Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-08-25

and we We're making capital jour-
ney, when, just as we were within
twenty degrees of the line, we were
struck by a hurricane which the cap
tain declared was almost a cyclone in
violence.
The vessel could not weather it. The
masts crashed overheard, taking sew
eral Of the crew with them, and, be-
fore the wreck could be cut adrift, a
portion Of the broken spars, dashing
against the ship, had caused leak
below the water-line, and the cry
was,-
I'VE are sinking! Lower the boats
the pumps are useleSs!
The captain was marvellously firm
and cool and by his example made us
all the same.
The boats were rapidly lowered and
filed, while, thank Heaven, the storm
seemed to abate The women went
first, of course, and all who proceed
ing we'll, when, just as the last boat
was being filed, remembered that in
my hurry had left my mothers min
nature in my chest. There was plenty
of time to fetch it, and in a second
was down in the cabin. Flinging the
lid open, my hand was already upon
the ILLNESSES, when heardea foot upon
the stairs. / turned, and by the dim
light yet swinging from the roof per-
ceived Jacob ,Kiel.
Good Heavens! The diabolical ex-
preston on his face, the fiendish mai
ice in his dark, snake-like eyes, re-
vealed his intention in a moment. He
had come to do me some deadly harm.
Leaping up, l seized my revolver, to
be on my guard; but an attack was
not his purpose. Before I could pre-
vent him, he had quickly closed the
cabin door, and locked it on the out
side.
Like flash of lightning all the hor-
rors of my situation instantly flashed
before me. l was prisoner in the
sinking ship! Uttering loud shout of
fury, I sprang forward; the cry was
echoed by laugh from Jacob Kiel.
1 heard him say, "Who will marry
May Brodstone now?' and then his
feet went rapidly up the stairs.
l called aloud for help; the uproar of
the storm drowned my voice. I
paused. Just then the wind lulled,
and l heard an order to push off; the
speaker was Jacob Kiel. again
shouted in my agony; but my voice
and the wind rose together-I was not
heard. I continued to shout like a
mailman, though l knew that all hope
hot oil lilo a
trapped rat, in the sinking ship.
Furiously I beat the door, all the
while painfully conscious that rescue
was impossible and death certain, for
it was night, and, as no bought the
storm would separate the boats, my
absence would not be discovered until
the vessel had foundered.
Could I expect aught else, when in
the occasional lull of the hurricane I
heard the rush of the deadly waters
in the hold, and felt the ship lurch
more heavily each moment as she
plunged in the trough of the sea? Sud-
denly she gave a terrific heel over, and
wave came rafting down the COIN
panion ladder like thunder, rushed
under the door and inundated the
cabin.
I shrieked in agony, believing that
all was over-that I was to die thus,
not even with the chance of battling
for life.
I felt that I could meet death calmly
If were on deck, with the heavens
above me; but my very hair stirred at
the thought of being buried in the
sea as it were in box. Was there
really no way of escape? l looked
round and gave great cry of JOY,
leaped forward, careless now that the
water mounted higher and higher.
"Fool! Idiotr' 1 exclaimed. "You
are your own murderer
NV eyes had rested upon my re-
volver. In a second I had fired two
of it's barrels into the lock of the door,
shivering it to atoms, and the next
minute was upon the deck-only just
in time, for the vessel was settling
fast. 1t would have settled long be-
fore, but that the storm had abated.
With a wild hope I looked for the
boats Near or far all was alike
darkness hid the waters. But, hav-
ing succeeded so far, I resolved not
to despair. One by one l discharged
the remaining barrels Of my revolver,
and then plunged into the sea, to swim
as far as could from the ship before
it sank, hoping that should lind
some pieces of wreck. did so before
I had proceeded far-a mast with
cordage attached. This helped me;
for, after flashing myself to the mast
as well as could, the waves bore me
| away. Suddenly, however, a fearful
rush Of water seized me. was drawn
rapidly back, and then down as in
| whirlpool flung, it seemed, here, there
and everywhere-after which | re-
membered no more. When | came to,
| I was in one of the boats, with May
Brodstone leaning over me.
Jt annaared that directly morning