The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-09-09

hadn't time to reef it, so they jest cut
it away an tried to reef the jib in
stead. Those boys meant well, but
every minute was precious, an it did
seem to me they took an hour to get it
done.
The mast BEN like a fish-pole. an
every minute | thought to heari it crack.
All this time the water vas comm
over the sides, an little Miss May stood
there up to her knees in it, coaxin'
those great healthy boys an girls, an
scoldin' when she couldn't keep 'em
quiet without it.
There was no use maxim light of
our danger low. 1t didn't need tellin'
all saw it. Then. as the boys
turned to come aft, the city Teller lost
his footin' IN over he went after Tom.
MIR. Hugh an the other Teller jest
looked at each other an staggered to
their places-an' then they ran in to
Miss May. She didn't give EN- time to
git more scarf. She jest handed 'em
two buckets and said, kinder stern:
Here, don't be towards. If we must
die, let's die bravely; but in the mean
time-work.'
81 had given up then, an kinder re-
signed myself to what was comm. |
had time to look around, for the tiller
was dashed fast-no man could hold it
in 4 sea like that-an' l can remember
Miss May as plain as if it was yester-
day.
They told me afterward that her
grandfather was a famous sea-captain
that went down standin' on the bridge
of his ship: and | guess she took after
him an it come to the top when it was
wanted, cause she vas as cool as a
cowcumber. AS fast as the others got
scared, she grew quiet; an her voice,
that was so soft and gentle when she
used to sit beside me, rang like a bell as
she told 'em what to do. 1t seemed
queer to see her standin' there among
them great girls that had laughed at
her cause she couldn't keep up to EN-,
an they cryin' an screamin'-an' the
men warn't much better.
Death amt a pleasant thing to face,
especially on the water. I've had lots
of narrer escapes in my time, an seen
lots of wrecks, an for one mar what II
meet it brave, twenty IL act like ours.
You see o can't do anything but wait
for the end, an to pillow through a
ragin' sea with nothin' before one but
the certainty O. bein' pitched into the
boilin' fury-is hard. 1t takes the
nerve out err one. Drownin's hard, but
l reckon the waitin' for it's harder. !
didn't like it myself, an didn't blame
them poor young things-but couldn't
keep my eyes off Miss May.
"She was wet to the skin now, stand.
in pretty well forward, as she was,
every wave that come aboard splashed
over her.
THE wind or somethin' had brought
the color to her cheeks, an every now
an then she'd take her cap off an shake
the water from her hair. Sh e seemed
to grow taller. too, an her voice, which
the wind brought back to me sounded
for all the world like the last echo o
the fog-bell t'other side the bar.
'We were gettin' ON now. With tina
wind at our backs an the racin' cut O.
the Foam we couldn't help it. w
were in past the lighthouse, an l begun
to think we'd weather it. Jest theI
there was a report like a pistol, an
| went heelin' to leeward with my arm
in finders. l remember thinkir' tina
was the end O. things, an then
tainted"
Uncle Jerry drew out a gorgeous RET
cotton handkerchief and mopped hi
brow, from which the perspiration wa
rolling in streams; then he continued
"When l come to, there was Mis-
May and Mr.. Hugh holdin' the tile
with all their might. The derned rop
l had used to lash the handle ha,
broke. They told me afterward tina
when it happened Mr.. Hugh and Mis-
May sprang to it, n between 'em the,
managed to keep her head before tn
wind.
MY arm was painin' me just awful
but / managed to put my well shoulde
to the wheel, SO to speak, an found
could help considerable. The rope ha
got pushed about the painter of tn
dory an was trailin' in the water be
hind.
THE girls had kinder walked up, a
but Miss Julie. She couldn't seem t
get over her fear, but sat there whit
as a ghost with her teeth chatterin
Miss May looked at her a minute, the
she got up an went owe to her.
never knew, but thinkin' of it aftel
ward, it seemed to me she must hav
felt somethin' of what was comm.
Miss May stood there so sweet al
tender, an seq she:
Never mind, Julie, dear, the wors
is over. / feel sure you'll reach HON
safely an be happy Then s%udden-lik
she STONED an kissed Miss Julie. al