FICTION IN BRIEF.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2404, 27 September 1892, Page 4

FICTION IN BRIEF.

THE ADVENTURES OF THREE SAILORS. (Continued.) w' ' 01 rottenness after so many years of salt t jJx, andifit goes the vesselsg^." *" I'm for Doardiug her all the same," says Jackson. But fi't of all we pulled round to betwixt the bows of tL. to see what it was thc,t connected them, and we then found that they were held together by something stronger than an JIA grapnjsl. The bluif of the bows came together lfke walls cemented by sand and shell, and it was easy by a mere glance to perceive that they would hold together whilst the sea continue/1 tranquil. Betwixt their heels was a hollow which the round of the whale nicely filled, and there they all three lay, very slowly and solemnly rolling upon the swell in as deep a silence as ever they had risen from. T We hung upon our oars speculating awhile, and then fell to talking ourselves into extravagant notions. Fallows said that if she had been a privateer she might have money in her, or some purchase anyway worth coming at. I was not for ridiculing the fancy, and Jackson gazed at the craft with a yearning eye. •• Let's get aboard," says he. " Very well, " says I, and we agreed that Fallows should keep in the boat roady to pick us up, if the hulk should go down suddenly under us. We easily got aboard. From the gunwale of oar boat we could place our hands upon the level of the deck, wheee the bulwarks were gone, and the shells were likesteps to our feet. There was nothing much to be seen however; the decks were coated with shells as the sides were, and they went flush from the taffrail to the eyes with never a break, everything being clean gone, saving the line of the hatches which showed in slightly raised squares, under the crust oi shells that lay everywhere like armour. "Lord!" cried Jackson; "what would I give for a chopper or pick-axe to smash open that there hatch, so as to get inside of her." •• Inside of her!" says I; " why she'll be full of water!" " That's to be proved, Mr. Small," says be. We walked forward into the bows, and clearly made out the shape of a grapnel thick jwith shells, with its claws upon the bulwark rail of the half-ship alongside, and there was a line stretched between, belayed to what might have been a kevel on a starfchion ol the craft we were in. This rope was as lovely as a piece of fancy work, with tiny shells; but on my touching it, to see if it was taut, it parted as if it had been formed of smoke, and each end fell with a little rattle against the side as though it had been a child's string of beads. We were gaping about us, almost forgetting our distressed situation, in contemplation of the c e astonishing objects which had risen like frosts from the mysterious U,art of the deep, when we heard Fallows calling, and on our running to the side to learn what he wanted, we saw him standing up in the boat, pointin o like a madman into the Southward. It was the white canvas of a vessel, clearer to u* than to him, who was lower by some feet. The air was still a weak draught, but the sr'l was rising with a nimbleness that mada us know she was bringing a breeze of wind along with her, andinhalf-an-hour's time Bhe h*d risen to the black line of hei bulwrrks rail, disclosing the fabric of what was apparently a brig or barque, heading a most det <1 on her end for us. * Jackson and I at once tumbled into the boat, but we were careful t« keep her clost to the two craft, and the amazing platform they floated on, for they furnished out a show that vas not to be missed aboard nhe approaching vessel, whereas the boat must make little more than a speck, though but balf-a-mile distant. The breeze the vessel was bringing along with her was all about us presently with a threat of wet and of weight in it. We stepped an oar, with the shirts atop, and they blew out bravely and made a good signal. "Why see, Mr. Small!" cries Jackson cm a sudden, " ain't she the Hindoo Merchant ?" I stood awhile, and then joyfully exclaimed, " Aye, 'tis the old hooker herself, thatfksbe to God." I knew her by her short ioretop-gallant roast, by her chequered band, and by other signs clear to a sailor's eye, and the three oi us sent up a shout of delight, for it was like stumbling upon one's very home, as it ware, after having been all night lost amidst the blackness and snow of the country where one's house stands. She came along handsomely, with foam to the hawsepipe, thanks to the freshening breeze, and her main royal and topgallantsail clewing up as she approached, for our signal had been seen; then drove close alongside with her topsail aback, and in a few minutes we were aboard shaking hands with Captain Blow and all others who extended a fist to us, and spinning our yarn in response to the eager questions put. "But what have you there, Mr. Small ?" says Captain Blow staring at the two craft and the whale. I explained. " Well,"cries he, " call me a missionary if ever I saw such a sigh tas that afore! Have ye boarded the vessel ?" porting to the one that was whole. "Yes," said I, "but there's nothing Bat shells to look at." " % " Hatches open ?" says N .he. "No," says I, "they are as securely cemented with shells as if the Stuff had been laiddowitb a trowel." X'^ivr Jackson, Fallows, the boatswain an,d a few of the darkeys stood near, eageriyjeatcbing what we saio. 4 5 - " A woßo-.erful sight truly!" said tSiftain Blow, surveying the objects with a face almost distorted .with and admiration. " How -mafltf years will t|ey have been asleep think yd, Mr. Small?" +X • "AH a hundred, sir,"says I. " Ay," says he, " I've seen many prints Of old ships, and I'll allow tha"t it's all a hundred as you say, since she and the likes of she was afloat. Why," cries he with a sort of a nervous laugh as if half ashamed of what he was about to say, " who's to tell but that there may be a chest or two of treasure stowed away down in herlazerette ?" " That very idea occurred to me, sir," says I. "By your pardon, capt'n," here interrupted Jackson, knuckling his forehead, " but that may be a question not hard to settle if ye'H send me aboard with a few tools." The captain looked as if he had a mind to entertain the idea, then sent a glance to windward. "She'll be full of water," said I. "Ay," said the Captain, turning to Jackson, " how then ?" " We can but lift a hatch and look for ourselves, sir," answered the man. " Right," says the Captain ; "but you'll have to bear a hand. Get that cask on board. Any water in it ?" says he. " Yes sir." says I. "Thank God for the same then," sayshp. But whilst .they were manoeuvring with th» £>sßK the breeza freshaned ia a stgiden iquall, and all in a minute as it seemed a sort of sloppy sea was set a running. The saptain looked anxious, yet still seemed willing that the boat should go to the wreck. I sent some Lascars aloft to furl the loose :anvas, and whilst this was doing, the wind Freshened yet in another long-drawn blast that swept in a shriek betwixt our masts. "There's nothing to be done!" sung out the skipper, " get that boat under the fall, Jackson ; we must hoist her up." The darkies lay aft to the tackles and [ackson climbed over the rail with a countenance sour and mutinous with disappointment. He had scarcely sprung on to the (lo be continued.)