Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-06-04

there are plenty of hares on the island
and we mean to give puss run to-mor
row. I have heard that you are goot
rider. Will you join us?''
"You must excuse me, Colonel, such 6
thing is neither in my way of duty OF
my pleasure"
"You forget the honor the Colonel does
you. JONES'" said young Ensign Powell
~ thank the Colonel for.his courtesy
but can see no good reason for accept.
ing it. am sure my horse will not ap-
prove of it; and am not a good rider
therefore, l should Lot enjoy it.n
"You need not be afraid" said the
Colonel, rather sneeringly; "the coun-
try is quite open, and these low Maux
walls are easily taken."
Excuse me, Colonel. 1 am afraid
If should be hurt it would cause my
mother and sisters very great alarm and
anxiety. [ am very much afraid of do
ing this"
What was to be done with man so
obtuse regarding conventionalities, and
who boldly asserted his cowardice? The
ously, and Ensign Powell took Jones's
place.
The morning proved to be very bad
one, with the prospect of rising storm
and as the party gathered in the barracks
yard, Jones said earnestly to his Col
Onel:
II am afraid, sir, you will meet with
a severe storm"
II think so, Lieutenant; but we prom
ised to dine at Gwynne Hall, and we
shall get that far at any rate.H
| So they rode rather gloomily away in
the rain. Jones attended to the military
duties assigned to him, and then, about
noon, walked seaward. It was hard
work by this time to keep his footing on
the quay; but amid the binding spray
and mist he saw quite crowd of men
going rapidly toward the great shelving
Scarlet Rock, mile beyond the town.
He stopped an old sailor and asked:
'Is anything wrong?"
"a little steamer, sir, off ia Calf of
Man; she is driving this way am infect
[ fear she will be on ia rocks afore ia
night"
Jones stood still a moment, and then
followed the crowd as fast as the storm
would let him. When he Joined them
they were gathered ON the summit of a
huge cliff watching the doomed craft
She was now within sight, and it was
evident that her seaman had almost lost
ali COhtAOA VI AO1s koAC LIIuSU GIG 1OuS Ut
flung by the waves upon the Jagged and
frightful rocks toward which She was
driving. In the lull of the wind, not
only the booming of the minute gun,
but also the shouts of the imperiled crew
could be heard.
"What can be done ?" said Jones to
an old man whose face betrayed the
strongest emotion.
Nothing, sir, am afraid. If she'd
manage to rount ia rocks, she would
have gone to pieces on ia sand, and there
are plenty of men who would have risk
ed their life to save life. But how are
we to reach them from this height ?n
"How far are we above water ?"
"This rock goes down Ikea wall forty
fathoms, sir"
"What depth of water at the foot ?"
"Thirty feet or more"
GOOD. Have you plenty of light,
long rope?"
Much as you want. sir but let me
tell you, sir, you can't live ten minutes
down there ia first wave will throw
you on ia rocks and dash you ia pieces.
Plenty of US would put you down, sir.
but you can't swim if you got DOWN.
''Do you know, old man, what surf
swimming is? I have dived through
the surf at Nukuheva."
"GOd bless you, sir! l thought no
white man could do that samen
While this conversation was going on
Jones was divesting himself of all super
fluous clothing and cutting out the
sleeves of his heavy pea-jacket with his
pocket-knife. This done, he passed some
light, strong rope through them. The
men watched him with eager interest,
and, seeing their inquisitive look, he
said:
1.-THE thick sleeves will prevent the
rope cutting my body, you see."
".Ay, ay, sir, see now what you are
doing"
"Now, men, I have only one request:
Give NE plenty of rope as fast as / draw
on you. When I get on board-you
know how to make cradle. I sup
pose?"
"Ay, ay, sir; but how are you going
to reach the water?
II am going to plunge down. I have
dived from the main-yard of the Ajax
before this. 1t was as high leap"
He passed a double coil of the rope
around his waist, examined it thorough
ly to see that there was plenty to start
with, and saying, "Now, friends, stand
out of the way and let me have clear
start" raised his bare head one moment
towards Heaven, and, taking a short
run, leaped, as from the spring board of
plunge-bath.
Such an anxious crowd as followed
that leap! Great numbers in spite of
that dangerous wind, lay flat on their
breast and watched him. He struck the
water at least 25 feet beyond the cliff,
and disappeared in its dark foamy
depths.
When he rose to the surface he saw
just before him gigantic wave, but he
had time to breathe, and before it reach
ed him dived below its centre. It broke
in passionate fury upon the rocks, but
Jones rose far beyond it. A mighty cheer
from the men on shore reached him, and
now he began In good earnest to put his
Pacific experiences into practice.
Drawing continually on the men for
more rope-which they paid out with
deafening cheers-he met wave after
ware in the same manner, diving under
them like an otter and getting nearer to
the wreck with every wave, really ad-
vancing, however, more below the water
than above it,
Suddenly the despairing men on board
heard a clear, hopeful voice:
Help at hand, Captain! Throw me
a buoy"
And, in another minute or two, Jones
was on the deck, and the cheers of the
| little steamer were echoed bv tho oh eers