The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-17

angry ocean at night, and saw the green
light OF the Santa Inez disappear in the
sea like a quenched star. The gale in
creased, and the waves rolled high, and
the drenching rain poured down, and we
we're driven we knew not whittier, each
boat on a wild way of its own.
When the angry dawn broke at last, we
could only see more plainly the fierce rush
OF black cloud masses across the sky, and
the monstrous waves that menaced us.
white-maned and bristling. / looked to
see who were my companions in distress,
for in the hurry of embarking / had not
observed who entered the boat
In the crepuscular light | saw Mr.. Cur
rel supporting his daughter. Beside him
was the young striker in the act OF offer
ing his coat 10 protect the pale girl from
the spray. The boats crew consisted of
the second officer, purser and six sailors.
Another dark figure appeared in the bow.
partly rose TO see who it was, and easily
recognized the mysterious passenger. His
sachel hung from bis shoulder, and he was
/ bending low over his book, which he held
with shaking hands. 1t occurred to me
that there was something uncanny about
the man.
The water became more broken, and the
officer seemed very anxious. / had not
the least idea where we were, and | doubt
If he had. At any rate, we were all thor
oughly startled when n gigantic cliff,
Scared and frowning, doomed out OF the
mist close at hand. Huge pillows burst
against it with hollow thunder and flew
in creamy spray half way 10 the top.
Presently we saw that it was high, $50
lated rock, but away to the left we saw a
! long sandy shore on which the surf was
breaking tremendously, line after line, for
half mile out.
The sailors pulled away frantically TO
avoid being thrown on the rock, but in
escaping that danger we became more and
more enveloped in the breakers. Every
moment we were IN imminent peril OF
shipping a sea that would swamp us.
Under these circumstances, the crew were
ordered TO pull for little cove which ap-
peared between the cliff and the sandy
! beach. Waiting until an extraordinary
roller came along, the sailors gave way
vigorously, and we rode on its crest with
great rapidity Unfortunately, when the
wave rolled from beneath us, our boat came
down on a pointed rock, which stove it
irremediably just amidships, and while
thus dismaly spitted a monstrous billow
buried us all in its green bosom.
We all wore life-preservers, and so we
all came to the surface in various states
| of preservation. | struck out for the
beach not far distant, and as we had
passed the worst of the surf, and as a cur
rent seemed to set in shore at that point,
| / soon reached the land. Several of the
sailors were already ashore, and were pre-
pairing to aid the others, who were strug-
| Cling in the water L saw Mr.. Gurrell
swimming strongly but heading away
from the shore, and feeling of horror
| came over me as j failed to recognize
among the swimmers the fair head of his
daughter.
l was about 10 plunge in again to aid
| tine father in his search, when it occurred
to me that the girl might have been car
ried into the little cove near by. ran
| along the beach, which curved in sharply
and was covered with driftwood. / had
gone perhaps about twenty rods, scanning
anxously the troubled waters of the cove
when a came voice said in French, "She
is safe, monsieur"
Turning quickly, l saw Miss Gurrell
lying apparently unconscious beside a pile
OF driftwood. and the strange passenger
kneeling beside her, and evidently trying
to restore her. | hurried up TO them, but
as | approached, the girl sprang up and
ran to me, seized my arm, and cried in
frightened voice:
"Where is my father? Take me to my
father Don't leave me with him."
Ii looked as if she had been feigning in
sensibility, being horribly afraid OF her
rescuer.
He had already began to gather materi-
ais for fire, and there was a look OF desc
lation on his face.
"Come, them" l said, for believed that
Gurrell would not leave the surf until he
had found his daughter. Let us run, for
your father is searching for YOU"
I fooly hor hopI q
beach. AS l thought, Mr.. Gurrell was
still battling with the breakers. but when
he caught sight of his child he swan fee
bly, in, and was pulled ashore more dead
than alive by Collins and the sailors.
All OF our party were now safely ashore,
a miserable and half-drowned group We
knew not what spot of earth we had been
thrown upon. There were but two prom
inent features in the landscape; one the
high rock near which we had landed and
the other a lofty hill, which rose TO a
rocky pinnacle about half mile from the
beach. We had reason to fear that we
had been thrown upon an island of no
great size.
A column of blue smoke began to as
cend from the cove, and We hurried in
that direction to dry our clothing and
warm our bodies, chilled by the water and
was blazing cheerfully, but the strange
passenger was gone. How he had found
means to kindle tire after such 2 thor
ough drenching in the sea was a mystery
to me.
When my clothing was partially dry
left the steaming group at the fire, and set
out for the lofty hill TO take an observa-
ton. The exercise was grateful, and by
the time ! reached the summit the warm
blood was tingling in my chilled limbs.
The wind was now subsiding and the
clouds we're breaking away, and it took
but glance from the bleak, storm beaten
pinnacle to assure me that we were on a
small island. | could see the entire cir
conference of beach, for the land sloped
away irregularly in every direction from
the spot where ! stood. A brook Dor
dered with stunted willows flowed in a
little ravine and emptied into the cove
near our fire.
While gazing somewhat disconsolately
at the prospect, l suddenly perceived that
/ was not alone. Beside a rock near by
sat the strange passenger, reading intently,
as usual. He had contrived to keep the
salt water from his fascinating volume,
whatever it was. Over his shoulder hung
his sachel. i approached him. He at
once put up his book, with the same
sweet, half-stealthy motion, and turned to
me with something like smile.
II