The Portland daily press., 1891-02-27

1emsT warmth. OF the journey. Thay
cooned some food, but there was tooth
uo-or rSu 10 90 1nncn enod- ana r,e n1fs-
ferrous waters still dreuched them ar,dsa
keen wind searched their bones, .and-aIl
too'soon bursting roller~quenched-the
friendly blaze.
On the 10th of December, Friday..a
eoniralcloud rose-on the horison-ruse,
butay still instead of scudding away
with rum In itsNhreath as the others did.
Then Halford shouted, LAND hot"
he had been to the islands once be-
fore, and recognized Kauhnlnau rock,
the-most- extreme southwestern pcint-of
thegroup.
As the boat rose and fell ON the rollers
the misty smudge of Nihua and oven
Ksuia hove IN sight, but the wind shout
dered the foriorn boats crew back from
the shore, and beat and tack as they
would her head fell away again and
again, and the last they could do was to
hang quivering between hope and the
deepsea.
The tragedy now drew to rapid close.
Sunday night they were off Hanelei
harbor, and still the wind with its
mighty fail winnowed out theirstrength
and patience.
At midnight they hove to. Then the
slope Of heaven touched 1 o'clock-the
last day had come.
Two o'clock was marked by the wheel
ing stars-haf-pas and then, Ike q
panther, the wind leaped out 10 sea, and,
cronching back of its quarry, blew IN
shore as fercely as it had before blown
seawnrd.
Dreading another change, they de-
cided not to wait for morning, butrto
make harbor at once, and when the
boats head was put on Talbot drew his
first breath of assured safety for those
nhis charge and the shipmates left be-
hind in the lonely Pacific.
As the water shoaled toward the ridge
of the reef Halford- came up from below.
He says as he got in the cockpit wave
broke abaft, and Talbot called out:
STEADY, there. Bring her by the wind"
Both Francis and Andrews sprang TO
obey him, but a heavy wave burst
against the boats side, upsetting her
and washing them both away to the
mysterious death of the sea. They were
never seen again.
Talbot managed to catch and cling to
the hilge of the boat as she foated keel
up, and Halford-who was hanging to
the stern and casting off his clothing
called to him to come astern and climb
up on her. But, drowning his words,
came third wave, and when it passed
he was alone.
In the pause of the gathering sea he
scrambled ON the boats bottom, and
cGnging there, rode naked through the
glittering death that beat and broke
about him. And the first line of break
ers was passed in4afety.
In the second the boat rolled over, but
righted herself head on to land, and
drifted ashore near Kihhi-Kai, five miles
from Hanelei
AS she drifted there rose groans from
the cockpit, and the sailor, Muir, who
had been below during all these scenes,
came out on deck, hopeless mailman.
As the boat touched the beach Hal
ford took what papers he could save and
helped Muir ashore, then fell exhausted
and slept or tainted until daybreak.
When he awoke Muir was gone, and
he saw the natives taking something
from the sea. Hoping it was his beloved
commander, he dragged himself to the
spot; but the purple face, starting eye
balls and foam covered lips were those
of his messmate, horrible in death.
After securing the boat and getting
some food and clothing from the kindly
Kanakas he began to patrol the beach,
waiting to see whether the incoming
tide would give up its dead.
At 7 o'clock the rollers heaved into
sight and tossed from crest to crest a
dark object, and rushing into the surf
Halford drew oat Talbot's body; and al
though his reason told him it would be
useless, his love impelled him to work for
hours to revive him. When forced to
admit the futihty of his efforts he rode
to Hanelei to deliver up his trust, ask
burial for the dead and to beg the imme-
date dispatch of help to those his officer
had died to save.
On Christmas eve the relief steam
er was sent out, but the young Ken
tuckian, who had gained the battle, al
though he died before the strong wine
of victory touched his lips, had then
slept five days in his foreign grave, and
this grave is the spot on which the tablet
stands.
But his loyal dust keeps the watch be-
low under the green pillows Of his native
churchyard, and there may his rest be
sweet until
The great Captain Christ
Shall pipe all hands aloft.