Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-03-12

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Well, at least you shall die with the
rest" and, suddenly drawing his long
knife, he rose to his knees and, holding
to the rope with one hand, attempted
10 drive il into the senor's body with
the other. Doubtless he would have
succeeded in his wickedncss had not an
Indian boatswain. who was near. bent
forward quickly and struck him SO
sharply ON the forearm with his
clenched fist that the knife flew from
his hand, and in trying To recover IL
Don Jose fell face forward on the deck.
where he lay, making no further effort
at aggression.
For few minutes there was n tur-
MOL that cannot he described; then,
although the wind still shrickcd over
head. we felt that we were in water
which seemed almost calm to us. The
ship no longer pitched and rolled; she
only rocked as she settled before sink
ing, while the moon, shining out bS
tween the clouds, showed that wha.
had been her bulwarlis were not moro
than two or three feet above the level
of the sea.
Six Indians. our ttece selves. Don
Jose, who seemed to he SenSclcss, and
the body of the captain dashed TO the
broken bridge, alone remained of the
crew and passengers of the Santa Maria.
The rest had been swept away, but
there, close 20 us. the cutter still hung
upon the davits.
The senior saw il and cried: THE
ship is sinking. Into the boat, quiclS!"
and, running to the cutter. he climbed
into her, rs did |, Molas and the six In
dian sailors.
Cha ,xa. fall - 70 she
thwarts, which could only be got rid of
by pulling out the plug in her bottom.
Happily the buatsNain. that same man
who had struck the knife from the
hand of Don Jose, knew where To look
for n, and, being a sailor of courage
and resource, was able To loose il. SO
that presently the water was pouring
from her in a stream rs thick as
hawser. Meanwhile the other Indians
were getting out the oars aud loosen
ing the tackles.
"Get the plug back" said the senior;
''the vessel is sinking; You must bale
the rest"
Half n minute more aud il was done;
then at a word from the boatswain the
sailors lowered away and we were
afioat, and. better still, clear of the
ship. Scarcely had they got the head
of the cutter round and pulled three or
four strokes when from the deck of the
Santa Maria there came the sound of a
mans voice crying for help, and by the
light of the moon we discovered the
figure of Don Jose Moreno clinging to
the broken bulwarks that now were
almost awash.
For the love Of God, come back to
mel" he screamed.
The oarsmcn hesitated, bpt the boat
swain said, with an Indian oath:
Pull on, and let the dog urown!'
1t seemed as IL Don Jose heard him;
at least he raised SO piteous wailing
that the senor's heart, which was a.
ways over tender, was touched by it.
I'VE cannot desert him." he an
swered; put back for him"
He tried To murder YOU Just now!"
shouted the boatswaip. land il we GO
near the ship she will take us down
with her." Then he turned to me and
asked: DO You command us to put
back, lord?''
'Since the senior wills Il / command
you," answered. I'VE must sa We the
man and take our chance"
HE commands, whom we must
obey" shouted the boatswain again.
Put back. my brothers"
Sullenly, but submiSsively, the In
dams backed water till they lay almost
beneath the counter of the vessel that
wallowed In the trough of the swell be-
fore she went down.
On the deck, clinging to the stays of
the mast. stood Don Jose, his straight,
oiled hair beat abort his face, he
gorgeous dress was soak land dor.
dered.
Save mel" he yelleo hoarsolH '~.y;
met
Throw yourself into t., e1. Dor.
and we will pick you up"
Il dare not" was the answer, come
aboard and fetch me-"
docs the senior still wish us to
stay?" asked the boatswain calmly.
Listen, you cur" shouted the senior.
1.-The ship is sinking and will take us
with il. At the word three, give way,
men. Now, will you come or not?
al come" said the Mexican. and
driven to 1t by despair he cast himself
into the sea.
With difficulty the senor assisted by
an Indian with a boathook. succeeded
In getting hold of him rs he was
washed past on the swell. There.
however, the matter rested for the pres
emit, for Just then the deck of the Santa
Maria burst with a rending sound, and
she began to 60 down bodily.
Row for your lives!" shouted the
boatswain. and they rSwcd, dragging
Don Jose in the wake of the boat.
Down went the Santa Maria, bow
first, mixing a hollow in the sea that
sucked us back toward her.
So soon as this great danger had
gone by the sailors lifted Don Jose into
the boat, where he lay gasping but
unframed. Then arose the question
of what we could do to save our lives.
Asst was, we must have been swamped
many times over but for the stanch-
ness of the boat, which, fortunately,
was a new one, and the seamanship
and ceaseless vigilance of the Indian
boatswain who commanded her. For
hour after hour he crouched in the bow
of the cutter, staring through the
sheets of rain and the darkness with
his hawks eyes and shouting directions
to the crew as he heard or caught sight
of a white-crested billow rolling down
upon us, when VIC would be flung up
toward the sky to sink deep into the
trough on the further side. sometimes
half full of water, which must he balcd
out before the next wave came.
/ was very thankful when, at length
overcome by cold and exhaustion,
sank into Inconsistencies or swoon.
How long remained in this merciful
state of oblivion l do not know, but
was reused from il by Molas. who shook
me and called into my ear with n voice
that trembled with cold or joy, or both:
Awake, awake, we are savedl'
.'Saved?' said, confusedly. "What
from?"
From death in the sea. Look lord. %
"Where are we?" asked.
"fn the Usumacinto river, thanks
be to Godr' answered Molas. 1--WE
have been driven across the bay in the
dark and at the dawn found ourselves
Just outside the breakers. Somehow
we passed them safely and there he
forc us is the blessed land"
As for the Indians, the men to whom
we owed our lives, they were utterly
worn out. Two of them appeared to
have swooned where they sat, three
others lay gasping beneath the seats,
but Molas held the tiller by my side,
and the boatswain still sat upright in
the bow, where he had faced death for
so many dreadful hours.
"Say, lord" he asked. turning his
face that was hollow with suspense and
suffering to speak to me, "can you
row. II so, you take the oar and pull
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