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

s,arboard..pu my lads. pull Larboard
oars best" he continued. Now, right as
you go. There! if that's not a woman's
head I'm Dutchman!" he concluded.
The captain and the doctor still remained
on the bridge, watching with intense inter-
est the movements of the boat.
''They have found something" said the
captain, as the men tossed their oars ana
the boat remained stationary.
~ on said there were two ladies, doctor.
didn't you?" he went en-.
Yes" he replied.
= Then think they have got 'em BOTH.
81 hope So" replied the doctor, "but Pm
afraid there is very little chance for them.
They have been some time in the water"
More work for you, DOCTOR" said the
captain few minutes after. as two appar-
emily inanimate bodies were lifted out OF
the boat and carefully taken below.
STARK dead, sir. | think" replied the
boatswain. in answer to the captains in
quiry; mot sign of life as far as can
see"
"Billy's got his hands full" remarked
one Of the men. as the.d octor. disappeared
down the companion.
Yes. hut Pm afraid they are beyond his
skill" answered another.
such a sweet. pretty creaturew said
another. ii hope she amt dead"
The two inanimate forms which were
taken below were. as the reader may have
already concluded. those of Bertha and
Miss Boyton, and. as the boatswain had
said. there did not appear to be the small
est signs of life about their pale and
corpse-like faces. But Mr.. Williamson.
Billy, as the men Familiarity called him
was man of skill and resources, and as
soon as they had been stripped and put
into warm beds he commenced, with The
assistance of the stewardess and some of
the lady passengers, to adopt active meas
ures to, il possible. restore circulation and
animation. Artificial respiration, rubbing.
and everything that science had suggested
to induce circulation and warmth, had
been carried on for more than an hour
without any sign OF returning conscious
ness.
Meantime the Aruba had resumed her
course and was steaming on at full speed
In the direction of Malta.
In the saloon there was considerable
anxiety and excitement as to the progress
at the operation Time went on and the
under-steward had just reported mo.
change" when he almost Immediately re-
turned, and gong up to Mr.. Boytun said:
Or. Williams commitments, sir, and he
is happy TO say both ladies have recovered
consciousness" ".---- ..-..:
Thank heaven, thank heavenY' cried
the old gentleman, and his Thanksgiving
was echoed on all sides-by none more
ferventlv than Fred Roberts and Augustus
Buckley.
Perhaps no two persons had ever been
nearer the gates of eternity than Bertha
and Miss B0yton, and no two martalS were
ever more truly thankful for their mereifuI
preservation than thew were. ..--
Bertha, after she recovered conscious
ness, progressed with such rapidity that
ere half an hour had elapsed she was able
to sit up and listen 10 the doctors account
of the circumstances attending her rescue.
Miss BQytOn was so completely overcome
that she was obliged to remain in her
berth, but after a time Bertha. in a sort of
jury-rg furnished by the kindness of the
lady passengers, came on deck. and Fred
Roberts fastened TO offer her his arm and
lead her 10 a seat, and as he pressed her
arm to his side she felt his heart beating
wildly. :. -..- 4
What is the matter. Fred, dear?" she
asked; what makes you so pale, and why
are Won so excited ?" -
safe. My heart is full of thankfulness
and gratitude. ThankfulueSs to have YOU
once more safe by mg side, and gratitude
to heaven for all our escapes"
They sat on hand in hand in that happy
silence which is so eloquent to the hearts
of luvers. .-.T.-: !
1t was a soft. moonlight night az the
little party OF five who had been rescued
after the wreck of the Acantha sat in one
OF The best rooms In the Medina Hotel
gazing out en- to the greet rocky island of
Malta. Its massive Notifications standing
out In bold relief against the blue un-
clonded sky.
The loss OF large yacht and the rescue
81 her MESSENGERS and crew would be AN
excitement anywhere; but it was so novel
and unprecedented an item in the lives of
the garrison and inhabitants of Malta that,
either from kindness or curiosity. many
people had called at the hote. full of
generous Sympathy and offers OF assist
ance. IL was after day of what
Augustus Buckley called liOnization that
we ind our little party taking their ease,
the ladies in soft armchairs and the gentle
men on the balcony smoking.
'Phewp blew out Mr. Buckley. show
hot It is -
Hot" exclaimed Miss Boyton; II don't
think it even warm"
.'Ob. auntie. You don't mean that % re-
piled Bertls, QuesiiOninglv.
es. do. dear; Pm not warm. I don't
think shall ever be warm again; and as
n the sea. ii ever get back to Wads ford.
III take good care not to trust myself to
is tender mercies again. She paused n
moment, and then she broke out again:
Dear! dear! what an escape, | really
think / should have died f il had nnt>been
for vnu," addressing Bertha. II snail
never forget it.'
Neither shall |, my dear lady" re-
sDonded Mr.. Roberts ITS not IN ex-
perience one is likely to forget. We all
had very narrow squeak for our lives
but l think our friend Buckley had the
narrowest Of all. Bnt there, if a fellows
born TO be hanged IFS no use trying to
drown him
-"Of course not" replied Buckley with a
laugh. It's no use fighting about destiny.
nut m not going to hop off the hooks lust
yet I'll be hanged il do
Now. boys" broke in Mr. Boyion. mo
more squahbling. Let us. who have nassed
through such great peril, be serious and
sobrr-minded.
There is one thing. Think" continued
Buckley, that Miss Bertha Will do well 10
remember. and that is not again 10 laugh
at the idea Of being caught in aIevant-
er. ALL the Year Round
G0OD.BY.