The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-09

| then, my lad, catch hold of me with
one hand, and the line with the other
The fellow took a firm grip of ray
monkey jacket, and I made for The
door. The water washed up to my
knees, but l soon inserted my finger.
in the creviee OF the door, and thrust
it open.
The house was 2 single compart-
ment, though had expected to tIno :.
divided into tive. In the center was a
table tina: travelled on stanchions from
the roof to the deck. On either side
were a couple of hunks The girl stood
near the door. In bunk to the left
of the door lay an old man with white
hair. R,ostrate on his back, on the
deck, with his arms stretched against
his ears, was the corpse of man, well
dressed; and in a bunk on the right
sat a sailor, who, when he saw me,
yelled out and snapped his fingers,
making horrible grimaces.
Such, in brief, the coup d'GH of that
weird interior as it met my eyes!
seized the girl by the arm.
"You first, said L Come. there is
no time to be lost"
But she shrunk back, pressing
against the door with her hand to pre-
vent me from pulling her, crying in a
husky voice, and looking at the old
man with the white hair: My father
first! my father tirstr'
You shall all be saved, but you
must obey me. Quickly, now!" l eX-
claimed, passionately, for heavy sea
at that moment flooded the ship. and 2
rush of water swamped the house
through the open door, and washed
the corpse on the deck up into Il cor
ner.
Graspin@ her firmly carried her to
BE side OF the wreck and with much
difficulty succeed in placing her in the
boat L then retained and taking the
old man also got him INTO the boat
where he was received with p hearty
embrace by his almost distracted
daughter. The lunatic sailor made us
4 great deal of trouble. When the
men went to secure him he fought
desperately and bit one of them
through the hand. Then he jumped
over board and was swimming briskIy
away. The GrosvcnOr stood steady all
this time about mile off and now her
ensign was run up on board and
dipped three times. Fortunately the
sailors just at this moment came up
with the lunatic and dragged him out
of the water like n drowned rat.
| had now leisure to examine tho
persons whom we have saved.
They-father and daughter, AZ (
Judged them by the girls exclamation
on the wreck-sat in the stern-shccts,
their hands locked. The old man
seemed nearly insensiblc, leaning
backward with his chin on his breast
and his eyes partially closed. feared
he was dying, but could do no good
until we reached the GroSvenOr, as we
had no spirits i'll the boat.
The girl appeared to be about twenty
years OF age, very fair, her hair OF a
golden straw color, which hung wet
and streaky down her back and over
her shoulders, though a portion OF it
was held by q comb. She was deadly
pale and her lips blue, and in her fine
eyes was such look OF mingled hor-
rOr and rapture as she cast them around
her, first CHANGING at me, then at the
wreck, then at the GrOsvenor. ti.at the
memory OF it will last me to my death.
Her dress, of some dark material, was
soaked with salt water up to le:' hips,
and she shiYereG anG moahaG inces-
sanity, though the sun beat So warmly
upon Us that the thWarts were hot TO
the hand.
/ said to the girl: GLOW long have
you been in this dreadful positiOn?"
''Since yesterday morning, she an
swcrcd. in a choking voice, painful to
hear, and Gulping after each word.
- We have not had a drop of water TO
drink since the night before last"
do YOU hear that, mem" ! cried.
- They have not drunk water for two
lays, For the love of Heaven, give
Nav!"
They bent their backs to tho cars,
md the boat foamed OYER the long
swell. The wind was aStern AID helped !
Is. l did not speak again TO the pocI
rirl, for it was cruel to make her talk |
when the wcrGs lacerated her throat as
hough they sTere pieces OF burning |
ron.
After twenty minutes, which seemed |
Is many hours, we reached the vessel. |
The crew pressing round the gan~way |
;hcered when they saw we had brought !
people from the wreck. DUcKlinG and |
he skipper watched us grimIy from
he poop.
Now, then, my lads" / cried, cup
nth this lady first. Some of you on
ieck get water ready, as these people
Ire dying of thirst"
In a few minutes both the girl and
he old man were handed over tho
-angwav / cut the boats painter
drift from the ring-boit so that VIC
.Ould ship the mailman without loosen
no his bonds. and he Tas hOisted up
Ike q bale of goods. Then foar OF Us
rot out of the boat, leaving one to
Irop her under the davits and hook on
he falls.
AT this moment z horrible scene took
lace.
The old man, lettering on the arms
# two seamen. was being led into the
uddy, followed by the girl, who
walked unaided. The madmar. in the
.rasp of the big sailor named Johnson,
TODD near the gangway, and as
crambled on deck one of the men was
olding 4 pannikin full of water to his
ace. The poor wretch was shrinking
way from it. with his eyes half out OF
heir sockets; but suddenly tearing his
rm with q violent effort from the rOpo
hat bound him, ne seized the panni-
in and bit clean through the tin: after
,hich, throwing back his head, he
wallowed the whole draught, dashed
he pannikin down, his face turned
lack and he fell dead on the deck.
The big sailor sprung aside with an
attn. forced from him by his terror,
f..1,,, n,-l,,.r- lonI.n,. tln,., h,.1.l-,