Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-02-12


For some reason the key had given way
and she began to slide at the moment
the yacht was passing with starboard
side towards her.
A collision seemed inevitable There
was neither the time nor the means to
prevent it. Nothing could be done 10
the cries of the spectators there had
come in reply n shout of alarm from the
schooner's crew.
The captain put down his helm, but it
was impossible for his ship to get by in
time to avoid the shock.
The trabacolo was slipping down the
ways. A white smoke rose from the
friction forward and the stern had
already plunged into the waters OF the
bay
Suddenly n man jumped ont from the
crowd. He seized rope which hung
from the fore part of the trabacolo.
Butin vain he tried 10 hold 1t back at the
risk OF being dragged away. Close by
them was an iron cannon stuck into tho
ground like n post. In an instant h,
slipped the rope over it and let it out
hand over hand at the risk of being
dragged round with it, He kept it back
and with superhuman strength he
checked it for ten seconds.
Then the rope broke. But the ten
seconds were enough. The trabacolo
had plunged into the waves and
recovered AS from dive She shot
across the channel grazing by hardly q
foot the schooner's stern, just as the
anchor dropped into tho depths and
brought her sharply up bY the tension
of the chain.
The schooner was saved
The hero of this daring mnn9uvrs
was no other than Cape Matifou.
well donel Very we'll done -
exclaimed Point Pescade, running up to
the giant, who lifted HIM in his arms,
not to juggle with him, but to embrace
him as he always embraced that is,
almost to the point of suiiocation.
And then the applause resounded
from all sides. Five minutes later the
schooner had taken up her position in
the centre of the harbor; then an ele-
giant whaleboat with six oars brought
the owner ashore.
He was a tail man, about sixty, with
almost white hair and gray beard cut
in the Oriental fashion. Large black
eyes lit up his face and curious vivac-
ity displayed itself in his healthy
brown face The most striking thing
about INN was The air of nobility which
distinguished him. AS soon as he set
foot on the shore he walked up to the
two ncrobats, whom the crowd was
greeting and applaudng
Inc people stood back rs ne advanced.
As soon rs he reached Cape Matifou his
first action was not TO open his purse
and take something from it. No he
held out his hand to the giant and said
to him in Italian: /,
Thank you my friend, for what you
did"
Cape Nation was too bashful to notice
the compliment.
Yes 1t was good 1t was superb y
said Pescade, with all the redundance OF
the Proyencal idiom.
You are Frenchmen 2" asked the
stranger
French of the French = answered
Pescade. French of the south Of
France"
The stranger looked at them with
sympathy and feeling. Their misery
was too apparent for him to pass over.
Before him were two mountebanks, one
of whom at the risk of his life had done
him a great service, for collision
between the trabacolo and the schooner
would have meant several victims.
Come and see nue. on boardl" he
said.
And when p asked Peseade, with
most gracious salute.
Tomorrow morning"
Tomorrow morning :" answered
Pescade, while Matifou gave sign of con-
sent by nodding his head.
But the crowd had not ceased to sur
round the hero Of the adventure. He
would have been carriedabouti III triumph
had he not been too big. But Point
Pescade, always wide awake, thought he
couldmake some money out of thepublic
excitement. And MS soon as the
stranger after gesture of friendship
had left for the Ietty. he broke OUT
with
"The match, sirs, the match between
Pescade and Cape Matifou- Walk up,
gentlemen, walk M. You don't pay
till you 60 out or you can pay as you
come in-just as you please.
This time he was listened to and fol-
lowed by public he had never dreamed
of before
The ring was too small They evan
/ had to refuse money
The stranger passed on, but scarcely
had he advanced step in the direction
Of the quay than he found himself near
the young lady and her father who had
been present throughout tho scene
Close 10y was the young man who had
followed them, and 20 whose salute the
father only nad given a very naughty
acknowledgement.
In this mans presence Che stranger
experienced movement he could
hardly suppress. IL was as If his whole