The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-31

even If the worst should not come. Now,
here's two life-belts, and if you'll let me
and Mr.. Roberts put them on-it's only a
~precautoE. but shall feel more satisfied"
- OH. cried Miss Boyton, sis it so bad
as .that?">
IT'S bad enough, ma'am; but it won't
ne, any the worse for taking precautions.
Now. sir, VOC put this one on the young
lady and IN see to Miss Boytnn." :.
Fred, dear" whispered Bertha, you
wont leave us alone again. will you?" :;
:. NO. dearest, only hadn't you better
come on deck? 1t doesn't rain. and Cap
tain Miles thinks it will be safer!'
80 gu think the poor Acantha is doomed,
theh?" asked Bertha quietly.
I'm afraid so. It's no use hiding the
danger from you any longer. Our only
chance is that the steamer may arrive in
time 10 succor us.
When Bertha and her aunt got on deck
the scene which presented itself to their
eyes was a strangely picturesque and al
most diabolcal one. They were burning
flare, the red flames of which leaped up
high In the air. lighting up the deck of the
pnor dismasted yacht and the angry sea
surrounding her with vivid distinctness.
The group OF dark figures forward, and the
men at the pumps, all stood out in strong
relief against the stormy waters that in
closed them and the lurid clouds above
The Streaks of dawn were broadening
the sky was black As pitch. In The midst
OF which, now and again, rocket rose in
stream of light and then burst into
flood of descending stars, and all was dark
again.
The minutes passed quickly. the clank-
ing of the pumps continued, accompanied
occasionally by the boom of the minute
gun. The men worked on CALAMITY at the
pumps; il was for life or DEATH
The water in the hold was increasing
fast. There could be no doubt that the
poor Arcantha would founder; whether
the souls on board were destined TO 90
down with her was simply a question of
time; it might be of minutes. II.
The grea: steamer was in full sight,
Every time she rose on the crest Of the bill.
lows her three lights could be- distinctly
seen, and then, as she descended into the
trough of he succeeding one, they disap-
pPAred from view.
Nearer and nearer she came. The poor
Acantha was wallnwng helplessly in the
tumullunuS sea. The cabin was half full
of water and the channels We're almost
awash with the sea. FL r. ..<..:
Size was rapidly losing her buovancy and
the steamer was still some distance tn
wfndward. her huge form, rising on a
mountainous wave, towering high above
the battered hull of the poor Acantila. H.
Instead of abating, the gale was raging
with increased violence. Tie Yacht shiy-
cred and creaked in every timber, while
he Sullen roar of the waters was deafen-
ing. :...* "..' 80
Miss Boyt0n and Bertha elung to the
cnmpanion. calmly awaiting their doom.
The steamer rounded to under their lee
At .htS instant the Acantha gave a
drunken. sickeniDg lurch. There were
cries OF despair. and she pitched into the
rising sea. groaning and trembling ia every
plank: then, like guilty thing made an
n her ii CDprato plnnup
into The boiling surge.
The last sound that reached Fred Rob-
ertS' ear IS he was rushing aft to Bertha'S
Succor was her despairing cry for help.
The next instant he was sucked down by
the eddv OF the sinking vessel, and all was
dark and void. When he came to the sur
face he struck out boldly in the hope of
getting clear of the RI fila of wreck which
surrounded him. When this was accom-
Dfshed he looked round to see If among
the pale. agOnizad faces and struggling
forms in the water he could see that of his
brave little Bertha. No. she was not 10 be
seen, and Slckeulng sensation seized
HIM. At this moment he felt himself
aiken hold of and dragged into boat, and
he tainted
When his recollection returned he was
lying IN comfortable berth and the
doctor was administering some stimu-
lants.
Where is Beriha?" he murmnred. as
she saved 2"
TIE doctor shook his head. saying:
NO ladies saved at prese!.t."
Ii seemed as If he destruction OF the
Acantha had calmed the rage of the tenn
pest, for immediately afterward the gale
ahaied and the sea began To- grow ca liner,
sohbing silently like a child after ter
rlbIe IL OF anger. The morning was
dawning gravly. In the east the deep
blue of the firmanent was warming into
magnificent purple, while the amber ravs
OF the yet unseen sun were shooting ND i'm
fanlika beams across the sky. Everr now
and again fierce gusts of wind swent across
the ocean, dying away. as it were, in
reDenrant moan. as If grleved at the de-
struction il had wrought.
Il was win painful sort of satisfaction
that bertha ana Miss Boyton watched the
approach o. the steamer as she came tow
erlng above them on a great billow. IL
seemed to them that now their rescue was
certain; they had no idea that the end OF
the Acantha was so close at hand. The
steamer had rounded 10, and had come al
most TO a standstiil, aud boats were being
lowered. A his moment the Yacht gave
great lurch and sank beneath them, and
they were launched on the angry ocean
and for a time they were both uncOns cious
Bertha was the first to recover, and she
hooked around for help, but the steamer
had forged ahead. and she and the boats
were some distance from them the next
instant towering wave came roaring
down upon them and they were buried in
it's angry foam. When this had passed
and she had somewhat recovered her
breath Bertha saw her aunt floating help
leSsly some distance from her, and she
swan toward her. The poor lady was in
dead faint and Bertha raised her head
and supported ii clear of che water.
A horrible thought came into her mind.
With help so near were they to be left to
perish? The girls heart was filed with
despair and she uttered Djtenus cry. but
it was weak and faint and there was no
response.
Still they foated on, the distance be-
tween them and the steamer gradually in
creaSing.
Time went on. The boats which had
been moving and circling about on the
spot where the yacht had sunk had eyi.
IDENTIFY given up all further search, had
gone back and were being hauled up. Ths
propellers began 10 revolve and the
steamer commenced to move slowly ahead
With a cry the poor girl tainted.
''You say there were ladies on board,
d0ctnrW said the captain of the steamer.
which was now lying head tn the sea and
blowing off steam with angry violence.
Il can see nothing of them. | am afraid