Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-04-24
;urned away and made no answering

turned away and made no answering
sign.
We got OH much as usual till about
8 O'Clock in the afternoon. Then saw
Meadows prediction would be verified.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and
the waves were high and sullen. Sud
denly the wind sprang up, and 1t was
all we could do to shorten sail before 1t
was down on us. Ford said it was
souall, and we had seen the worst OF 1t,
but he was wrong, as the event proved.
The gusts of wind followed each other
fast Every wave threatened to engulf
the Vixen and her crew, and it soon be-
came struggle for life. For my own
safety | cared little. Life had ceased to
have any attractions for me; but, re-
membering Ford's wife and little chill
dren, | worked manfully to keep the
boat on her course.
"Who would have thought 1t would
blow like this?" Ford said in his usual
phlegmatio fashion as we crouohed to-
gether in the stern.
Meadows said last night 'twould be
rougher than common" l rejoined.
"But he is getting old now and thinks
more of hatful Of wind than he used
to do.
"You should have told me that, said
Ford gravely. cts never safe to 90
agin old Luke-he knows the weather
signs better than any man. Isay, George
Powell, " he went ON, looking keenly at
me, sis Holding to carry off pretty Liz
zieP He was at the cottage last night,
my wife says He seems to be there
most days
81 can't tell you," replied. cts
nothing to me or to you either"
"Nothing to me certainly" returned
Ford. "But the folks used to say she
was for you, lad.
"Doesn t look much like it, was my
somewhat equivooal reply.
Pom my soul, you are right, !"
growled Ford as another great wave
broke over us. "But if that is what you
mean, Holdings chance is no better
than your own, or as good Lookl Isn't
that the Mermaid yonder?"
1t was not easy to distinguish any
thing, for my eyes were full Of salt wa
ter, but after a bit managed to make
out Holdings boat, with three men on
board of her, being driven before the
gale. 1t was madness on his part not to
have put back hours ago. for he knew
we'll enough how little the Mermaid was
/ Gtfo1 70 cr1ob n as this
For few minutes the wind lulled. and
we came within speaking distance.
George" Holding shouted as soon
as he could make himself heard "Mead-
ows knew what he was about last night,
Ell? l was fool not to take his advice
shall never set foot on shore again.
Ford stood up, a rope in his hand, and
called to him to come on board the Vix-
en-. But Holding shook his head. He
was seaman enough to know that to at
tempt such thing would in all prob
ability swamp us all, and he would not
risk it,
"Tell the folks you saw us, " he said
calmly, though his face was white as
death. IBID them goodby. l know
Meadows will look after my little girl
God bless herl And you, George-Liz-
zie"-
His voice was lost in the roar Of the
waves, and indeed my heart beat so fast
should hardly have made ont his words
in any case. A flash of lightning, more
vivid than any we had had yet, half
blinded me, and at the same moment
we shipped sea that nearly washed us
from our seats. When we had succeed
ed in bailing out the water and were
able to look about us, sought in all di-
rections for the Mermaid, but she was
nowhere to be seen. cast myself down
at the bottom Of the boat, overcome with
horror. To have my rival thus suddenly
swept from my path was more than l
could bear. Last night I would have
hailed with joy anything that severed
him from Lizzie. Now / felt like a
murderer. 1t was who had lured him
to his doom and wrecked the life Of the
girl loved l tried to pray for God g
forgiveness, but no words would come.
In my misery would have thrown my
self into the water, but had no strength
to move. Ford called to me, but his
voice fell ON deaf ears l lay stunned
and motionless.
must have remained in that state for
some time. Ford thought had been
struck by lightning but it was out of
his power to help me. 1t was all he could
do, single handed, to guide our little
craft. Fortunately for us both, the storm
began to abate, or we should never have
reached the shore.
1t was dusk when we landed. and the
harbor lights flashing into my eyes
reused me from the lethargy into which
l had fallen. A crowd was assembled ON
the beach, eager to welcome the friends
they had given up for lost. soon made
out the tall figure of Meadows, with his
granddaughter clinging to him as if fo1
support, and l bowed my head in agony
at the thought Of the fatal news / had
to give her. Suddenly voice sounded
| in INV ear Clear and charm ahOva the