The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-09-07
SWAN TWENTY MILES.
And She Kept Her Helpless Father
Aloat Until Rescued.


some fifteen years ago little schoon
cr slipped her moorings at Laupahoe-
hoe, Hawaii, and started on her voy-
age to Honolulu. So small was the
little craft that her only crew was one
slender girl, the daughter of the cap
tain. She had been sailing with her
father since she was so small that he
had to place box for her to stand on
when he wished her to hold the wheel
while he handled the sails if by chance
any change OF course was necessary.
Kalili was about fifteen, tall, slen-
der girl, whose brown cheek was round
and ruddy with the rich blood which
leaped through her veins, for Kalili,
having been reared in the open air,
most of the time on the broad ocean,
was strong and healthy, and we'll able
to do the work required of her on the
schooner. Which they left Laurahoe-
hoe the sun shone brilliantly, but old
Kalamanu shook his head and looked
gravely toward bank of black clouds
which were piled up high above the
top of lofty Mauna Loa. Kalili cared
little for her fathers misgivings. She
was anxious to get away, for the next
day was q holiday, and she wished to
reach Honolulu in time to enjoy her.
self with her companions.
While she stood holding the wheel
and keeping the little craft on it
course, she was dreaming of the luau
to which she had been hidden and
thinking of the bright lcis which she
would weave in her duslly hair and
hang around her dimpled shoulders.
Her holoBu would be as pretty as any
there, and she knew that at least one
pair of eyes would see that leis and
dress were both worn by beautiful
girl. Dreaming thus, she did not
notice the change which was coming
over the sly-did not sec the white
caps, which showed that the wind was
raising swiftly AMI would soon sweep
across the wide channel with rcsistless
force.
The pleasant islands of the southern
sea are not always serene and placid
Sometimes the kona comes bowling
and shrieking down the dark canyons
and through the narrow gorges, smit-
ing everything before it to the ground
When it comes God help the hapless
craft which is in its road. God only
can help, for the blows which the wind
and waves deal upon the tossing,
writhing vessel are heavy enough to
drive it bodily beneath the waters.
Kalamanu had neither holoku nor leis
to dream of, so he had seen the kona
coming and had been preparing to
meet it to the best of his ability. He
had given the girl his orders in quick,
sharp tones, and she had mechanically
obeyed them, but without realizing
what the change of course meant. Sud
denly she was awakened, and roughly,
from her dreams. A wall of white
water rose high above the side of the
vessel and dashed down upon the deck,
drenching the girl to the skin.
With the shock she came back TO the
present, and, looking around, saw that
what but short time before was
smooth, placid stretch Of blue water
was now a foaming, raging sea, dash
ing its waves high above the low rail
of the schooner. The wind Whistled
and hoWled around her ears. She
could scarcely hear her father as he
shouted his orders to her from few
feet distant. Filled with terror, she
kept the vessel on it's course, but only
by the eXertion of her whole strength.
Louder and louder roared the wind,
and higher yet climbed the waves.
The sun still shone brightly above her
head, seeming to make the scene more
frightful than it would have appeared
beneath cloudy sky. A kona may
blow for days and it may pass in an
hour. Their only hope was that this
one had arisen SO suddenly that it
would subside as quickly.
kalamanu watched the black cloud
which had iiyst given him warning
of looming trouble, and saw, to his
joy. that it was passing away. Evil
IDENTIFY the kona would not last many
hours, but could the little vessel,
built for sailing on summer sea,
stand that terrible Yrenching and
twisting even for that short time9
She was new and reasonably strong,
but the blows she had suffered might
well have destroyed a stronger vessel
He could only hope for the best and
hold on to the rail until the wind fell.
lie had done all that was possible to
save his vessel God must do the rest.
The wind was surely sinking, the
waves did not rise so high above his
head. The worst was over and he
turned his head to speak to the girl,
who still chung to the wheel.
Then came 4 crash. An immense
wave had broken over the stern, filled
the little hold and the little schooner
was sinking under their feet.
Kalili was as much at home on water
as on land, like all Hawaiians, and as
soon as she caught her breath she rose
in the water and looked about for
something to aid her in her. light with
the sea, and for her father, for whose
safety she had no fear. But she saw
him slowly sinking beneath the angry
wages. He had been injured by blow
from something as the water dashed
across the deck, carrying whatePep
loose articles still remained on the
deck.
Swimming swiftly to his side, Kalili
caught hold of him and raised his head
above the water. He was not insen-
siblc, and in few moments was able
to support himself on the water, but
he had been injured SO severely that
he was unable to swim.
They We're at least twenty-five miles
from land, alone on the tossing sea
without even broken oar to assist
them, and she, helpless girl, must do
what she could to save not only her