inquire what steps should be taken, as he considered it advisable to bear up; and the only port under their lee for many miles, was one, with the navigation of which he was himself unacquainted. The vessel was under close-reefed mainsail and storm foresail, almost buried in the heavy sea, which washed over her deck from forward to the companion hatch, when Newton went down to rouse the besotted Thompson, who, having slept through the night without having had recourse to additional stimulus, was more easy to awaken than before. "Eh! what?-blows hard-whew!-so it does. -How's the wind?" said the master, throwing his feet outside the standing bed-place, as he sat up. "N.W., veering to N.N.W. in the squalls.We have lost good ten miles since yesterday evening, and are close to Dudden Sands," replied Newton. "I think we must bear up, for the gale shows no signs of breaking.” Well, I'll be on deck in a moment, my boy," rejoined Thompson, who was now quite himself again, and was busy putting on his shoes, the only articles which had been removed when he turned in. "Go you up, and see that they keep her clean, full and bye-and those casks well secured.-Dudden Sands-awkward place toobut I 've not been forty years a-boxing about this coast for nothing." In a minute Thompson made his appearance on deck, and steadying himself by the weather topmast backstay, fixed his leaden eyes upon the land on the quarter.—“ All right, younker, that 's the head, sure enough;" then turning his face to the wind, which lifted up his grey curling locks, and bore them out horizontally from his fur cap, "and it's a devil of a gale, sure enough,-It may last a month of Sundays for all I know.Up with the helm, Tom.-Ease off the main sheet, handsomely, my lad--not too much.-Now, take in the slack, afore she jibes ;" and the master ducked under the main boom and took his station on the other side of the deck. Steady as you go, now.-Newton, take the helm.-D'y see that bluff ?—keep her right for it. Tom, you and the boy rouse the cable up-get about ten fathoms on deck, and bend it. You'll find a bit ye of seizing and a marling-spike in the locker abaft."-The sloop scudded before the gale, and in less than two hours was close to the headland pointed out by the master. "Now, Newton, we must hug the point or we shall not fetch-clap on the main sheet here, all of us.-Luff, you may, handsomely. That 's all right; we are past the Sand-head and shall be in smooth water in a jiffy. -Steady, so-o.-Now for a drop of swizzle," cried Thompson, who considered that he had kept sober quite long enough, and proceeded to the cask of rum lashed to leeward. As he knelt down to pull out the spile, the sloop, which had been brought to the wind, was struck on her broadside by a heavy sea which careened her to her gunnel; the lashings of the weather cask gave way, and it flew across the deck, jamming the unfortunate Thompson, who knelt against the one to leeward, and then bounding overboard. The old man gave a heavy groan and fell upon his back; the man and boy ran to his assistance, and by the directions of Newton, who could not quit the helm, carried him below, and placed him on his bed. In a few minutes the sloop was safe at anchor, in smooth water, and Newton ran down into the cabin. Thompson's head had been crushed against the chime of the cask; for an hour or two he breathed heavily, and then-he was no more! CHAPTER VI. The Indian weed, unknown to ancient times, The blood distemper'd from its noxious salts; Of " a good pot of porter." PHILLIPS. There's a pot of good double beer, neighbour, Drink SHAKSPEARE. THE next day the remains of old Thompson were carried on shore in the long-boat, and buried in the church-yard of the small fishing town that was within a mile of the port where the sloop had anchored. Newton shipped another man, and when the gale was over, continued his voyage, which was accomplished without further adven ture. |