The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-05-22

"Do you know, old man, what SUIT
swimming is? I have divea throug]
the surfat Nukuheva."
"God bless you, sir I thought n
white man could do the same"
While this conversation was goin!
on Jones was divesting himself of al
superauous clothing and cutting GU
the sleeves of his pea jacket with hi!
pocket knife. This done, he passed
some light strong rope through them
The mon watched him with eager in
terest, and, seeing their inquisitiyt
looks, he said:
"The thick sleeves will prevent the
rope cutting my body"
"Ay. ay. sir. I see now what you
are doing"
"Now, men, I have only one re-
quest; give me plenty of rope as fast
as ! draw on you. When I get or
board, you know how to make a cradle,
l suppose?"
"Ay, ay, sir. But how are you
going to reach the water?"
II am going to plunge down. 1 have
dived from the mainyard Of the Ajax
before this. It was as high q leap"
He passed double coil of tie rope
around his waist, examined it thor.
oughly to see that there was plenty to
start with, and saying: Snow, friends,
stand out of the way, and let me have
clear start" he raised his bare head
one moment toward heaven, and taking
a short run, leaped, as if from the
springboard OF plunge bath.
Such an anxious crowd as followed
that leap. Great numbers, in spite OF
the dangerous wind, lay fiat on their
breasts and watched him. He struck
the water at least twenty-five feet be-
yond the cliff, and disappeared in it's
dark, foamy depth. When he rose to
the surface be saw just before him a
gigantic wave, but be had time to
breathe, and before it reached him he
Owed below its center. 1t broke in
passionate fury upon tho rocks, but
Jones was far beyond it. A mighty
cheer from the mon on shore reached
him, and he now began in good earn.
est to put his Pacific experience into
practice.
Drawing continually on the men for
more rope-which they paid out with
deafening cheers-he met wave after
wave in the same manner, diving under
them like an otter, and getting nearer
the wreck with every wave, really ad-
vancing, however. more below the
water than above it.
Suddenly the despairing men on
board heard clear, hopeful voice:
"Help at hand, Captain! Throw me
a buoy"
And in another minute or two Jones
was on deck, and the cheers of the
little steamer were echoed by the
cheers OF the crowd on land. There
was not moment to be lost F; she was
breaking up fast; but it took but a
few moments to fasten cable to the
small rope and draw it on board, and
then a second cable, and the communi.
cation was complete.
"There is lady here, SIR" said the
captain, eve must rig chair for her
she can reVer walk that dangerous
rope"
"But we have not a moment to waste.
or we may be ell lost. Is she very
heavy"
"a slight little thing; half child,
SIR"
Bring her here"
This was no time for ceremony
without word, save O fow sentences
OF direction and encouragement. he
took her under his left arm. and
steadying himself by the upper cable,
on the lower with his burden
safely to shore. The crew rapidly fol.
lowed, for in such moments of ex>
Eremity the soul masters the BODY and
all things become possible.
There was plenty of help waiting for
me half'dead seamen and the lady, her
father, and the captain were nut in
the carriage of Braddon and driven
rapidly to his hospitable hall. Jones.
amid the confusion, disappeared; he
lad picked up an oil-skin coat and
zap. and when everyone turned to
'hank their deliverer he was gone, No
one knew him; the sailors said thew
believed him to be zone Of the mill.
;ary gents by his rigging" but the in.
1lvlduallty OF the hero had troubled
10 one until the danger was over, In
IN hour the steamer was driven an
he rocks, and went to pieces; and. it
'elng now quite dark, everyone went
home.
The next day the hunting party re.
urned from Gwynne Hall, the storm
having compelled them to stop all
hight, and at dinner that evening the
wreck and the hero of it were the
heme OF everyone's conversation,
such plucky fellow" said Ensign
lowell. II wonder who hs was?
iwynne says he was o stranger, per.
laps one of the crowd staying al the
Abbey."
"Pe:haps," says Captain Marks "it
ron ~