The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-07-31
SHES ALL THIN
WORLD TO ME.
By HALL GAME,
Author Of "1he Mdnrmdp," 1.-THE Deem
stCr," etc.
CHAPTER XXII.
This Is what had happened.


lit up by the burning gorse.
Let's hope they're not in the down
stream, poor fellows whoever they are,
said Christian. "In a wind like this 1t
would be certain TO drive them dead on to
the Moar reef. -
Then they continued their walk and
passed the open shaft in which Christian
had spent his night of peril and agony
There was so much to say that neither
spoke except at long intervals There was
so much else to feel that neither felt weary,
nor remembered the many hours in which
both had been strangers to sleep They
might have wandered on-two dark figures
against the red glow of the great flre-un-
til the steep declivities of the Poolvash had
stopped them, but that the wind rose high
er every moment and threatened to sweep
them from their feet.
Lister, how the sea thundersl" said
Christian, and just then cloud of kissing
spray came mp to them, high as they were,
from the boiling surge below,
They turned back, laughing as every
gust tore them little apart.
Before they passed the cottage on their
return they were conscious OF faint cries
from beneath
"HarkP said Mona Surely they were
voices from the sea-
There could be no doubt of 10 now.
Several voices were calling In accents of
fearful agony, and above the rest was one
wild, thin shrek. 1t seemed to echo in
the lowering dome of the empty sky-was
such cry of distress as might haunt one S
dreams for years.
Its from the boat we saw, and they re
on the MOar reef, too, surely" said Chris
tan. Then they hastcned on
When they reached the shore they found
the sea running high A long ground
swell was breaking in the narrow strait be-
tween the mainland and the Castle isle.
Flakes Of sea foam were flying around
them. The waves were scooping up the
shingle and ilinging it through the air like
sleet
The cries were louder here than above.
By the light of Danny's fire it was but
too easy to see whence they came. damned
between two huge protruding horns Of
rock fishing boat was laborng hard in
the heavy sea, rearing, with crcak, on
the great waves and plunging down with
crash and groan on the sharp teeth of the
shoal beneath her.
The men on deck could be seen hacking
at the mast to tighten her and cutting
away the gunwale forward to ease her of
the horns that held her like wise But
every fresh wave behind drove her heat
deeper into the cleft. The men shouted il
mingled rage and fear They tried to LEAF
20 h., : h, D;.,l,] o. I,n
breaking on them made this perilous ad
venture, even If the pitching Of the boa
left it possible.
Christian took in the situation in an in
slant. Two or three small boats were ly
ing high and dry on the shore. He ran t
them, cut away their cables, tied them to
gether in strong knots, slung one enc
around his waist and passed the othe
about an old spar that lay close by.
They're too near for us to stand ant
see them die" he shouted excitedly, abov
the tumult of the wind
Mona clurg to him for an instant. TheI
she loOsed him, with fervent kiss
In another moment he had plunged int
the water.
The strait was very narrow-60 feet a
what a toilsome journey to the man VIII
was wading off with the rope. The It'd
was flowing and near the top. 1t neve
rose higher than four or five feet in thi
channel A man might cross it II tn
swell did not sweep him back.
Through the boiling surf piercingl
cold Christian struggled bravely. He wa
young and strong. He reached the boat a
last. 1t was prancing like an unbrokel
horse. But, waiting fer receding wave
he rushed in, laid firm hold of the first maj
at hand and carried him back to tn
shore. The man had lain in his arms
dead weight Was he dead indeedS
Mona stopped and looked into his face
1T is Danny Fale" she cried.
But Danny was not dead. He recovere
consciousness and staggered 70 his feet
Loud and angry cries were now COMM
from the boat. Mingled with the curse
of rage there came the words, why didn'
you give us the roper
Christian shouted that he was comm
back with it, Then, watching again fo
an ebbing wave, he plunged off afresf
He reached the boat quicker this time
Being pulled aboard, he unlashed the rop
and strapped 1t to the capstan. Then on
of the men-it was old Quilleash-droppe
over the side and drew himself hand owe
hand through the water
But the rope stretched and creaked wit
the rolling of the boat. The spar to whic
the end ashore was strapped budged nc
an inch Mona saw the danger too late
Before she could ease the rope it snapped
Now Christian added one more to tn
number of those on the boat
Old Billy, safe on shore, sat down on tn
single and sobbed, terror stricken an
helpless. Thank God, the poor, despise
Danny had his wits about him. He sa'
what had happened and ran for anothC
rope. Flying into the town, he shouted
Help, holpl" But all Peel seemed to
at the "carvals." He ran to the churcl
Screams of laughter and the tumult {
noisy singing came ont into the darkness
Scarce knowing what he did, he bur'
open the door and cried, in piercin
voice, "Thc Benny -chree is on the rocks
Then, with the new rope in his hands
he fed away to the shore.
When Danny got back, n great mutt
tude was at his heels Old Quilleash sti
sat, wailing and helpless. Mona ran
and down the shore in an agony of su
penSe. The lad looked at neither. III
hillside of fire behind them showed bu
too clearly what had occurred. Chilled
the bone by the raw winter wind four
the men had dropped overheard. \ fit
had lcaped into the water and after tea
ful stri1orcrlp for life had brpu lifted off n