The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-26
THE DAILY TIMES -sUNDAY. MAY &C. 1889,

Tho tffco occupants OF the Hitic tfdit
were all seated, Of coursc. close up on
tho weather side, the spread Of sail hav-
ing tendency to bear her down to leo
ward. The judge sat next tho fterni
Pauline was close to him, and Mrs. Nolen
vas next TO Pauline, her feet being sup
ported against the sheath Of tire center
board. But as they sped along the waves
ran higher and higher. and began ct
length to dash over the weather gun
vale. wetting Paulincs back and shout
ders. and running down into the well.
Tho effect of this. after it had con-
tinued Tor while, was inevitably to
make the boat sit lower in the water and
thus offer less opposition to the inroads
Of the seas and it was evident that an
effort must be made to bail her out.
There was a tin dippcr in the locker
not without difficulty the judge cuc-
ceeded in getting this out, and, STOPPING
down. endeaycred to bail with his right
hand, while handling the tillcr with his
left. But it was impossible to hold the
boat to her course with one hand IN
such n sea. and after n minute Pauline
took the dippor and intimated that she
would attend TO that part Of the work.
She baicd rapidly and steadily and
threw out a large amount of water, but
the waves continued to rise and overlap
the cunwalc, 50 that she was unable to
keep pace with the influx, and the boat
} settled so low that ever and anon wave
would wash in TO lceward This was a
serious matter; il meant that swapping
was not far off; and with the extra
ballast on board she would go the bottom
like a stone. And if she did, nothing
was more certain than that they would
be drowned. 1t would be impossible for
even the strongest swimmer to reach the
shore on such a night.
Mrs. Nolen, after expressing, In the
subdued manner characteristic Of her in
all circumstances, her horror and despair
at tho situation-the real gravity Of
which she was, however, probably far
from recognizing-had relapsed into a
sort Of lethargic state. half reclining on
the narrow seat, motionless, and SEEM
ingly unconscious Of the water that was
dashing over her. This passive attitude
was doubtless the best for all concerned
that she could possibly have assumed.
The Judge perhaps suffered more than
anv Of the party; for no felt himself
mainly responsible for the affair, and tho
idea Of death stepping between him and
Pauline at such n iuncture was almost
more than he could bear. Pauline, alone,
was apparently perfectly cheerful and
composed. She even felt pleasant ex-
hilaration in the face Of the imminent
danger. Thcexertion OF bailing had put
her in warm glow from head to foot;
and though she saw that her labor was IN
efrectual she maintained 1t with unfalter-
ing resolution. They were now within a
mile Of the light house, and assoonas they
nassed under the lee of 1t they would be,
comparatively safe. But it was ques-
ton whether the boat would hold out 10
long, and just then an unforeseen catas-
tropho occurred.
As Pauline stopped to fill tho bailer,
the little vessel gave sudden lurch to
Ieeward. throwing tho girl forward on
her knees in the bottom of the boat.
The judge reached out quickly to save
her from going overheard; in doing SO,
the tiller was thrust over; the boat came
directly before the wind, the sail jibed,
and the boom, as it swung to starboard,
struck tho judge on the head, and
knocked him into tho water. At the
same moment a wave came over tho
stern and deiuged the seat room. The
end seemed to be at hand.
But Pauline was not woman to be
yanouished without struggle. AS she
sprang up and seized tho tiller, her
mind was perfectly clear as to what
should be done. The boat had already
fallen of, and was broadside 10 the
wind; she put down tho helm, aud
brought her up in the winds eye, rap
idly Hauling in tho sheet as she did so,
and giving it turn round the cleat.
Then she bent her gaze on the dark con-
fusion Of waters in which the judge had
sunk.
1t was ten to one that he had been car
ried to leeward and out Of reach. But
one circumstance, of which Pauline was
= not aware, operated in her favor. There
was q strong tide running out against
the wind; and when the judge rose his
: head appeared within a foot OF where
= Pauline sat. She stretched over toward
} him. grasped him by the sleeve OF the
= coat and drew him toward her. Though
half stunned by the blow he had re-
ceivcd, he managed to get his arm over
the gunwale, and, wave coming to his
/ assistance, he half scrambled, half was
+ thrown into the bottom OF the boat.
Once there, his remaining strength for
sock him, and he lay unconscious. Pau
line did not attempt to relieve him; she
! had her hands full of other matters. The
, boat was almost in n sinking state, and
r they were still more than half mile
| from port.
She watched her chance heedfully to
> come about, for to ship another wave
: like the last one might be fatal. The
+ boat obcyed her helm promptly, and set
, of with plunge and roll towards her
, destination. During the pause she had
drifted some distance to leeward, 50 that
she was now sailing with the wind very
nearly behind her and the boom far out;
! and although this involved some danger
of iibing again, it diminished the risk Of
taking in water over the quarter, and
! was in so far an advantage. Pauline
utmost strength was required to hold the
tiller, which struggled with her like a
/ wild creature fighting to get loosei yet
she was compelled to keep one hand upon
the sheet likewise, which might at any
; moment need hauling in. The strain
upon her nerves and muscles was terri
bic. but she clenched her teeth and held
on; in courage and spirit, at least, she
, was equal to the occasion. Once in
, while she threw hasty glance into the
BODY of the boat. Mrs. Nolen had slip
ped down from her seat and had man.
. aged to draw the judges head and
! shoulders on her lap.
, "If save them," said Pauline to her
} self. II will accept IL as a sign"