The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-10-15

age, and the desperate sea lunged against
the bluff, but every human being on that
doomed craft was silenced by his awful
peril.
Finally, | felt the shippers grip on my
arm and Leard his words in my ear:
"Thank God we were not cast against
the precipicel Had that happened all
would be over now"
"But what chance have we nowfn was
my hoarsely uttered question.
"Noner he answered. But this gives
us a few moments more of life
"Simply prolongs the agony"
"lf you look at it that way, yes. 1t
gives us time to pray. If we had been cast
on a sandy shore, some might have es-
capped AS it is, the precipice seals our
DOOM
felt certain death was close at hand,
but my fear seemed to be gone. 1t had
passed away, and was astonished at my
own calmnoss. | even smiled scornfully
at the terror that had possessed me short
time before, and when the lightning came
again ] looked about with intense inter
est at the awe inspiring spectacle. / had
often wondered how it would feel to be
shipwrecked, and now was experiencing
the sensation to my full satisfaction.
We could do nothing to save ourselves,
and so the only thing was to wait, wait,
wait. That was the worst part of 1t, as
quickly decided for the suspense became
greater with each passing minute. This
so wore upon me that | soon longed for
the schooner to be swept from the rocks in
order that I might know what would fol
low.
Boom! booml boom!
The pounding of the great waves ON the
bluff seemed sufficient to make the very
earth shake and shudder. At times the
schooner would lurch with movement
that seemed to indicate she was about to
let go her hold and sweep forward, but
that was only when some monster wave,
larger than the average, hurled its seeth-
ing crest over us.
And so the hours wore away, while the
Falcon seemed to cling like a leech to the
rocks on which she lay. wondered she
did not go to pieces a hundred times before
morning, but, at length muddy gray
light showed in the eastern sky, and we
knew dawn was at hand.
1t came, Rain ceased to fall, but the
wind still tore at the rigging, and the
waves ran over the deck. Not far from the
top of the mainmast hung the crest of the
bluff, where safety awaited any who could
reach it,
The captain and the first mate consult
ed As a result of this an attempt was
made to reach the top of the cliff. Di-
rected by the mate, some of the sailors set
TO work, and as result of their efforts
the topInast was extended from the main
mast in an effort to reach the bluff This
was most difficult task and could not
have been accomplished had not the
schooner rested quite steadily on the rocks.
As soon as there seemed any possibility
of escape, hope revived in my breast again,
and once more felt myself a tremble and
breathless with expectancy. Eagerly
watched every move of the sailors who
were working to save the lives of us all
and groan would be wrung from my
lips every time they failed in an under.
taking or were bafiled by the savage gale.
In the course of time, the topmast was
secured, and from it the mate attempted to
fling n rope to the verge of the precipice
Once, twice, three times he essayed, and
the third trial resulted in the moose catch.
ing about some bushes. A faint cheer
broke from the throats of the sailors, but
II turned to "A groan of dismay when the
mate pulled on the rope and the bushes
came away, dragged out by the roots.
Again and again the cast was made un.
til the mans arms were quite tired out,
but the moose failed to catch second time
Finally, the mate gave 1t up. Then
saw him working his way out on the slen-
der tOpmast, and knew it was his desper-
ate intention TO make leap for the bluff
The eyes of every man were on him, and
some of those rough sailors were praying
aloud that he might succeed.