Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-06

down to the landing, where their re-
spective friends had hoisted sail ON the
two boats and made everything ready
for start.
The young men made hasty survey,
to see that their crafts were in ship
shape, and having satisfied themselves
that everything had been properly at
tended to grasped the tillers, gave the
signal to cast off and darted away from
the shore like birds on snowy wings
amid lusty cheers from those left be-
hind.
The sky looked rent and threatening
There was distant thunder and frequent
flashes of lightning. Dark, towering
masses of clouds rose slowly upon all
sides of the horizon. The wind was due
east, blowing stiff breeze The two
boats were close hauled on the wind,
barely making their course. The water
was rough and the waves ran pretty
high, casting a drenching spray over
everything as the little crafts were forced
straight through them. The crews of
the two boats-the girls as we'll as the
boys-were well protected. however, by
long oilskin coats, reaching down to
their feet, and Southwestern hats.
For the first ten miles it was a pretty
even race, then the wind died out COM
pletely. Night had set in. The thunder
sounded louder and closer, and the light
ming came in binding flashes. The
clouds rolled upward from every side un-
til they met overhead. For few min
utes the thunder stopped its loud can
nonade and the lightning ceased; the
only sounds that broke the silence being
the dying murmur of breaking wave
and the gentle swash of the water
against the sides of the boats
The darkness was intense; the air was
hot and sitting. Then an ominous sound
came from a distance-a sound that the
occupants of the boats had often heard
before-a low murmur at first, increas-
ing gradually in volume, until at last, as
it drew nearer, it sounded like roar of
wrath, mingled with shrill shrieks of
agony and despair.
Sim and Jay hastily lowered their sails
and furled them snug and fast, and just
as the first chilly breath of the squall
touched their sweat beaded cheeks and
foreheads they threw the anchors over
board.
Then the storm broke loose in all its
fury. The thunder roared more deafen-
ingly, the lightning flashed more blind
ingly than before. The phosphorescent
water CLEANED as an ocean of fire lashed
and driven before the gale, The two
frail boats We're tossed like corks upon
the angry sea, but their anchors held
them head to the wind, while strong,
nervous hands grasped the tillers and
steadied them as they plunged up and
down among the furious waves.
The two boats seemed to be riding the
gale safely until suddenly the Annie's
cable snapped. The Annie was to the
windward of the Lily, and when the
cable parted she drifted straight down
upon the latter. They came together
with fearful crash. Then came a
wave higher crested and more furious
than its fellows. 1t burst upon the
boats while they were yet side by side.
sweeping their decks from fore to aft,
at the same time tearing them apart
and carrying one far astern of the other
Jay looked around for his sister. AT
his feet, in the small cockpit in which he
was sitting, now half filed with water,
he saw motionless figure, which he
thought to be hers. He reached down
his hand and dragged her toward him.
A long and vivid flash lighted up
everything around him, revealing in
stead of the expected face of his sister
that of Annie Jason.
At that moment woman's piercing
cry rang out above the voice of the
storm. Jay heard it and sprang to his
feet.
sit is Lily, and she is downing" he
cried. "Ill cut the cable and drift
down with the wind. may save her
yet"
He started forward, and just then the.
topping lift broke and the boom came.
down with all its weight upon his head
With moan upon his lips he sank down
unconscious.
1t was week after the night of the
squall on the bay when Jay Spratt
awoke to consciousness again. He was
at his home in Tomsburg. Two sweet
faces We're bending over him, while the
arms belonging to the possessors of the
faces were wound lovingly around each
others waists.
"Where am II"
"You are at home, Jay, and all is
WELL" said Lily, with smile.
"And you didn't drown?"
mo, dear; thanks to Sim Jason, who
risked his own life to save mine"
GLOW did l get homer"
"Annie"-
But here the blushing Annie placed
her disengaged hand over Lily's mouth.
''Did you sail the boat and take me
home, Miss Jason?" asked jag, looking
up into her face.
eyes," she whispered; "but be quiet
now, and try to go to sleep"
The great majority of the people in
Tomsburg are we'll pleased to know that
the fend between the Jasons and the
Spratts is at an end A double wedding
is announced there to take place in early
autumn-John P. Sjolander in Times
Democrat.
His Reward.
Sniggs-Brash was bad man in his