The sun., 1889-12-08
An OCEAN TRAGEDY,
By W. CLARK RUSSELL.
A Wonderful and Fas.
clnatlng Novel.
Perhaps the Finest Work Of Its Au-
thor-Published in America
Exclusively by The Sun.
CHAPTER XXX

otranRled By the foam which broke necessarily
ever me. or through being struck by some
fragment Of the wreck. l cannot say. Yet
must have retained my grip OF the piece OF
spar I had grabbed hold Of on being swept
overheard with the proverbial tenacity OF the
drowning, for found myself grasping It when
I recovered consciousness lay on my back
with my face to the sky. and my first notion
was that Ihad dropped asleep on the Yachts
deck. and that had been awakened by rain
falling IN torrents But my senses were not
long in coming to me, and l then discovered
that what believed to be rain was salt spray
flying In clouds upon and over me from q thun-
derous surf that was roaring and raging
within Q few stridea 1t was very dark,
there was nothing to be seen but the
white boiling Of the near waters, with the In
termittent glancinR Of the heads OF melting
seas beyond. felt with my hands and made
out that was lying on something as hard as
rock, honeycombed like a sponge. This de-
teoted by passing my hand over the surface as
far as could reach without rising. After
little caught sight OF black shadow to tho
right. thrown into relief by the broad yeasty
throbbinR amid which It stood. It was appar-
emily motionless, and guessed 1t to be q por-
tion Of the Bride The wind hovled strongly.
and the noise OF tho breaking seas was dis
may Say fully, was sensible OF heat in the
air very nearly as oppressive as had been the
atmosphere in the cabin OF the yacht that
evening; and this In spite OF the wind whioh
blew stifH breeze, and which was full OF wet
besides. Then II was that thore entered my
mind tho idea that tho yacht had struck and
gone to pieces upon volcanic island newly
hove up In that sudden great hame which had
leaped upon our sight over the Brides bows
some two or three hours before, at distance.
as we had computed. OF fifteen miles, and which
had seemed to set the whole OF the 1orthern
heavens on fire.
/ felt round about me with my hands again.
Tho soil was unduostionably lava, and the
heat in Il was q final convincing proof that my
conjecture was right I rose with difficulty.
and standing erect looked about, but could
distinguish nothing more than mere surface
Of blsokness blending with and vanishing In
the yelling and kissing night flying overhead.
fell upon my knees TO Grope in that posture
some little distance from the surf. to diminish
BY my withdrawal something Of the peting Of
the pitIless storm Of spray, and well It was
that had sense enough to crawl in this man
ner, for had not moved o yard when my hand
plunged into hole to the length Of my arm.
The cavity was full Of water deep enough to
have drowned me for all knew. while the orb
noe was big enough to receive three or four
bodies OF the siEe Of mine lRshed together.
There was no promise OF any sort Of shelter.
The island, % we'll 40 could determine itS
oonhguration by the surf which oircled 1t. went
rounding out Of the sea in small slope after
the pattern Of turtle shell. However. sue
ceeded In creeping to o distance whore the
spray struck me without fits former sting. and
then stood up. and. putting my hands to tho
ah4 0A IOYA IN INV
weak condition would suffer me.
A voice deep and hoarse came back like an
echo OF my own from distance. as my ear
might conjecture. OF some twenty PAGES or 30.
HolloRl Who calls2"
"I, Mr.. Munson. Who are you !"
"Cutbill." he roared back.
drought my hands together grateful to God
to hear him. for how was to know till then
that might be the only survivor OF tho yachts
company
Can You como to me. Cutbill 2" cried
- don't like to let go of the lady Sir." he
answered.
Which lady ?" shouted.
Miss jennings"
" Is she alive, Cutbul"
"Ay, Sir"
By this time my sight was growing used to
the profound blackness. The clouds OF pallid
Foouo alnp1 thu margin Of the islnnd huD0 n
so-t 80 SboSow of obostlv ii,nmInation into the
Strnosnbars and 7 fsneIed 7 couId see the
biotcb ,ba flenro Of CntbIII made TO the right Of
me On the level on which stood. Iforthwith
dronnad On INV kness again and cautiously adj.
vancad tbnn moro plainly jstinguished him.
and In n faw minntas was at bis aide. It was
tha sbadowv gronn--th. outlines barelv fe.
tarmin abla bv nv eipht even when was close
tot tho bic fleure Of the sailor seated with
The oirl Snnnorted on his arm. put nv Inns
closs to the faint olimmer Of her faoa. and
cried. "Iaura. dearest. how is n with youP
would n God II had been INV hand that had
h ad the savine of youls
She ansvered family. "Taka ma, lat ma
rast on vou,n
I mt INV arm round her and brought bsr
had n NV broast and so beld bar to me
as wa vare 20 the akin. lika drowned
-, the haat floating nm ont Of the bodv Of vol.
eania stuH on which we Law prevented us from
1oeIine the least chill from the pourtne Of the
lind tbrouob our streamin9 clothaa
!. ~, ca ,,-ow -I., .I,,
on' ms ~, S IIs. u ieneu
you wefo SOn' AO1e''i "n'n '0s' my H0'u VI