The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-07-19

ing As ii shook.
"Lay aloft there, and cut that sail
clear of the jack. stays~ shouted Cap
tain Leo to George.
"Wil it not be dangerous for him to
90 up there now, father2" inquired Min
nowla. "Might not the topmast fall
with hitm on the yard %
at is to prcrea its falling that send
him to cut away the sail" was the an
swer. There is no danger il ne be quick
enough"
But in this the captain was mistaken.
There iras danger, rs some of the LASH
ings near the cap of the strained spar
were already loosening.
Lively, therew he shouted, roughly,
to the boy, as the latter ran aloft.
George soon was outon the yard, ply
ing his knife to cut away the strands that
held the sail, but, being hindered by the
stating of the canvass against him, he
made slow progress.
"Call him down, father. am sure he
IS running a great risk =" cried Min
nowla.
"He will be safe enough in few min
utes, impatiently answered the cap
tain; but, even as he spoke, away went
the toymast with crash.
1t fell upon the vessels only boat,
hanging astern, crushing it to fragments,
and also damaging the ships rudder
but, ere this, George, struck on the arm
by the loosened, swinging yard, as the
spar went over, was knocked into the
sea.
"Man oyer6oardl" Was the cry, and
instantly one Of the sailors cut loose the
life-preserver, on the quarter, allowing it
to drop into the water.
The captain strove 10 heaYe the ship
to, while the first mate-a Nantucketer
got over into the mizzen chains, aud
bending his long body far outward, tried
to grasp the youth by The collar as the
craft went spinning past him.
There was wistful, hopeful look on
Georges face when he saw the mate
leaning towards him, but a foaming sea
hurled the boy out Of reach Of the friend
ly hands. Then a quick, dextrous young
fellow threw out the end Of rope-.he
main-brace-which fell close to the lad.
lie clutched the rope with one hand, for
his other arm, hurt and benumbed by
the blow he had received from the yard,
could not be used. Bot he could only
hold TO the rope for an instant. The
ship swept, jerked the rope from his
grasp, and in q few seconds later he WAS
swallowed up by the sgells and mist
which now had gathered to leeward near
the vessel.
At the cry Of imam overheard ~ Mrs
Belden had staggered out Of the COM
panionway. and in an instant she had
caught sight of her boy, struggling there
in the angry seas.
A terrible spectacle Il was 10 the old
lady. Piteously holding out her hands
her eyes wild with fear and grief, she
tottered to leeward, making astraight
line for her son, and calling on the men
TO save him. She would certainly have
been swept over the lee rail had not a
couple of sailors held her. When she
saw George disappear in the -aek and
mist, all hope seemed 10 desert her
my boy my poor boy viii be lost 7"
she walled in agony, wringing her trou-
bling hands. why is not boat lower
Ell >"
@Our only boat is broken answered
the captain.
But surely there must be some way to
save himl Quick quick"
There is nothing we can do"
The agony of the widowed mother
panied the heart Of every sailor, Her
gray head feebly 9uivering anguish, and
her arms still outstretched toward the
sea, she presented picture of distress
never TO be forgotten by that vessels crew.
But now Minnowla came to her side
While the mothers heart was nearly
crushed, the gentle bat spirited voice OF
the island girl fell upon her ears
wait I will try 10 save your son -
Then, ere anyone could prevent her,
she, as light and agile in her bathing
suit as a deer, ran to the rail, and sprang
over into the sea.
The next moment she was striking out
toward the life-preserver, which had
drifsed a short distance of. Borne on
the eresis of the foaming seas, with her
long black hair streaming behind her,
she was anxiousiy watched from the
ship, and seen to reach the life -preserver,
which she pushed before her as she swan
until the driving mist hid her from sight.
The wind had shifted q little other
wise the vessel in her present unmanage-
bic state, must finally have been driven
ashore but the anxious captain, now
worried about his daughter, thought
nothing Of his craft, which he left under
the charge OF his mate. In spite Of his
faults ne was fond ofhis child, and he
paced the deck hurriedly, yainly. striving
ID peer through the mist 10 leeward.
Hours passed ere the men could repair
the injured rudder and the other DANA
ges 50 as to steer and control the ship.
That the change OF the wind had caus-
ed her to drift clear of the islands to lee
ward being now evident, she was hove
to.
The mist was still thick upon the wat
ers, and never did people suffer such
agonizing suspense as the mother and
father who were waiting and hoping for
4 glimpse of son and daughter.
At last came the trying moment. The
gale had abated, and the lurid sun in the
west darted crimson rays through the
mist, which slowly rose and vanished
from the surface of the ocean.
Lookouts were alofI The captain him
self was at4he foremast head. pointed mis-
glass. Anxiously was the rolling expanse
Of water scanned in every direction, but
no sign either of Ainnowla or George
was discovered.
at is as feared" groaned the captain
"Minnowla, good swimmer though she
was, was drowned in that rough sea,
while trying to save the boy"
1. L