Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-11-10

A few more minutes Of painful suspense
and David removed the telescope from his
eye. "She's steered by some one, who
knows the lay Of the land" he said. sHes
doing his best, whoever he is; but in less
than fifteen minutes she'll go to pieces on
the Sands"
His words, she knew not why, sent a
thrill to Brenda's heart; and, as David
ceased speaking, another fash of lightning
showed her that his eyes were fixed on her
with look she had never detected in them
before.
Only for moment, however, for Just
then the old lieutsnant's voice rang out
louder and clearer than it had for many a
year, and through the speaking.trumpet
which he held to his lips there came to the
ears of the eager crew on the beach below
the stirring words, "Man the hfe-boatl"
Then, turning 10 David, the old officer said:
"Tell them to pull out as far as they can,
keeping well unde, the lee of the rocks.
They'll have some work to do within ten
minutes"
He scarcely had done speaking ere David
was out of sight, hurrying down recklessly
through the darkness in a way that made
Brenda's womanly heart quake for his
safety. A few moments more and rous-
ing cheer rang out high above the storm,
and the watchers on the great rock knew
that the life-bOat had sped out on its noble
errand for the first time.
The last echoes of the cheering had
scarcely died away when the old lieutenant
cried out, exultingly: "Well donel We
may save some Of them yet. Had they
struck the rock, every soul on board must
have perished.-Now to the beach, all OF
you," he said, addressing the villagers
around him; "and you women, get ready
to give what help you can to any of the
poor creatures our brave lads may bring to
shore. Brenda" he continued, as they
turned their steps down the pathway, "I'll
60 on to the beach, and do you follow me
as soon as you can with some blankets and
couple of bottles of the old brandy"
In less than five minutes Brenda had
executed her fathers orders, and was
Fastening after him laden with the brandy
and half dozen blankets, which she speed
lily deposited in the life.boat station, and
then joined her father, who, leaning on the
arm of David Saunders, was watching fol
the first indication that the vessel had struck
the Sands.
He did not have long to wait, for, in
another minute, there came over the water
the ominous sound of crashing timbers
followed by wall of human voices, which
told too plainly how quickly and savagely
the waves were accomplishing their work
of destruction on the wreck.
"Why don't the lads cheer them," said
David, "and let them know that help is at
hand?"
cay" replied the old man, "they
should, they should"
Just then flash of lightning, more vivid
than all the rest, revealed the wreck lying
over on her side, dismasted and terribly
crushed already by the furious seas.
During the momentary flash, however,
David's quick eye had caught sight of
something that Immediately arrested his
attention. II believe one of the wrecked
crew has left the ship with line" he
said ...-.
Impossible" replied the lieutenant; !;
"no man could swim to shore in such a
sea-"
"Won't the life-boat pick him up?" in
| quired Brenda, shuddering at the thought
that within few hundred yards of them o
fellow creature should meet his death un-
aided. ...
MAY, Miss Brenda" said David; "it's
too far to the north of him, and the wind
and sea will carry him still further south
| of it.. He's brave man, whoever he is
Look! quick!" And sure enough, the
lightning that elected David's exclamation
showed them man borne on the crest Of a
wave, and in another second buried in the
great hollow Of the sea.
Brenda saw the sight plainly, and,
womanlike, determined at once that some
thing must be done to save him.
David" she said, in a tone of forced
calmness, "where is your boats"
"YOnder about couple of rods" he
answered; and then, divining her thoughts,
| continued: "none but q life-boat could live
in such sea-"
"No, but" she persisted, ait could live
within two hundred feet from the shore,
protected as the beach is by the Lookout
Rock, and the nearer we could get to him
the greater the chance of saving him"
THAT'S true, Miss" said David, and in
another moment he was preparing to put
to sea.
At this moment another hearty cheer
came from the life-boat crew. Every heart
on shore interpreted it aright-the life.boat
had reached The wreck.
An answering cheer went back from the
shore; but Brcnda's whole mind was en-
crossed by the thought of the poor fellow
who had risked his life to save the rest.
Who will venture with you, David ?"
inquired the old lieutenant as he saw him
preparing to launch his boat
:" I would ask no man to come with me
on such an errand," replied David. "I'll
go alone."i
Almost all but the old men and lads
formed part of the crew of the lifcboat,
which carried eight beside the coxswain,
and tho old man looked round in vain Tor
young, active volunteer for the pcrilous
duty" m 20 s.s,r
kiss INC, Brenda" he said, after a
moments reflection. "IIe must not 90
alone with his disabled shoulder. l can
steer if can not pull, and that win help
him little;" and just as David took his
seat at the oars, calling upon some one TO
push him of, the old gentleman stepped
into the boat and hastily adjusted the filler.
Before the boat could be fairly pushed
of, however, third member was added to
the forlorn hope in the person of Brenda
herself, who, diycsted of her cloak, stepped
lightly over the gunwalc Just as the boat
left the shore, and, taking one of Davids
oars, almost before he knew what had hap.
pened, sat in front OF him, her oar in the
Towlock.
! Brenda, this is Madness" said her
father AfAS
"No, father, it is not - pull on, David
Father, where you 60 so. have no one
left but you," she added, sadly. And then
in a louder tone: /" You know / can pull
an oar with the best of them" And so sh
could, indeed, for boating had been pr
time to her since her childhood.
Her father said no more, but watched
| eagerly for a al pht of the I'm fortunate sailnr.