Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-07
WINNING HIS STAR
OR THE ADVENTURES OF
PAUL TRAVERS.
Written for The Evening Star by Sam Clover.
copyrighted. 1894. Ali rights reserved)

WHICH scarcely WORD was spoken by the
few miserable beings that remained alive.
The wreck, meantime, had been gradually
settling until the deck was entirely under
water and the waves repeatedly dashed
over the helpless creatures in the rigging
Suddenly the boat gave q fri2htful lurch
which lowered her fully five feet and told
the half dozen forlorn souls hanging on for
their lives that the end was very near.
Paul knew it was now only question
of minutes when the entire ship would be
submerged. Slipping his lashinSs and
tightening the corr belt which was faston-
ed under his armpits he besan to prepare
for the final struggle. He realized there
was little hope in such Z sea and among
those death-dealing rocks. but he was not
going to give up without a det ar.nined
light Tor his life.
Just as he Was about to climb still higher
to avoid the drenching seas an immense
wave struck him with terrific force loosen
in, his grip and knocking him clean of his
perch INTO the foani,ng pillows. Down,
dem he went, meantime holding his breath
and striving hard to retain mis- senses
when at length he rose to the surface he
kicked out vigorously. but had not taken
Il dozen strokes when his head bumped
yain.,t a hard substance and for n moment
the boy thought ne was on the dreaded
ROCKS.
Bet instead CT that it was life saver
with which lie had come in contact, in the
sh.pe CT a cGmbrous but apparently water
tight sea chest, which was tossing idly on
the water, now rising to the crest of a bill
low ana the ueXt minute lost to sight in the
trough of the sea. 4 rope was Enotted
about its center, which the half -drownei
lad Srippel with the strength CT despair;
2nd, although the waves carried him up
ami down, aoWn and up, as il he were so
much drrtwood, they did not loosen his
h0lI.
Blinded by the spray, nearly checked by
the BRINE and nUnlDed Dy the cold and ex-
p-sure OF that terrible Gay and night, Paul
YET refused 10 De shaken OF, and the FIRST
streak OF dawn discovered him very weak
and almost eXha as led, but still ,lnging to
mis- strange life preserver.
AS soon II was light enough to dis
tinSuish objects he peered eagerly around
for glimpse of the Koturah. But the
wreck was nowhere TO be seen and even the
coast line was only a thin, hazy streax in
the distance. When Paul was knocked OFF
the rigging he fell ON that side Of the ship
facing seaward, so instead Of Icing present
ly dashed on the rocks he was carried out
to sea. The farther he drifted the calmer
became the waves. which were now SO
his perch on the empty chest But his
strength was almost gone, and unless help
arrived very soon the plucky lad felt he
could never survive the exposure Of another
night.
Again and again his weary eyes anxious
ly scanned the ocean for the welcome sight
OF sail. Drifting into comparatively
smooth stretch of water Paul cautiously
stood erect on the chest and from the high
er elevation renewed his eager search. Afar
of on the horizon white speck caught his
eye. kneeling on his queer craft for better
security he watched the speck for fifteen
minutes and saw 1t gradually but surely en-
large IN his vision. Then he knew II was a
ship, and by the progress she was making
he felt certain her course lay directly to-
ward him.
For two hours he kept his eyes liked on
that white spot, which grew larger aud
larger as the vessel bowled along under a
favorable breeze. And yet how slowly she
seemed to travel to the anxious watcher!
At times he could barely restrain himself
from quitting his faithful chest and plung-
should miss him after all! Oh, how his heart
sank at the thought. Then his old spirit
revived. Tearing OF his singlet he waved
II aloft and shouted again and again until
his WORKOUT vocal chords rebelled and ut
terly refused to do further duty.
But what matter! The lookout on the
ship had spied him and in a delirium of 10y
Paul realized he was saved With wild
back her sails, and in few minutes a boat
was lowered manned by four stout sailors
How they pulled! The boy shrieked with
delight as they flew across the water to
where he knelt awaiting their approach.
Then everything became blurred. lie
felt strong hand grasp him and lift him
into the boat and rough but kindly voices
ply him with questions. But he was rast
all answers. His physical powers. SO long
taxed beyond endurance suddenly COLLAPSED.
and II was a dead weight which the sailors
raised to the deck of the Southern Cross a
small trading schooner bound for Melbourne
with cargo of sundries.
For over a week Paul lay in the bunk
where they had tenderly carried him, his
brain on fire, his mind dwelling constantly
on the horrors Of the shipwreck Mean
time Capt. Wilson. the kind-hearted skip
per. gave the lad the very best attention
in his power. a rude knowledge Of medicine
proving Of no slight advantage I'm effecting
a double rescue, for there were times when
1t seemed to be just a toss up for his life.
The day Port Philip Heads were sighted
Paul regained consciousness and learned for
the first time the name of the vessel that
had picked him up and her destination. He
had just strength enough to thank the
captain for his kindness, and then he fell
into a sound sleep, which lasted twenty
four hours. When he awoke the Southern
Cross was fast to the wharf in Sandrdge
harbor.
All that Paul had on when he was res
cued was a pair of blue serge trousers and
a gray undershirt, but the thoughtful kind
ness of the skipper had forestalled the lads
necessities, so that. when he felt strong
enough to go ashore, a neat suit of clothes
brought down from Melbourne lay on
chair awaiting his occupation. Beyond tell
ing the captain his name and that he was
a survivor of the Koturah, Paul had not
been very communicative his weak condi-
ton being ample reason for Withholding
details. He had neither the ambition nor
the heart in his enfeebled state to dilate
upon the sad particulars, yet he felt 1t his
this he promised to do in the presence of
the company's agents at Melbourne.
Before quitting the ship. however, he
outlined the story of the wreck to his new
friend, dwelling particularly on Capt. Bar
retts message TO the owners. which he was
so anxious should be delivered. Poor Bar
rett! Poor Barrett!' sighed the skipper
when he heard of the dead mans last re
quest. He meant well and he stuck to his
ship like a true sailor, even IL he did make
big blunder. Oh, what pity he fooled
away those precious hours in trying TO
make the shore"
Paul was too weak to go up town that
day. hut on the following morning he
thought he was well enough to try 1t. A
small sum of money had been raised for
him by the generous sailors AMI as he was
anxious TO make q few purchases he parted
from the captain near the steamship Office
after promising to be back inside of an
hour. There were queer pains in his head
and back and rs he passed slowly along
Bourke street he began to wish he had