Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-09-04
"Place them in the hands Of ever

Inc vessel nau struck, out snc paSseu
over the hidden boulder. and the Cap
] tain sprang AT once To the helm.
; Lively, men, he cried; for your
, livesl Clear the sheet anchor! Let
go!' And in less time, apparently;
than we have occupied in relating the
J fact, the anchor went down, and the
brigantine swung round TO the wind.
This was but momentary, however;
/ for the hurricane was dreadful, and
/ the poor crew found il extremely diff
cult to stand upon deck AT all. The
heavy, roaring waves dashed over the
/ little vessel. and her bulwarks were
/ quickly stove as one of the boats went
by the board.
The Ca1taia OF the FdicOH was
brave sailor, however, and he had
faced many gale as stiff as this in his
time undaunted. But the anchor
drag gcd. and the best bower was at
/ last reSorted To as IA final hope. The
brig had sprung n leak; but Tor few
moments she lay firm to her anchor
age, and ii was believed that she might
yet weather IT,
There were anxious hearts on board
that little craft, and a prayer went up
from the lips of beauty TO Him who
rules the storm, that they might es-
cape from the terrors of that dark and
awful night.
"Shc'll soon be here remarked
Boseat to his companions, n they
skulked about in the rock-clefts.
Shell soon be here: but. somehow or
another, she's been pretty well man
aged, that's certain. | shouldn't be
surprised. Pedro. if there's some one
on board that craft that has been
caught in this latitude afore. An |
reckon he doesn't like the company he
thinks he'll have to meet here.
Very like-very like, was the re-
Spouse.
''Hows'cyer, thay must come to it.
Whew! how it blows, to be sure
That's it that's it, said Boseat
again; "she has parted her cable. The
fore-chain is light Now she swings
to it again-hugh. But there : Il comb
er for you. Now she comes-now she
comes Stand ready, boys!'
As Boseat spoke, an enormous wave
rolled down before the wind, and
striking the brig fairly her cable broke.
Four or five men were washed over
board. and the deck was swept clear of
everything movable.
An indistinct order was given in re-
lation to lowering away the boats bat
i'm the midst Of the bowling storm and
the roar OF the surge which dashed
upon the sturdy rocks, this order was
useles for none could hear IL; and.
moreover. since their fate seemed to bc
inevitable. sullen stupor and reckless
resignation seemed To have seized upon
both officers and crew.
The FaicoH driftcd rapidly shore
ward. and few minutes afterward she
reached the edge, from which she nev-
er again departed.
When the brig struck again, the vi
olence of the shock seemed for the mo-
ment 10 awaken the wretched crew
anew to the peril of their situation.
, Death stared them palpablv in the
, face. and il was worth one more effort
, to save their own lives.
/, 40 the boats,' shouted Rodolpho
but there was but one boat left them
Still he shouted. TO the boats, men
, A thousand ducats if we reach the
shore Get out the boat
A light form, and cheek pale an,
, cold with fear and watching, now pre-
scented itself at the Compan onway
, supported by the strong arm OF Rodol
pho himself, and by clmging. a. sh,
assembled, to the sides OF the passage
Cheer thee. cheer heart dear Fran
, ceSca, said Rodolpho, aile tlonatcly
, ''Is not this danger awfulP sh'
! asked.
e 1T is. indeed; but do not despair
Y Come cling TO me; and if me mus
/ meet death in this way, you shall d,,
C in the embrace of him who viii cheer
{ fully risk his life To aid and save YOU
Cheer up, loved onc!'
y Thump. thump, thump! The death
knel of the Falcon had pealed. Sh'
e was dashed into splinters upon tina
reef within the last half hour. Th'
= boat had been got over the side, ant
into it some six or seven human being
q sprang. seemingly all at the same in
!, stant:fOr in the next il was far ava
! from the sinking vessel on the top a
huge wave. with but Il single oar T.
guide or control it. and swiftly driftin
- shoreward amid the whitened an
:. foaming surge.
In the stern of the boat sat Coun
. Claudio, clasp ne in his arms the al
= most lfeleSs form of his sweet Fran
|. ceSca, who. all unaccustomcd to sue
= rough usage and fir ghtful scenes ha'
y tainted in her lovers arms, from fea
and exhaustion.
= "Steadv. BOYS. said the Count. EN-
couragingly; keep her head up. NOV
- she ridc.l Stcady-so. A thousan
y ducats, as said if we reach the shor
; in safe
Crash, crash. crash!
- The deed was done; the storm ha
: triumphed.
. The boat was stove, and her boy
- dashed far away in the whirling currcn
:, while the stern was whirled in spin
:. tiers to the shore The remainder O
the crew. Rodolpho. Francesca a
y were now struggling for life, wit
- scarcely shade of hope amid the mel
- cileSsly raging waters.
" The lg is up, boys said Bo ea'
gruiilv. she is gone To pieces. so fl
n as the craft is concerned. we shall NJ
: make much out of her. BY .Iove, bl
70 isn't this VIII stler of a breeze i
- added. a he placed his rough hand
his head 10 keep his sou wester in il
n. place. "Howsocvcr we shall have
shy at the cargo. if she had any. Ha
loa! what's yonder?'
There was an OBJ ct of interest
sight-tie form of man strugglin
with the waves. but short dIstanC
a from the shore lie was plainly niue
90 exhausted. There were two person
al there three The light had gOr