The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-21

after two bells, and from the symp-
! toms which loudly advertised them
selves, it required no expert knowledge
! to tell that the vessel was beating her
bottom out on rocks TO. the accompani
ment of murderously heavy sea. The
engines stopped, steam began TO blow
of noisily from the escapes, and what
with that and the cries OF men and the
clashing of seas and the beating Of iron
and the beast cries from the cattle
decks, the din was almost enough to
split the ear. And then the steam
siren burst out into one vast below of
pain, which drowned all the other
noises as though they had been chill
dren's whispers.
Kettle slid on coat and trousers over
his pajamas, and went and thumped at
door at the other side Of the alley
wav
Miss Carnegie?"
Yes"
Dress quickly
I am dressing, captain
Get finished with it, and then wait.
I'll come for you when it's time
1T is all very well to be cool on these
occasions, but sometimes the race is to
the prompt. Captain Kettle made his
way up on deck against a green ava
lanche of water, which was cascading
down the companionway. No shore
was in sight, the ship had backed of
after she had struck, and was now
rolling heavily in a deep trough. She
was low in the water, and every sec
ond wave swept her.
No one seemed to be in command. A
dim light showed Kettle one lifeboat
wrecked in davits, and a disorderly mob
OF men trying TO lower the other. But
some one let so the stern fall so tSat
the boat shot down perpendicu- arly, and
f6sa en-, hsa1
OF it into splinters. The frenzied crowd
left it to Try the port quarter boat, and
Kettle raced them across the streaming
decks and got just to the daVitS. lie
plUcked a greenheart Delaying pin from
the rail and laid about him viciously.
Back, you scum he shouted, get
back or I'll smash in every face among
you. Good Lord, isn't there mate or d
man left on this sinking farmyard?
Am 1 to keep off all this two-le=ged
cattle by myself?"
They fought on, the black water
swirllng waist deep amongst them with
every roll, the siren believing for help
overhead, and the ship sinking under
their despair, the men drove Kettle
back against the rail, whilst others of
them cast off the fails of the quarter
boats tackles preparatory to letting
her drop. But then out of the dark
er's mate. both shrewd hitters, and men
not afraid to use their skill, and once
more the tables were turned.
The other quarterboat had been low
cred and swamped; this boat was the
only one remaining.
Nov, Mac, said Kettle, help the
mate take charge, and murder every
one that interferes. Get the boat in the
water and fend off. I'llsbe off below and
fetch IN Miss Carnaoia We must NM
some hurry in it. The old box hasn't
much longer to swim. Take the lady
ashore and see she comes to no HARM
20, ay, said McTodd, and wei keep
a seat for yerseI, skipper"
You needn't bother" said Kettle, Il
take no mans place in this sort of tea
party
He splashed off across the streaming
decks. and found the cattle boats cap
companion, wringing his hands.
out, you bhtherer," he shouted,
and save your NANCY life. Your ships
gone now; you can't play hash with her
any more" After which pleasant speech
he worked his way below, half swim
ming, half wading, and once more beat
against Miss Carnegie's door. Even in
this moment of extremity he did not
dream of going in unasked.
She came out to- him in the half
swamped alleyway, fully dressed. rs
there any hope?" she asked.
We'll get you ashore, don't you
fear"
He clapped an arm around her waist |
and drew her strongly on through the !
lark and the swirling water toward the /
loot of the companion. Excuse me, |
miss" he said, this is not familiarity. |
But have got the firmer sea legs, and |
We mus hurry"
They pressed up the stair, battling |
with great green cascades of water /
and gained the dreadful turmoil on !
1eck. A few weak stars cleaned out !
above the wind, and showed the black +
wave tops dimly. Already some of the /
,attle had been swept overheard. and /
we're swimming about like the horned
beasts of a nightmare. The din of surf
,ame to them among the other noises,
1ut no shore was visible. The steamer
lad backed oft the reef on which she
struck and was laundering in deep
water. 1t was indeed a time for hurry
t was plain she had very few more
to swim.
Each sea now made a clean breach
'ver her, and a passage about the
lecks was a thing of infinite danger.
But Kettle was resourceful and strong,
md he had grip round Miss Carnegie
md a hold on something solid when the
waters drenched ON him. and he con-
rived never to be wrested entirely from
lis hold.
But when ne had worked his way aft,
disappointment was there ready for
lin. The quarter boat was gone. Nc
'odd stood against one of the davits,
DOL and philosophical as ever.
You Internal Scotchman, you've let
hem take away the boat from YOU
Kettle snarled. L should have thought
-ou could have kept your end up with
NANCY crowd like that
Use your eyes," said the engineer.
The boats in the wash below there, at
he end of the tackles, with her side
tove in. She drowned the three men
hat was lowered in her because they'd
% sense enough to fend off"
THAT comes of setting lot of far
lers to work a steamboat"
"Aweel, said McTodd, steamers
ave been lost before, and 1 have it in
lind, captain, that you've helped
by James, if you don't carry civil !
Ongue, you drunken Geordie I'll knock
GU some teeth down TO cover it,
''Oh, owed you that" said McTodd;
but now we're quits. bided here, Cap
ain Kettle because 1 thought you'd
laybe like to swim the teddy off to ,
bore, and at that can bear useful
and
Mac" said Kettle. Il take back.
hat l said about you're being Scotch
cure a good SOUL He turned to the {
irl, still shouting to make his voice
AIRY above the clash of the seas, and 5
ne below of the siren, and the noises
E the dying ship-''it's our only chance,
Hiss, swimming. The life buoys from
NV !