Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-06-07

fathoms, sir"
"What depth Of water at the foot %
ssThirty feet or more.''
ssGood. Have you plenty of light, long
rope?"
s'Much as you want, sir; bat 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 get down.
s'Do you know, old man, what surf
swimming is? 1 have dived through the
surf at Nukuheva.'
s'God bless you, sir! thought no white
man could do the same"
While this conversation was going on
Jones was divesting himself of all super
fuous 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, see
ing their inquisitive looks, he said:
ssThe thick sleeves will prevent the rope
cutting my body, you see.''
Gay, ay, sir, see now what you are
doing.''
''Now, men, have only one request
Give me plenty Of rope as fast as draw
on you. When get on board-you know
how to make cradle, suppose?''
cay, ay, sir; but how are you going to
reach the water?"
81 am going to plunge down. I have
dived from the main-yard of the Ajax be-
fore this. 1t was as high leap"
He passed double coil Of the rope
around his waist, examined it thoroughly
to see that there was plenty to start with,
and saying, Nov, friends, stand out of
the way and let me have a 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 dan
gerous wind, lay fiat OF their breasts and
watched him. He struck the water at
least twenty-feet beyond the cliff, and dis
appeared 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 reached him
dived below its centre. 1t broke in pas
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 ex-
perlences into practice.
Drawing continually on the men for
more rope-which they paid out with deaf
ening cheers-he met wave after wave in
the same manner, diving under them like
an otter and getting nearer to the wreck
at every wave, really advancing. however,
more below the water than above it.
Suddenly the despairing men on board
heard clear, hopeful voice:
"Help at hand, Captain! Throw me
buoy
And, in another minute or two, Jones
was on deck, and the cheers of the little
steamer were echoed by the cheers of the
ment to be lost; she was breaking up fast;
but it took but few minutes to fasten
strong cable to the small rope and draw it
on board, and then a second cable, and
the communication was complete.
''There is lady here, SIR" said the
captain. "We must rig up chair for
her; she can never walk that dangerous
road
but we have not a moment to waste, or
|swe may all be lost; is she very heavy?"
ga slight little thlng--half child,
sir''
"Bring her here.''
This was no time for ceremony; without
word, save a few sentences Of direction
and announcement, he took her under his
left arm, and steadying himself by the up
per cable, walked on the lower with his
burden safely to the shore. The crew
rapidly followed. for in such moments of
extremity the soul masters the body. and
all things become possible. There was
plenty Of help waiting for the seamen, and
the lady, her father and the captain had
been put in the carriage of Braddon, and
driven rapidly to the hospitable hall
Jones, amid the confusion, Disappeared;
he had picked up an oil-coat, and when
every one turned to thank their deliverer
he was gone. No one knew him; the
sailors said they believed him to be zone
of the military gents by his rigging" but
the individuality of the hero had troubled
no one until the danger was over. In an
hour the steamer was driven on the rocks
and went to pieces; and it being by this
time dark. every one went home.
The next day the hunting party return
ed from Gwynne Hall, the storm having
compelled them to stop all night; and at
the dinner that evening the wreck and the
hero of it were the theme of everyone's
conversation.
ssSuch plucky fellow" said Ensign
Powell. II wonder who he was. Gwynne
says he was stranger; perhaps one of
that crowd staying at the Abbey
"Perhaps,'' said Captain Marks, 1T was
Jones'"
cob, Jones would be too afraid of his
MOTHER
Jones made little satirical bow. and
said pleasantly perhaps it was Powell"
at which Powell laughed and said, "Not if
| he knew it,"
In a week the event had been pretty well
exhausted; especially as there was to be a
great dinner and ball at Braddon, and all
the officers had invitations. The ball had
peculiar interest, for the young lady who
had been saved from the wreck would be
present, and rumor of her riches and beau
ty had been rife for several days. 1t was
said the little steamer was her fathers pri-
vate yacht, and that he was man of rank
| and int1uencp