Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-05-28
The Last Man on Board.

Caught at last, Jack. The old
crafts bound to drive ashore in half
an hour. and then there'l. be wet jack
cts for us all y
"Aye, aye, Bill, my boy; and it jist
serves US right for shippin' aboard a
teR-gun brig. They always has bad
luck, they has T.
So muttcred the two veteran sailors,
as the sianch little cruiser, whirled on
ward like feather by wind and sea,
drifted nearer and nearer to the huge
black cliffs which. through binding
spray and deepening storm, loomed
out psAiuer AMI palmer upon the lee
bow.
The SeaJoi had indeed made her
last voyage. All her boats hal been
stove in; maa's and rigging had loNg
since been torn away by the furious
gale, or hacked off hy the crew them
selves; and the cruel rocks upon which
the helpless vessel WAS driving head,
long "odld have crushed the timbeIs
OF the strongest seventy four like an
egg-shell.
To read of storms and ship-wrecks il
ones easy-chair is agreeable enough
but to face the reality is very differ.
ent matter.
But, with death gaping for them
every -haoluelltt, log "a man tlinched.
tIhe captain gave his orders, and the
crew obeyed them, as coolly as if run
ming into port on fine summer morn
ing.
But the end came at last. One
mighty shock, which threw every man
of his feet, terrific crash, giddy re-
bound, and then the doomed brig SET
tied right down upon a sunken reef,
with that tearing, grinding noise
which no one who has once heard
can easily forget.
"Shell move no more now, till she
breaks up altogether" said the cap
tain, quietly, so we must Just think
of saving ourselves. Any chance OF
q line from the shore, Mr.. Rogers you
know this coast well.''
"No, sir, Pm afraid" answered the
first officer, who was standing near him.
"There's neither rocket nor life-boat
within several miles, and no boat could
come out in the teeth Of this sea-"
At that moment red light blazed
up from the cliff overhead, and the
whole scene started into view at once.
The great wall of black rock, with the
sea-birds Tapping and shrieking
around it; the narrow strip of beach
below, crowded with anxious watchers;
the quaint little fishing-village, with
its rude huts built of driftwood OF
broken STOKES; the stranded ship and
her crew, every face and every rope
standing out distinct in the light of the
beacon; and all around the tossing
waves, which, redeemed by that un.
earthly glare, seemed to cast up q
spray of tire against the gloomy sky.
1t was plain that the vessel must
break up before very long,.
The captain looked keenly toward
the shore for moment, and then
turned to his men.
81 My lads" cried he, "there's one
chance for us yet. They can't get q
boat out to Us, but we may get a line
to them, for the tides setting strongly
in.shore. Twenty pounds to the man
who will swim ashore with rope!
The offer sounded like bitter
mockery, for to face that sea appeared
nothing less than certain death. The
words were hardly spoken, however,
when man stepped forward, and
teuched his vet forelock to the captain
who started as he recognized him.
And we'll he might; for this man was
the black sheep" of the whole crew,
and had been brought up for punish.
ment mot for the trst time) few DAYS
before.
What, you, Thompson?'
Aye, it's me, yer honor p an
swered the man with grim smile, as
he knotted the rope around his waist.
Yer honor told, Only t'other day, as
l was disgrace to the ship, SO mayhap
the old craft'll be we'll rid of me-"
For moment the captains iron face
worked as no one had ever seen it vet:
and then, without a word, he held out
his hand. The other grasped it for an
instant in a grip like a smiths wise,
and then, watching his opportunity
plunged into the roaring sea.
Then came long and terrible pause.
Every man on board held his breath,
while straiging his eyes into the boil
ing whirl of foam below. Once,
a few of the keenest sighted among
them thought they caught sight of the
sailors black head in the midst of the
white, seething breakers; but the n4xt
moment mountain wave rolled in and
covered all.
Had the daring swimmer succeeded,
or had he persisted in the attempt? No
one could say.
There are very few things more diff
cult, or requiring more skill and judg-
ment. than to carry a rope ashore in a
stormy sea. To landsman it may
seem merely aquestion Of breasting the
waves between one poipt and another.