The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-20
concealed as much as possible her an1-

concealed as much as possible her an1
iety for him.
Richard was not selfish, and had h
imagined what his mother was at tha
moment suffering would have put tn
boat about and ed it forever at tn
stake rather than cause her this agony
Just as the boat got wei into the toi
of the waves the sun arose, sheddln!
such brillaucc on the waters that Mrs
Swing. who Sat facing it, was dazzlec
and we'll n gh failed to sec in time gil
net into which the boat was running.
"Sec any boat ahead, mother2' ques
toned Richard. "You must keep ;
good look out for me. I've got my
ranges right and can fetch the lobster
grounds every time"
fs it far9" questioned his mother
shudderingly.
"Not very; just outside Dull Head.
reckon we'll fetch it," dipping his oar;
| for a full stroke and then letting the
boat slide up to the summit of rolling
wave, a trick he had caught from Captain
lie ekiah Danforth, the master boatman
of Dell LA en-.
The wind grew stronger and stronger,
and the waves every moment increased
in size. Even Richard glanced sideways
more than once with ill con ealed anxiety
as the long b;llows came tumbllng on,
and Just then getting glimpse of his
mothers face beheld it so bianched with
terror of the sea that it seemed to him
his mother was no longer in the boat
with him.
"Dick," she gasped as his oar missed
stroke and sent the spray over the boat,
"Dick, I'm afraid to go on"
Dick glanced backward. He had
pulled about mile from shore and was
midway between the two hea Hands
fami'iarly spoken of as the horns. Dull
Head was surrounded by an even accumu-
lating mass of breakers, and Bright Head
caught the sea on its pee pitous sides,
sending it backward in fountains of
foams, and all the four. miles that lay be-
tween the two points were rolling miles
of billows.
Sitting with his face landward Richard
had not fully felt the danger.
Now. the lad could not rcpress shud.
der as he said: 81 don't believe I could
find the buoys in such sea, and nobody
could haul in the pots. believe I'll
put about"
"Oh, do! O Richard, there comes an
awful one!" ard Mrs. Swing slipped
down from her seat into the bottom of
the boat and hid her face from the on
coming wave.
Richard gave a mighty pull at the
oars to keep the boat head on, and it
rode that wave in safety only to meet
new ones, into whose depths the tiny
shell rolled to be completely hidden from
the sight of two men who were standing
out on the Dell Haven pier.
One was Heiekiah Danforth, the other
was Captain Rose.
"If there was only tug in sight to
help them" groaned Captain Rose.
'Why didn't you dun little common
sense INFO the woman if she didn't take
any naturally scolded Captain Dan
forth, "or smut her and the boy up
somewheres."
81 told her, bat I declare when I was
young could have brought down them
oars in half the time it takes Jim to
fetch 'em. Isay, 'Kiah Danforth, amt
that boat trying to put about!"
ut acts like it, John, but it will get
swamp, Just as sure as guns if-no, it's
going on. There's moth ng else to do.
/ never in all my life saw time when
there wasn't sail in sight. =
The boats gone! No! There it comes
up again! !"
Suddenly q cry for helping hand was
raised among the bystanders, and will
ing hearts went forth from the land.
every second tells. It's a race for
lite?" called out Captain Danfo!th.
Jim, you'd better get in. You're
strong; if one OF US fuckers out you can
take mold"
All ready lay tie boat, dark green
surf boat, boat that could stand hea"y
seas. and the two men and boy who had
nobly volunteered were not long in start
ing off. :,
"Success to you. Tctch 'em back
alive." called out Captain Rose.
All Mt once the pier at Eell Haven
seemed thronged with people. The
news had spread that Mrs. Swing and
Richard were out alone on the sea.
AS they watched the dim, dark speck
now rising upon the swelling waters and
as quickly vanishing from sight, not one
of the little throag but knew the danger
of the tiny boat. With breathless eager
ness they watched the surf boat as its
two rowers stood at the oar urging 1t
onward.
"It's down the h,rbor now. They're
catching it. It's an awful wind for June.
DO you think they're gaining on 'en
That mite of boat will never live till
they get there" were some of remarks
heard as they passed on.
AS for Captain Rose he went painting
up the hill into the town, tl'mbed into
the belfry OF Dell Haven church, as far
up as he could 60, and watched through
q spy-glass the progress of the mere
speck in the distance and the toll.ng
helpers so far behind.
After few minutes he realized that
Captain Danfor,h, although doing his
utmost, could not reach the perlled ones
in time to save them and be said to him.
self:
The boy is doing we'll, but he can't
hold out. l must do it. Captain Roses
little daughter had followed her father
into .he church and climbed the bellfry
stairs.
"see here, Dolly" he said, "ca1 YOU
look through here and keep sharp watch
No, you run you can go quicker'n
can, =" and the Captain scribbled a mes
sage on the back of an evelope, and Civ
ing it her babe her make haste to thu
telegraph Office. "You tell Johnny
Blake it's to save life and it must &C