The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-11-08

" Is there no way of opening COM
munlcatlon with her?o he asked of an
Old eeast-guard man.
Why, you see, we have sent to Bill
ford for Manby's rockets; but she must
break mp before they Gomez
How far is it to Bilford ?''
Better than seven miles, yer honor"
If we could get a rope to them, we
might save the crew."
-" Every one of them, yer honor, but
1t amt possible"
y | think a man might swim out"
"The first wave would dash him to
pieces against the cliff
What depth OF water below ?"
!" The cliff goes down like wall forty
fathoms at least"
" The deeper the better. What dis
lance to the water?'
4 good fifty feet"
g Well, I have dived Off the main
yard Of the Chesapeake. Now listen to
me. Have you got some light, strong
rope?:n
. As much as you like.o
" Well take q double coil around my
chest, and do you take care to pay it out
fast enough as | draw upon it,
:" You won't draw much after the first
plunge-it will be the same thing as
suicide, every Bit"
"Well, we shall see. There's no time
to be lost;lend me knife.o
And in an instant he whipped Off his
hat, boots and pea jacket; then with the
knife he cut off its sleeves and the rope
passed through them, and it might
chafe him less.
The eyes of the old boatman bright
ened. There was evidently method
in his madness. "You are a pretty good
swimmer, | suppose sir?''
II have dived through the surf at
Nukuheva a few times.o
do that"
Tyrawley smiled. "But whatever
you do" he said, "nlind and let me
have plenty Of rope. Now out of the
way my friends, and let me have Il clear
start.o
He walked slowly to the edge of the
cliff, looked over to see how much the
rocks shelved outwards, then returned,
looked to see that there was plenty Of
rope for him to carry out, then took q
short run, and leaped as if from a spring
ing-board of a plunge bath. He touch
ed the water full five and twenty feet
from the edge Of the cliff. Down into
its darkest depths Ae-went like u plum
met, but soon to rise again.
As he reached the surface he saw the
crest of a mighty wave few yards in
front Of him-the wave that he had been
told would dash him lifeless against the
cliff. But now his ok experience of the
Pacific stands him in good stead. For
two moments he draws breath, then ere
it reached him he dives below its centre.
The water dashes against the cliff, but
the swimmer rises far beyond it. A
faint cheer rises from the shore as they
feel him draw upon the rope. The
waves follow in rapid succession, and
he dives again and again, rising like an
otter to take breath, and making very
steadily onward, though more below
the water than above it.
We must now turn to the ship. The
waves made a clean breach over her
bows. The crew are crowded upon her
STERN They hold ON to the bulwarks,
and await the end, for no boat can live
in such sea. Suddenly she is hailed
from the waters. 'Ship-a-hoy!o shouts
Il clear voice, which makes itself heard
above the Storm hrow me a rope or
buey!' The life buoy was still hang
ing in its accustomed place by the main
mast The captain almost mechanically
takes it down, and with well-directed
aim throws it within a yard or two OF
the swimmer. IN II moment it is under
his arms, and in half Il minute he is on
board.
ssCome on board, sir" he says to the
captain, pulling one Of his wet eurls pro-
REASONABLY. The captain appeared to be
regarding him as a visitor from The
lower world; SO turning TO the crew, he
lifted up the rope he had brought from
the shore. Then for the first time the
object Of his mission flashed upon their
minds, and Il desperate cheer broke forth
from all hands, instantly re-echoed from
the shore. Then a strong cable is at
taehed to the small rope and drawn on
board-then a secondhand then com
muneaton is compete. But no time
il 20 i1e lest, for the stern shows signs OF
breaking up, ana there is a lady passel-
ger. Whist the captain is planning u
sort OF chair in which she might nc
moved, i'yrawlv lifts her upon his left
arm, steadies himself with his right BY
the upper rope, and walks along the
! lower cad as If he had been dancer
/ He is the first on shore, fer 10 sai'ol
would leave till tie lady is safe. i>ui
they soon follow, and III live minute,
more, and no trace of her is left.
| Io,als+ai,. Hall hac hpnn arDIspu ly