Evening journal., 1891-08-06

went on DECK SICK at neart, ror sea and
gale seemed higher than ever told the
captain how near the last peril was, but he
did not seem to heed me- He stood with
his shoulder to the wheel, and the ship
flew madly on. Never had she saHed with
such speed before
went forward, and while / looked at
the phosphoric fame flashing from be.
meath the bow thought OF home, Of my
own loved Ella-and / groaned in bitter
agony. never before had feared death,
but now-now 50 near, it was terriblel
An hour, maybe more, and then / heard
all too plain, even above the wild roar OF
the storm, the sound so sullen and deep
Of the surging breakers rushed aft and
shouted the fearful tidings in the cap
tain's ear.
God help usl God help usi' was all he
said.
An instant after we were in white, seeth-
ing, kissing water, and then, lifted sky
ward on mountain roller, we were dashed
down with a terrible crash upon the dread
ed rocks. Darkness above-hashing phos-
phorism all around-the ship shattering,
parting beneath our feet, men shrieking in
wild misery-my pen cannot paint the
picture.
And now wave after wave swept on over
us, lifting the ship up and crushing hei
down, tearing her all asunder, and yet
chung to a rope which / had fastened to a
bolt in the deck, not knowing whether one
was alive beside me or not, for all was
silent but the winds and waters. Like
bowling demons they went on with their
fearful chorus.
How long seemed that night, while !
could feel that the shattered remnants OF
the old ship were going fast from under
mel But the blessed daylight came at last,
and even the sun shone out And / saw,
lashed like myself to the deck, but one
man-that man was the captain. Whites
than foam was his face, and fun as white
his hair, which had been glossy brown on
the day before. Our eyes met-his were
wild and wolish-insanity' fire was in
them.
The sea now drove the last part of the
wreck asunder, and for moment | thought
we both were gone but on one high spot
ofroclS we got a foothold, and there clutch
ing the coral crag with bleeding hands we
hung.
Until then neither OF us had looked
away from each other or the wreck But
together glancing southwark, there we
saw, not a mile distant, beautiful, flower
carpeted, fruit laden Cuba White cot.
tages, groves Of golden oranges, and tall
palm trees-never had they looked so beau.
tiful to me, Yet mile of terrible break.
ers lay between us and it--a waste of wa
ters, through which the strongest swim
mer could not hope to pass.
And the ship was gone-no, one plank
single plank-small, but large enough
for one 70 cling to, came drifting in our
reach. With one hand each Of us seized it,
while with the other we clung to the peak
Of rock which alone had saved us from in
stant destruction.
"Let go the plank, it is minel l will
lash myself to it ahd liver cried the cap
tain, his eyes glaring lercely on me.
Il viii not yield my right; the plank is
mine, and life is as dear to me as to your
/ shouted.
81 have wife and children; you hav,
none; let me live for them" he blended.
~ have one dearer than all the world; j
will live for her who yet shall be my wifer
cried.
"Fool-fooll she shall look for you in
vain" And as he said this he drew ps
tol from his bosom. Well / knew it was
capped, waterproof; well / knew how sure
he was in aim; but l drew the plank
toward me which he had let go of when he
clutched his weapon. He raised his hand
fis weapon was leveled at my heart
Give up the plankW he shouted.
"Never, coward-neveri Fire, and ny
| dying curse 90 with your'
i closed my eyes-I knew my fate-but
< wild rush of water, a fearful wave, swep
me far, far away from the rock. Then
was drowning -gurgling, choking in tn
water. But rose, and as / did, somethin,
hard touched my body. / clutched it-i
was that blessed plank To it clung witt
death grasp; yet it seemed as if / wa
doomed TO die, after all, for the waters GOV
cred me and lost all consciousness.
But not for all time was restored to
! knowledge that dear life was yet mine b
the kind acts of Cubans, who had draw
my body, yet clinging to the plank, fror
the surf, and were applying stimulant
when / opened my glad eyes once more o
the face OF bright humanity.
asked if any others had got TO the shor,
They carried me to a mournful lookin
group Of bodies. / saw several of the crew
but not him-not the captain. But eve
while we stood there great rolGng way
swept him in and for an instant though
he lived; he looked SO grim, with the pist'
yet clutched in his hand. But he was col
and dead, and after they bore him to IL
! corpse pile Of the rest, and had grow
stronger, took The pistol from his stiffenC
grasp, took aim at piece of the wrec
! and fired The bullet which had been il
tended for my heart went deep into Il
Oaken wood. l went down on my llne
J then and there and thanked the Almigh
that | was saved for my poor Ella; al
. though have since done a sailors duty
] protecting and aiding the widow and q
phans Of the poor captain, ! never ha
, been so unseliish as to regret that had pc