows now,
lin- .-,nilli .1. sw.-pi along .i northeast course.
I thc island veering away ou the starboard
ipim i'i. and opening it- northern and eastern sub ??,
which were fast taking an olive-colored loom In the
deepening twilight.
' Stand ny to neave to,' said Ito the bo'sun, * we
mii-t ni tc our hope- a chance. Hut I very mm li fear
it'll bc idle waiting.'
There was still a little) twilight h-ft when, with
her niitin-topgallanl sail stowed and them
and foresail hauled up. the brig's helm was put
down i.u.I stu- was boveto with her heed to the
northward, lhere wasa flare-tin aboard uni li.un
time to time we burnell this over tl"- rail, the tm
nentine making a great glare thal illuitiuated the
brig from the eyes to the ta ll nu I: and th' lighl w.is
sostrong that every time il burned u - : at it lefi
our sight itst'less foi a spell, and tbe nigh) toeuusl as
black ;.** thunder, till thc white loam wbowed again,
ami we saw the Island like a lu mn ot indigo down to
leeward. But nu iesponsewasmade.no lighl
shown, and m. boa! upi* ired, though thc n
phantom of one mus; nave li hail it bein
there, by the eager eyes which hun.' ovtr the bul?
warks gazing, aud searching aud probing Ibe
?Warming waters withs sight intensified by eager
ness tn sue* rn tims.- who hud bei u om shiptnal
'There's iu> chance, sir,'s.u,l the bo'sun to me,
after we bad been hove to two hours, during which
the brig had drifted awaj lo the eastward, till the
dark lump "i land hung fair >>n tim weather quar?
ter. ' li there's .'.I a -".il on tbal island our flare
mast have I.n risible to'em; they'd know the
meaning, and il Ibe*- I d n boat they'd lannch it;
Ile a tin- to ld n- know they
wcri there. Mr. Peymotir, yo'll iiml tbat rock is
desolate a- st. Pauls.'
' I bul - w hil I lliink. Hut w li: " do the men sr iv /
li they choose we'll 'lc.ul ship and stand -.il and on
till dat light.'
The watch .'tl dnty had gone below, which wai ?
pretty good hint that tiny had aban.i.u,c.I all iden
of there being anybody to save off that Island.
Shilling called to the men who were on deck, and
put tlc case to them. Should Mr. Seymour stand
,,:i iimi un during Hie nigbl ami w.ut for the morn?
ing breeze before suilinz away ,' Tbev answered,
that they were unite willing, bul the* wen- afraid
it would bo of mi nae. ' lt.' said one ..f them,' if the
li fetched that isl .ml on thc samedayas we
fetched St. Paul's, they'd have theil boats, lol thc
wcathei was too tine to do 'em hun. If they had
their boats and was there, they'd have retched oil
for ni whenever they -ru the brig hauling into
view. No boat appeal".', and no sign lenin'been
made aboard llnmsierdam Island, tu* notion is, air,
ii. it ii would >!<> no g.1 bj stoppin'.
All narooing in thia view, 1 bade them .ince again
look over the side and have a good stare round: .ii ni
then, having linirered anothei bali nour, I ordered
the helm to bc -si.i11c-il and the yanl-. bra il 114110x0
for an ea tcrlj course. It na-..- one a kind "i
wren, lr to go away, 1 hounb ii afterward tm ned out
to be tin- right thing t" do. I st,,t?l peering into tbs
dinincs* astern till ihe bil oi land that bad gloouiod
'mt b.k aiul magnified even st thc distance ol
three mile* faded into tbe general darkness, and
where it lindi.ii yon sew nothing but a-t.u- or
two, low down, with thi white waler of om wake
rushing oul liiut way. Tbe strong wind blee fair
over the st.-ru, ami every inch ..1 canvas the brig
carried tbat would draw to a following breezi was
-et, and the "1.1 tub wallowed and splashed along
her dark course. ? I his time las! m-iht I' thought I :
and 1 looked alofi al the darksome spaces ol canvas,
as shadow] .is otouda, over the deck-houses, ami
tin 11 ii \.13 into the southwest blackuesa, win-re tlu*
ifland of .**t. Paul's stn.ul, and when- the night i..\
darkest, and where the eye found no other light
than the pallid glimmei of froth cres.g with a
l>.n_. simmering sound oul of the inky 1 ui.iiii,^ coils
of water, and pictured the bul there, aud th.*
wi.in. I, undei tin boat's tail, and myself crouched in
the corner near the door. To think nt leaf, to feel
that week atti I w eek nt sin li mellis as I lui might
have r-il led h. er om h- 1-I- without bringing us suc?
cor, was something, lei me tell yon. to force a wild
shudder ont of a mani and il was to get away from
mvowi) thoughts mora thaa for any otb, 1 reason
that I walked Into thc deck house, wini., the old
lady and mr pet were, and sat down to yarn with
tbem a w nile by the IikIh of the old ??/- inging lamp
thal swung by a stain hion amidships ot tue struc?
ture.
I HATH.I. M.\ II.
RBSOI I 0.
And bow,boya, having ...m.* to thia paint, lt's
about time that 1 tuned 1" nnd ran this story
ashore ; for, if you haven't lind enongh of tho m-n, /
hare; and I'm lu *.?)iimii-^ to long for the Hight ul'
?hopi anil street* iiml tree*, just as you are, maybe,
for tho com -lunion, to hear what tho end of all this
business was, aud how my courtship finished; M
tile thief iliil.lelits ul I he, niixt sn (lay* I'll give S oil
in log hook form, making tho ionmal moro readable
by dropping out (ho dates ami tim day*' work and
other item* which swell out sea-diaries till they're
little more than Greek to landsmen.
All that night the Htormy westerly wind eh.ined
the Farah Jane, with a middling run ot sea. that
Biped UM old bucket nlonit bravely, and thc-hm
me uh Hinch as six ami I half Knots. I was up, ofl"
ud fin, tliin. minuit th'1 Sight, homet iim'"* ttl the
o'nilti's w.i'i li, sometimes iii William Sonni s's, and
Iwayi found both utan sllve and keeping a bright
mk,mt, stun imii; one si,lt- of thc fleck, with a -'hap
rinding ni the wi.I toi.I the wild pl.iv of ile
i.-ky ol.l Wagon, tin- braces taut a- lhe ha. I'-t'.V*.
ie wind shrilling out tha swollen concaTltiee, aud
ie thunder of parted aeae under the bows coming
it against th rn Ind with a noise Itk.- the falling of
, ai ixact, pbere water mites wah t and roai ? Into
.am.
But, when] came on dock nexl morning, I found
tu wind east watbeast, bleak as November bi the
hiHiiicl. a thick horizon, smoke ? olored clouds roll
ig np, with a spitting of rain thal waa cwepl pa I
oe itiasis horizontally, and Ibe brig saning doa n t"
er covering-board on the starboard tack, close
anled, with single ree!. Inner topsails, and her
uii'Miil looking as ii but a little more weight <>f
rind waa nf led to make ei i i iu it. Oh, it waa a
ism,il siirbt for fl mun to come OD ll) I k to look ut j
ml it made lies ofthe charts,that sit down the
?rev ail mg winds as westerly, lon need only have
lanced "vcr the weather quarter, and on-u the
luci. iu!\- wake of the brig floating out to wind
raia!, in nnderatand my feelings. Bailing! why, it
res all leeway : ami the mud we had traversed last
ughl we wein hearkening back npon, driving the
.ack'.var.l be.rm Iii st. without an lltOffl Ol help for it.
didn't mind this bo much at first, ami, indeed, put
good ia e upon it h. fore Aunt Damaris and Flor?
ance, telling them thal though, to be sure, we were
ml I. Ing well up int Ansi ral ia, ont bowa were mofe
hat way than our stern, and thal there waa no use
n boping for fair a uni.-* every daj : bnl I got rather
.si i.s.-, uu.l anxious when next morning ceme and
..uml i lu- wi i it I si ill blowing -iroi ik' out ni thc eaat,
he ski dirty, the horizon thick a* uuni, and the
. ii ni a sim mv green, ns they slanted then- curling
ni ires at the uiviug bows*oftbe brig, and tumbled
iver her weather rail before thc ilriftiug huh could
tall.uv ..ni ni thc trough.
Alter breakfast thal morning 1 went Into the
uai.-'s eal.in to have a talk With bim, bul found
um too ill for conversation. So, instead of doing
shut I intended taking his judgment aa to whether
! would I..- w is, tn m.ike ii fa ir w nut of il bj he ni?
llir mu th, uml seeking a fair breeze in parallels
tearer tbe equator, foi a'mu to the Cape of 0.1
Hope iu.sie.nl ni trying for Australia- I attempted
lotning more than a little sympathy, feeling all thc
,*. lille i-m-ii the Uselessness of tkOt, lOt if ever il ll I.l'I
bj dying, be did; you saw tim shadow of what waa
oniiug mi his hollow facey and hia eves had a dim,
jrearuing look, as though for some time they had
geeu -in- nu-' tn stare pa*t thc present, [leering for a
glimpse of the new kimi of light, whose dawn had
.-.I yet (..me. Ile Iiml tasted no food, aud I asked
aim if there was anything, aboard the brig he could
i;iii,\ : if there was anything, indeed, thst could be
lone lur hi h. He answered no, bc hud no appetite :
ii there were :i doctor or medicine, be fell be might
be broughl back to life; he'd gel some ease, hi was
sure; ind be only ne..bul to lie Ire-of nain, he
thought, to u.i better: bnt, as it was, be t..l.l me h.
hud no hope: uml the tears came into the eyes nf
the lonely, di ing -aii.u as ne sahl it.
The la.ins knee that the mate wes a sick man,
bm boa bad he was 1 bad nol told them, nor could
i be} imagine, for t hey had ne*i er se! eyes upon hun,
nordid they once tell nu-that they had beard him
mum oe complaining in his cabin, When 1 blt
lum thm lime 1 lound rloreuce and Aunt Damaris
at tbe table, looking over a book or two thej had
POlIll! across m the captain's berth.
? I w Uh this weal ber w.iu li I clear up,' said thc ..1.1
lady, 'The air's too raw and damp for the deck,
and yet it's quite int..brui.lc to be confined to this
house, and tumbled about in it aa if one were In a
barrel, rolling dow U lull.'
- It'll make nome the sw., ter when we tret there,'
I replied.
? I shall bc glad to sight a ship,' she continued.
? lt will not matter wind way she steers. Nothing
thal wt-fiin encounter is likely to Id: inure slow in
herspeed and violent in ber inovementa than tins
blur.'
_ ? How is tl.e poor mats t' aaked Florence, with ?
glance to let me know that she was sony that Inr
inuit wns in a bothersome mood. The darling could
tee I was worried myself, ami Baked the n.uestiou to
fake the obi lady oil me.
? ii he lives il.igb the night,1 I answered,' it's a*
much as I d.in- hope for hun.
They both started. 'Ishe dying 1 is lu io near
death as tb it V exclaim) d Florence, in a low voice,
lilli of aw,- ami inly.
- Poor. p..o! follow !' cried Aunt Damaris
? Am! he's lying alone there !' said Florence,' a ith
nut anybody to attend to hun. Oh, Jack, von musl
let tue go to him. lt musl be dreadful to die with
people talking near you, and yet nobodt coming to
suv ii prayer, i" utter a word, to show thal you are
thought of.'
1 fold lur t > go by all tie-an*. Saying thut In i
presence would be sure to comfort the poor fellow,
win. might talk to her, and speak to ber .u bis
borne, with mora freedom than bo wonld venture
upon wit li uni' ni lu- , i'.v n sex ; ami 1 stepped OUt on
iiifk. br,i,k', indeed, t".> mu. h troubled about the
weather, aud the thoughts it put into my head, to
dwell upon the mate, though in easier times the
dying man would not, I think, have lacked plenty
of '. n i put liv and constant attention at m> bands.
,-in iimi; had charge ol thc a .,t, li. and I iou ml bun
near the wheel, staring aloft al the tops iii-, dur
with tim damp, witb ? look now and tben at the
wen thii hon/ n, l, that was near to us with the thick
lies-, while lhe brig labored distressingly amid the
hollows whicb < ime fawning oul of the imother,
green aa butti-- glass, and laced witb broth that the
wind now nml again would blow over (he rail.
'Thia is the second da*, ol this beastlyeeeterlj
wind,' said 1 to him. 'I wouldn't call it serious
now-, ii'I could reckon anona fair wind tomorrow,
or even the next, to bold for a month or two, or to
time ii- into the arms of a ship. Hut it ha-au
ibly sen led look.'
Yes, it do look settled, certainly,' he replied.
ig his moist face round the sea; ' whoevci says
westerly breezes prewiil in these waters hasn't got
ii,in,i ol tbe truth in him.'
?I'd laugh at such weather,' 1 continued,' if thii
lniU' mill sail; but what's tobe douo with an old
cask like this, that, even witb lin* weather-braces
cl,cul.eil, drifts to leeward like the smoke from bei
galley chimney, aud almost a * fast f
?There's no ase talking of retching with her,
thai' - plain,' replied thu l... sun,
?We have 1..ucl", provisions for sis weeks. The
ladies have no clothes but what they stand up in.
and we Strathmore'* ineu sr* pretl y ne irly a- badly
off. My fancy ls t" shift the i,- lui. and stretch away
north and i sk il : but, ilnnk ..i the wind, after wi
bad mmle a few hundred miles nf westering, coining
on to blow again (rora the w< stw ard '? It's a fearful
job to bc iii u vessel that won't go to windwai I. ll
we don't mind onr eye, bo'sun, we may he knocking
aboul in the Surah .lane four months hence, rm,i
making a woree shipwreck of il than had wi I i
to *-t. Paul's.'
Ho tried to encourage me bj saying there wasm
fear of that: bul I was in low spirits, and unable b
take a hopeful view; why*, even my former assured
belief that we should sight a ship loin- before om
provisions ran out, and be succored bi her, becami
hut a dim, faint thurn, when I looked into tin
thiekness, and reflected upon tie huge surface ol
water wi-w,if upon, how lit-ii of it, even iu eleni
weather, w,- .. n abb- to iee, u td bow -inp- passim
us at a distance ol six or seven lea*, iee .sou!' beni
m. more accounl to ns than wi re tbe great lu.lim
Ocean nnnavigated I.v any ott), fabric than ours
1 remained on deck all thc morning, trusting thal
the weather might clear, and enable mo to gel ;
\ lew of the sun, and maying for a shin of a Inu am
a visible horizon, with a mimi worried hy thinkiui
whether we onghl to hold on nsw.- were or toni
helm and bear awai northwest. At half-past 12 !
want into tin' cabin for a bit of dinner, and then
found florence and her aunt fresh from the dyini
luau, both ol them looking terrible dejected.
? \\'.- have been praying with bim, atirl r.-miitu
from a Bible be noa, said Violence. ? Ile rn rori
grateful. Oh, Jack, nc is .lying faat. He fain toi
twice aller telling us,eagerly, aboul his tnothei
and how. when he is gone, tba will have nu one ti
support ber. He knows be bi dying, ami oh,' sb
cried, with lur colorless face full ora kind of hoi
mi. ? it's dreadful to notice how be recoils from th
Idea of benn; t bmw n imo tin- sea.'
"He'll not know -he'll not know u, Florene*
winn it happens,' exclaimed the old linly. When
du- im rather be buried in the sci than in a finn, I
yard.1
' Yes,' I said, ' tin* ocean's a sweeter and pure
cemetery than an acre of around full <>i worms; un
a hammock's a better coffin than au oak hoi. p,m
for Qod's sake, don't hf ns talk of death and hoi
rora.' Ami I started offal a rattle upon whatevc
cheerful thing came into my bead, -ii tmx down bi
side Florence, and fondling and soothing her till
had brought something like color in lui faceagali
Hut, preserve us! tin- ni ttl ut inn was a wild one fi
those two to ho in?a d\ I'ltr; man hurd by to en
phaaite their miserable oondition, a crazy old bri
staggering dod knowe where, through weather lit t
make a m.in hang himself, (umping; rellim
heaving, wobbling i? <? manner to till every bone i
om's boil-, with un aching aa sharp as rheumatism
amidships ol the biggest track nt ocean in iii
world, with sit weeks provisions aboard fora roj
AMS that mi^ht last as mane months, if ever lt ton ii
a termination. 1 tell you, old Alphonso Hawke
palace at Clifton rose up in mv mina when I glanci
round the Saiuh .lane's deck In,use, and co nt res te
the beggi n's me.il of ii .labor two and a piece i
? salt i il uk. t lint went sprawling about til
table, with thc dinner Hnwke bsd given asia h
dining-room, when I was looking love into mj pel
eyes over the beaded run of a champagne kIu
And it ill my darling was with me! I bat was st.tm
thing, after all, io put sunshine into tint bri)
thouah thc skv lay like a lead color.ul sheet over tl
v? -.I; thi- old ocean, that 1 was cursing and lost!
lng for the foul winds of it, hail niven her to nu
thc beautiful flower was m my heart, mine and ni
body'* cine, c.iine what, niicbt, whether we fetohc
England or Australia, or whether we sunk lucie
others arms to tho bottom of thc sea; and thong
tin* liut fancy was not orcr-inspiritlng, thc u-st wi
all so 'ruc that lt put a sort of gayoty into me, ant
with ruy arm round Florence's waist, letting the oj
lady think my design waa to support her, I cha1
ternd myself IntS something like good spirits and
Iiml them both smiling soon, ami even laughing,
though under their breath, for the Benet of the flynn/
man behind tbe bulkhead there dropped like a hush
upon them. He died that night, lt weBSsblaekae
pitch mi ihe!;, the seas breaking over tin- hug, md
tin- wind thick with salt water and sunalia ofrain i
nnd I weill into the deok-bouBSto take the shelter
of U for a -pell. ami. when there, thought I'd st en in
to lin- mali'- berth, ami -"' how h. .lui, 1 knocked,
1ml \iiiii Damaris aaid i 'He'll be too feeble to an?
swer yon ; he eonld scarcely --p. ak to Plorem c wh n
sin- wu-, with hun. aboul. two hours ago.' rio]
one rn-'I I lie doorJlUd weill in, and spic I bun, by tho
lighl ol' lim i ibm I uni- !> i'm' al??'.". the fh.k. will,
lr face down and his arms stretched out. I fancied
ni n I .ml : lint If had wauled In'lp. ..ml gol
..ul of Ins bunk and fallen down foi Wi I
swooned] till I looked close, ami -iw a sui .'b
1.1.uk trickle on tin- ni.mk bis mouth was against;
urti ih, i. lillimur him gentlv, 1 kue-s bt the lu-t
.. I ol hiui tbal lu- was stone dead, for tbe ri
.,i ? corpse that*-* um . lng cold ls a thur.' not ?
mistaken. (-".I knows how he ca*" to boon the
deck ; Uni ? mav have come ta him a denth-strugith
;', .i routed him over t1 edge of his bunk, or he had
? - summon help, beiiiji too t- ebie to --h..ut lor
it; auvway, there he waa, dead! bo I raised him,
finding lcm shockingly light, little more, indejsl,
i skeleton, and put him into his hunk again ;
and tin n, jit-t giving tue nowa to I 1 .rance ami ber
aunt as i,ie..l past. I told a couple ol bands to
lav all with :i hauiltlock ami needles a ml t \-ni", ami
the pool fellow up, ami carry hun awes for?
ward for the sailor's leal toes wh ti the morning
. auu-.
Ii hardly needed this thing to sadden me. Of all
th. nights thal I had passednl seanonehad ovei
found me so dejected, so nuxtoua, so oppressed in
mind, ns thal one. 1 was weak enough to imagitu
some dreadful ill was soon to befall us. and tbat tho
distress of my spirits waa a presentiment "i it. Tho
truth I-*. I waa (heavily weighed down by tbi
ofilia responsibility. Here wu- I, in sole charge of
:il I itu- liv ts a I ma ni this brig: aiul, as il tli.il WCN
mu enough, one "i them sn Innnitoly precious to me
that tin- raine of .i made a load of the obligation
almost too heavy tot a young fellow of twenty-five
years old and who for three yeera bad reareely set
eves on the -ii. io stand up nnder. They say that
lin- iu",I ot preserving the life of ons dear to you
puts nerve into \ ou, ami n ill "rive you a kimi ol' pre.
Unnatural strenirth when you wan! it. This may
be title of novel lu roes, bill lt's tulse if said of lue.
Why, If it hadn't been for Florence being with me -
ii IM known she wasaafeal home?I'd nave found
our -hipw reek, and w bal followed u. the island and
aboard tho brig, little more thu a trifling sen Inci?
dent. No, it was th,- thoughts c -sr that kept me
worrying, oh, matts, it waa true enough tnat I
might forget lier hardships and peril in thiaioy ber
pu -i ii, e li", e mo when 1 wan in th ? cabin talking to
iur, [omiting ber,making her look al me,that I
might ste lur luart shining il) her beaut,fill eyes;
out ir wu- otherwise when, on that black evening,
I'd -.inp to peer at her through a deck-house win?
dow, and tin ii carry mj gaze awaj io theinotion
less blackness overhead, in win.-li tin- bun's spars
Wile HO mole to lie Sf ell t Ililli Ililli she In 'll ll llis
uiasted hulk; ami watch tbe lump of her, which
yon mildil bave lol low cd by nolie i.u-' the dive of tim
black outline forward into tin- faint, glimmering
-wnl -In- hove np in yeast aud -now ; uu.l listen io
th.- wild raving ofthe wind aloft, and the rattling
ot spray, falling upon tin- decks line i thunder?
shower; 'inti think of the tall, light hull driving
dead to leeward, as though sin- would bave mo
understand that no favoring wind could blow to h
uiL'f Inr forward, bul that tne fast adverse breeze h
that followed would rettie ber bink to the old spot d
agam, ami h.. leave na nothing nuder heaven to hoi s
for bul tbe rescue from a paasiua ship. Yet, though
my boding was the most reasonable thing in toe
world, 1 don't forgive myself for it ? it was un
sailorly ; and I'll not resent your sneers, though I'll
ask you to remember that I bad passed (brough
cm.nun anxiety to strum my nerves cruelly fault
and t lint my having command of tbe brm forced I *
more harassing thought Into me than waa likely to > a
trouble thc other-, w h.. looked to my brains to haul ; i
them clear of their jeopard]. and not to their own.
N'.-xi morning found the weather uuchanged save
thal the wind waa blowing a point more easterly.
The see had somewhat increased in height, snd the
brig was rolling with ber decks full of water, i bsd
the weil Bounded tin- moment I comoon deck,hat
found the vessel stanch, which 1 accepted almost an
a miracle, for sin- had been tailoring heavily for
iiiuiiv hours, and her creaking ami groaning might
have made any man believe that she wan working
all tin- oakum out of her. The base brought tim
water-line within a nu le ol' US. Somers waa on .leek,
and he said to ma: 'Most unlucky weather this, sir.
That Inland o' yourn'll be heaving in sight pres?
ently again, 1 allow. We've done nothen tor thc
last three days but drift back to when- we started
from; ami with the height o' aide the Baire] Jane
shows, ye univ reckon we've done nil two mile nu
hour in that way.'
?I've made up my mind. Somers,' said f, 'when
we've buried your pour mate, to up helm and tue
this wind. Its idle trying for Australia. Ay, and
it ll be Idle trying for tne I ipe. There's nothing tor
it but to try and run into tine weather and get taken
out ol this nimi barge by a ship. Why, even witb
a gale of wind astern, should we fetch tbeAustra
liuu coast in six weeks 1 No; and yt*t we bave bul i
?ix weeks'provisions aboard, living aa we do now.
If allowance, which if it weren't for a bit of
pickled goat's mt .<t now auiPagain, and those crabs,
winch wal, be all gone shortly, eithei through being | '
devoured or putrefying, would pretty ucarty starve i (
the tu o imii,.-.' j ,
?Well,' be replied, with a slow look round.'! !
think ye'ie abuiit right, Mr. Seymour, slr, If we
can't gel mole provisions, there's nothen to be done
with tb," brig by sailing ol her. Winn the wessel aa
ko w,ts w il!m' tor io take aa aboard and Iel
the >.urey .laue no, I was anni that offer In-. .Hiv I I
see the poor mate didn't relish the notion of giving
up; hut /.f's gone, ami onless we waul to folio*
Inui. 1 dunno that we eould do better than ship our
ielvi - aboard tic first craftae may bo willing to
take us.1
?Jost so," said I; 'and bink at the brig I is-he
worth Bulviugf there's not a ha'i-orth of cargo in
ber, -imi 1 am -ii.1.1 ii she'd fetch fifty pounds ii an
auction, she's only lit t<? scuttle, so as uot to bc in
Un: v av of the n:u iiril loll. You'll (rel UO . ap!.un Io
put o.ie nt ins mat's ab .ard to nail ber t" a pori ;
and though I've promised t<> stick to her if you and
the others a ho formed her crew refuse to Leave bi i.
I'm too anxious to gel clear of ber not to earnestly
i m isli thc name thing.'
'Give us tlc chance.' sahl be. io his slow way,
? an' 1 don't think ye'll timi us wiitin' to stop.'
This ans vci was to my fancy ; for?confound tho
fellow ',?1 had really behoved that he and bis mutes
wouhl stick to the brig, ii only for the wages they'd
luke up when the*, is'ot ashore; and the promise I
hui made to stay with bim, if I could gel nobody
from a passing ship to navigate il.1,1 hulk, stuck
in m v throat, ami waa the most Indigestible incinoiy
that .vcr Inui u in a lump in my mind till Will am
Homers gave me that answer. Well, weall weal to
breakfast -ii about a quarter before H. Ibe boy be
longinu '" tho Sarah Jane, who waited upon us in
tbe cabin, caine aft witb the tea, ami florence and
ber inuit emerged from their berth. The tir-t thing
tho old lady said was to ask me it wc were making
any progress toward Australia.
' Not au atom.' -uni 1. "It we're bound any where
at all, it's to the island we're from.'
? My gracious!' she bmiealed, and Florence stretch?
ing .mt lur bands, ci ied i
? i Mi, ? Jack, wini! ?ir we lo dot'
1 made my darling sit dow u by me, .inti explained
to her and ber .mut tbat the wind was Mowing
strong from the cast; thal an easterly wind, like a
ci, bus nine livs; thal we were aol sailing at all,
bm drifting dead to the westwanl; that Ihe
weather was as thick us mod and l"..k. ,t is if it
mci ni to k. ,p -H. and lhat w hen WC buried 1 .* mate
I intended t>? square away for the Cape ol i.ua.d
ll.'!".
?Ami suppose lhe wind should change and blow
from the west,' saul Aunt Damaris.
?Miss Hawke.' I replied, 'tin-.e's aonsoinsnp
l.t't me give you some of this tea. Lord, il
looks mtv v<!i.nv Hus morning?quito forecastle
tea, I declare. Hut un matter; we must consider
milk bilious, and imagine that the doctor luis
ordered us nol t" drink it.'
? lb.- purl "i "ni tearful voyage, wonld not be bo
very, very awful, if we bad only more clothes,'
moaned my poor little pet,
? i here's no ase complaining, Florence,' said Aunt
Damaris: ' Mr. .luck cannot buy clothes for us '
'Though 1 would it 1 could, my own,'cried I,
grasping Florence's baud; 'ay, th,.ugh they bad to
tink me over the side withs deep-sea lead at mj
feet to come at them.'
- oh, 1 know ,v ou would do anything for me, Jack,
and lum very wicked to complain,'said -lu-.with
the hush of a tear in ber eye. 1 k:-se.l her, with a
noble disregard of Aunt I '.minis'- presence, and the
old lady, us was now customary with her. saul in >t li
mg. In truth, ever since the poor thing bsd found
..ut win. I was she had never hecn lu a position to
protest, and I felt that every kiss I ({ave rloreuce in
the presence "1 her aunt furnished her with one
mon- argument to use by and by in mv favor, when
sin- uml lui brother should come to correspond
about or talk over this singular courtship.
?A'hen we bad i lot ie ..ni rory a retched breakfast?
.unI, miserable as it was, halt ol it was lost through
th. abominable jumping nml rollin-,', and sickening,
squelching movements of tin* l>rt? ? I told them (hst
I was it.uni; to bury the mutt', nutt advised them lo
M>,p where they were, for it wouhl hen mid, wet,
dismal service, ami univ lit to deepen their melan?
choly'. They agreed t>> remain iii lin- deck house;
so, looking mt" their .-abm ami finding a church
service amoug the but.ki there, I went on fleck ami
told chilling, who h.ul relieved Bomen, to get
tho body brought to the gangway and semi thc crew
ult. I.u, kv it was Im Aunt Painui.s nml mv
darling they wen- nut present. \\ hy, lo beauts, il
(tues not do I he most tli-luale-hf.il If.I of us h.uni to
be brought lace to face w ith whstevei comes straight
Hom Ood, as death docs; but so many things
which bad nothing to do with death were mixed up
with this mi ii-tiiucral, that it WSS like to become a
memory thai enid m>t benoni ant one it took hold
of: lind, therefore, 1 wu* glad thai Plotence did not
foi ni one nf tin* crowd wini stood upon that brig's
main deck, lu st of all, think ol our situation, tho
innis wt* wan mah from, our black outlook ; mid,
lieu inu ihat in mind endeavor to view ths picture
with UM thoughts such a position as we were tn
w milli put into you : the shroud ot dark sky, with
bitsof gravishm-ud sweeping along it j a girdle of
damp thickness that would contract at times till it
m'' in,-d to close around the brig in blowiug rain: a
high green sea, with hard .ridgee, which dc ult the
igblowswlii.il kepi every Umber ol lur -iiiiver
g, and every now ami then a whit. < iedt carlina
er the for'.vaid weath'T-rail when tue round ta.,-*'
in- Htoopt d into ii dark hollow and a .sim,-- Up to
ir kn.-ch in foam in tits Munnora, while the brio"
. led over to the blow with ;i In ti/:. .| tween of her
nrs ihat brought the heart of tl., . lom r*eefed top
il with a kimi of yenning thump against tho
sst; the eorpse sn the rail ready to tilt, -,,h
ates I von know what thoa, stitched hammocks
n, with the lump of holystone in tin dewai tim
Baning of what's inside stealing oul tl rough the
inded, pointed shape -and tl ? , ?,,,
until.r the bend; and the rugged olive-green of
f hmi/, ,n waving and slanting clo* in the dim?
es which will open a bil ai timi ? t, thc n-Dall
at hus ri !n tl v if h A shriek ti .. ' wof
ita ami llb i s bil into lhe gi tier to b,-,.
ard.
filed waa I when the ceremony waa over, snd thi
dy caine. Yam ian pool old Homers ?-r>? i?- .viih.t,
a ' III W |||| WisttUlm ? I.''. "L'l t , tlit)
unmocb it:i iud out .,| Bight, ami the inn.- rolled
? h. ? to windward with a buud . her
-. ami i bini/, moaning sob ol . bing
,! along bei lee bein!.. M if lu- ton [li henri i
me overboard with bin dead shipmate and In- wu..
aiting tot v to coma beek ami n eke ,. man of lum
fain. Ami staggering aud Im, bin but all ui
ucl a- mu ?. the men wt re i ia* ing I lu ir way tor
ui.l when I sung our to tbem to m in tin fore ami
nm braces, and stand bv to haul the yard* round
|U ,1' u ' tbe in ?)) wits lilli, uti r.
? I'll tell you why,' I called t., th- m, il,mk ng An
.pl.uiutioii waa due to th' tn, ng tiny
anted it, from tbe looa in their faces; -tbiiw i
ie been blowing for tbree days and and if
h.isn't ,lr,Heil i.spreltv neal t" -' rani'
V"U
av (ase il. mv lads, tb.il th.it ami Anu-.ti ulam
Land ure ii."* i.d "it. It's ascii ss thinking ot Ana?
ni ia in the bu ? of an eu-i. riv wind, snd in n ting
i.it won't gu to windward. Bo tit bo'sun, and
liners, niui I hive couie to the conclusion thal ?e
m'r du better than up helm, end let thia href-re
lOW Us west-uur'wcsf lol the 1'apf i , (lOOtl Hopp ?
*, rather, for clear weather and the tim -thia we
in siMnal that'll take us off tin- icow-h mk. That's
, bf.vs. Wheel, there' ht Inr no ot ? pintly ;
etch hera- -he go,-*., mv [tod. Kc ur leo
in- and weather ?uun-biseea.'
Ami I ran alt to thc w iu fl to watch tin ?? ,u tb fm ll
i she fell ml. With th- fore-topsail -..-?<-i- d hom..
id the foresail loosed reedi for setting, abs rolled
ul wallowed roaad on ber "hi heel dryly ami
mils,imel'a. Every reef was ihaki n "..t ami the
inls mastheaded, the topgallsot-aail set, and tlio
aili-.ul with the weather clew sp; and with a
tuple of hands stationed forward on the lookout?
ir I hud not the leant ifleu of ajur position, having
?en nothing of tl,,- sun tor thro- .la-,-, .-ind Ul?
umbie of Judging our tlrift, owing to thc Buguess*
ileeend sf tbe seas which had bellied her along
iStex than the wild had shoved Inr-the .**arali
tue. vicliling io the pressure, wein staggering for*
.ml w ith a neree sputtering uni creaming ol' lonni
nb r run bow s, icti bini.' so heavily as to make amara
ga unless without one's banda, her course wsst
u w.-st, anti the w mit yelling in half ? gab* t)'...r
ie weather quarter oal of tlc impenetrable mist.
Well, this turning tail proved swisai urae after
il: because, for there more blessed .i.e. ? ami nightn
id that cast wind blow, thickening sea and sky al
ines till thc brig was a mere phantom In it, swept
award. I never got sn observation; nil within
itv or a hundred milee, maybe, I did not know
here we wire; but this did not trouble me. be
inse, as we kiuvv to our sorrow, WC bad COOntleag
.agues "i si'ia-iooiu before am! behind aiul mi either
nml of us, and, as we steered, were bound to rna
awn fhe Cape tiff limul Hopi- if we could only held
ii hm we were laug enough. I'd congratulate mysolf
fiirtily on having determined t" make use ot* thi*
ind when I'll come on fleck ami iiml the Sarah
MIS Still swirling helorc it. with her bow sprit at.
orthweat, and tbe tall, dark seas chasing her, with
gray albatross, perhaps, screaming iu tne hollow,
ml think if the picture we should nave made had
t- still kept the brigs nose at the surfi ?the yardi
?,un*t the toe-rigging, nothing chowing but a nar?
ee hand of topsail, the decks streaming, and tho
easel blowing away, Qod*3tnows where, like a buoy
mt's gone adrift. This regular sailing, moreover,
ut ni nil Into good spirits; the tall sides of tho
essei kept her dry; tne men were no longer being
u-ln il ont ol' tin- tleek-housi* by the tons of w.itcr
hicli the brig, when close-hauled, had taken over
cr weather how; the notion, though violent;
ii.nigh, was regular, a long, sweeping, teething
iving up, followed hya slanting, Hosting mun
own, then a kind of staggering roll in the trough
pon the half-sea there* ami a Int of a lull on deck,
, it Ii t1u> canvas shouting above, and ao on .-nd so
ti, as rhythmical (nita way as the stroke of a pen*
ilium ; and though there wu-no In, k ofdiacoaH
art. yet a greal deal <-t heart .ame into th,- 'aceaof
ll, I noticed; moro hope to Aunt Damaris's, men
t>- ami lighr ru my pct h. as hour alf. i lu.ur went
y,and found the obi bri:: with ber clnmaj winni
utstretched, thrusting through the snow et thu
urges as if she were as anxious to sigbl a civilised
oast aa we were, and knew the road to it now tlut
be had l-'"t her head west.
In all those days nothing was sighted; nor was
hat surprising. In the midst of a -moth, i flint
i..nhl sometimes make the mar mastheads appeal
un ; yt-t io;- all,tbat a bright lookout w as kent, aiul
li re was no need toftell the tnen'to ukin their eyes,
itber, as the whalemen say; tor all bauds uniass
t* nit! the case exactly; ourdependoi e* waa upon a
i-si in* hy a passing -Tup; our six weeks'provisions
rould soon oe a months, then a fortnight's Mien .ii
ay's; snd all hands hud -cen enough .u tbe Sarah
ane's weatherly qualities not t" ai i tl instrut Lion to
.?I c. ive thnt, unless we were taken ont of her, why,
?ng after tin last fragment of biscuit bad been de*
mired, .inti t In- last drop of water supped, we night
till be u thonaand miles away from port.
Well, tue night ol the sixth day. dating from tho
int of the easterly wind, came and found tin- gib?
or it was half a oin*, anyway moderating, with a
learance around the sea. I turned lu ai midnight,
cry anxious, wondering what we wen-to il,, if ir,
I.oiil.l eoiiic to blow from the westward,or even
rom tbe north; and for half an hom lay, desner>
tely restless and anxious, under the old blanket
h: t formed mv bed-clothes, tilt. lui:,, dos tired, ..h
allora say. I fell asleep and eleni till davbreak,
'he thump ot something against tl deck-house
ntside aroused me, and hearing t lie sound of roteag
inging out. nml ot ropes dung down, I instantly
rent on neck, snd found the watch bracing the
ml- round to a light southerly wind. A-t, rn fhe
ky was brightening feat, nnd the pink of the
oming sun was sifting np into tho blue trom behind
be sea, and Boating along the water there. Tho
leather was as clear a- tri mb, a fi a stare languish
ag low down peet tho hows, and a southerly ewi ll
anning up in indigo folds iiittlxl I.v the rn,, ce,
'Well,'said I t?> Bomen, nho hun charge,' thank
oul that the wind isn't weal ur nu th. anyway,
[ere'a a wonderful change since midnight. Any -
liing in Bight, I wonder ?"
1 whs looking astern us I said this, and thc --ky
li, re waa buming tercely. On a sudden the rim of
be -un shot up like a BUSh ot linnie. i',ul ,11 a breath
I wat brilliant daylight, and thc finn...ni B th.inti
if deep blue, with a wreath or two ol .loud in tho
oiith. and a brightening .if tbe azure uno the ea it
ill it was all white glory. I took mv -i^ht ott ibo
la/./l ing quarter, for lt waa more than I rould bear,
uul looked searchingly nlong tlu sea-liuc. All ats
ince a man who had necn coding down a rope ,
0 where 1 was standing cried, m n breath!* -s nert
il fashion: ? Why. whats that 'tin re .' ueoke, i- il I'
kV ith one him.I against his t',,r> bead he poiuted with
h.- other u little way to the right ol tbe - in, -t.umg
withoul a blink at the dazzle. Low ,i- bia cn
libers a little way heyend heard him. aud three ei
i beni shouted in oin- vioce : ' A steam. .' - mi oil ??. sh !'
nnd joined us. pointing and pending and peering.
1 lien I could see U plainly enough, a Hue, web-hke
il,irk line breaking away ont of i lu- haze ol light and
ii.,at ng into tbe north. 'Ot me tbe glass.'] cried.
Ii ? as broughl uml placed in my band. 1 point*il .t
to w herc th. liue of -moke terminated, and gradu?
ally worked the lens along to where Ibe vapor
issued from the sea, by thal n .toiuing my
.ve to tin- brilliance there: an.tm and again Iliad
to drop thc telescope to clesr ni} sigl I ol the s .ter
which the brightness broughl Into it; ami all tim
w bile the iiuu stood around me so st ill thal I could
hear their deep breathing. At la-t 1 Sprang out.it!
my knc.-iini-' posture,
1 Men, shea heading our way. lier funnels ami
spin.-, are lifting quick. .*-!..?'- coining aluna h.uni
overhand,' 1 snouted. A wild chea brou frons.
them.
?Where's the euaignf1 1 bawled, 'rindit, ut.tl
lmist u ja, i*. doa n :it the topgallant-inset.'
Somers sprawled over to u -mull Iii -locker clOSt
against tbe wheel, and hauled out an old . unign.
? Let gu the topgallant-halliard*,' 1 ia lg oil t, ' that
tl,-sail mr. I.-oin ofthe road ol' i h- rigual. Bend
on ami linis! away! up with it- up wi! li it I'and in
a minute the tlag. jink down, was mastheaded, ana
lluttcring it- red folds fair anon the breeze.
All bauds wein now on deck, fol t li, :?' ts, some?
how, a milgie in a piece of exciting mw- al wa thal
will rouse ont Bleepers without a touch of the basal
er a aouud of the voiee * and thej all stood nesr tnt
deck-house?a middling thick group?staring tata
ths eaat. I waa running to esl! Florence and Aunt
Panuni-, when 1 saw them coming.
- Whnt is it. Mr. .Lu kt what ia it V cried ont the
old lady nt a sh.up, i.tw \ des >>1 wild ex< .t- ment.
? Lon!*.,' I answered, pointing
'Aunt, it's a steamer" shrieked rio'., ncc, and the
suulight Sashed In hst eyssssshe strainsd thom
wide open. . ? ,
?Will sh.- trike us ort tim brig T will she take ns
oil'the lu ig T' called out the pom old lady, like SM
shouting In ? fever.
? 1'i.iy be calm, Kiga Hawk'-.' sala': I . IBS up
yonder?there's a aiatrees signal they're bound to iu
i'liiic into th** meaning of. uh. they'll lake sss*
have ii" tear.' And asking Shilling foi tbeglitaStl
aga ii knelt and examined tim approaching rmam.
.-she was coming along at attn pu. e. Wt '>u''",1
looked thia time ber funnel --a- hove above UM
gleaming sea-line, and ber masts, whet her two or
mora, came into one as sh,* beaded deail mr n* nm
the splendor of the morning bothered the eve. .ina
it took um a tidy while IO muk.' sure thm SUS nus
steering right on for us. ., .,___ i
?Weil bene, heave Hm Wig to. Mi' hug. sai.l I
'and g.-t tho g.? over. maj v* boarding tba
Bteamer.1 ,
lobe OenUmumt.
Tiik PlOIRM ______f______\f_\%* Seat
Begete is one af tbe eoniDiuaUsBB ebsM**U I ??__?_?___
seretto tlcsct." Ueg.de, eh I l'bts niustW '.',?, ft " vb*
which Mu? ichiwefts put limier last fad; *"l_!{*J*_o.
neile way .?f spellnw big Hole that ns .lout mioiuo.
?Pestfieswa ucr-ud.