The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-04-11
felt a strong hand clutch her arm ana


saw WIN Clay. blackened by smoke
and singed by flame.
Go art" he said hoarsely. stand
on the port quarter and walt for me-
and | will save yon or die trying. Obey
me. girl; | am your master now"
She looked ut him in mute wonder
and obeyed him In silence. He sprang
away and began to fight the fire as he
could, aided by the officers and crew
and some few Of the passengers who
kept their heads. Among these WAS
Arthur Nanc, a handsome old gentle
man with an engaging face.
You are man, William Clay" he
said rs the two hurled the contents OF
great water cask down the open
hatch. III we ever escape, the com
| pany shall know that they have n man
In their employment II we don't, It is
all the same. Have you seen my
daughter
Il sent her aft just now and told her
that | would save her or lose my life,
and I'll do II, too, because love her"
"Eoye hcr-~you"'
Just now you said | was II man."
said VIII quietly. Lay hold on that
cask, you. What are you Sinking
for2 Can't we talk and work too?"
A strange smile came over the face
OF the old merchant, and they hurled
/ the cask into the water and assisted
the man working nj the fall In raising
Ii.
Don't think I'm fool, Mr.. Nanc."
said Will IF | lived u thousand years
and saw her every day, | wouldn't tell
her az much as I've told you, and,
what's more. you wouldn't have heard
me say II II II had not come out before
| thought"
Mr.. Nanc said not Il word, and VIII
Clay was silent They worked hard
to save the steamer, but the flames
gained upon them inch by inch and
drove them AFT.
Give II up, captain" whispered
VIII, Get out the boats and provision
them. Take time for all you want,
and we viii light the fire"
The sailors worked with II Will until
they saw the boats drawing mp to the
gangway and the passengers taking
sprang for the boats The passengers
made a rush at the same moment, but
as they ncared the gangway they met
VIII Clay, n pistol In each hand and
his eyes flashing fire
"Stand back, thercl" he cried "Do
you call yourselves men? Do you want
to swamp The boats and spoil your only
ehaneer'
Get out Of tile way Missed n glgan-
tic Swode, raising his heavy hand
"Out of the way or | will crush you
with single blow"
A pistol cracked, and the man fell
back, shot through the shoulder. The
crowd rccoied before this determined
young man. for even In an hour like
this men fear sudden death.
"Kecp back, | say" repeated the
young mate. pass along those ladies
first, for they go in the first boat
The order was promptly oheyed, and
then six OF the crew, called out by
name, went Into the boat and pulled Il
away from the gangway under com
mand of the first mate. Boat after boat
pulled up to the gangway, received its
load and pulled away. There was no
more rushing, for there was death In
the eyes Of the young man and the cap
| tain, who had taken his place by his
side.
"My daughter is not in the boats,
young man." said Aurthur Vane
hoarsely.
Miss vanc," cried VIII, you can
come now"
Mabel, who had been standing apart,
hurried forward. Mr.. Vane stepped in
TO the boat, and the last of the crew
followed. Then panic seemed to
seize them, and they pushed off, leav-
ing the captain and the mate upon the
doomed steamer ms long tongues of
flame leaped out toward the boat
Through this fiery barrier the two men
dashed and were seen striking ont for
the boat.
"Stopw cried Mr.. Vanc. You have
left the captain and Mr. Clay"
The men looked Mt him flercely, but
the steady eye OF the old man awed
them, and The two were helped into the
boat, the captain supported by the
strong arm of his gallant mate. The
boats pulled away together, while the
column of flame which shot In the air
announced the fate OF the Gray Eagle
They reached the islands safely after
week had passed.
There Is n young man who sails Il
steamer from London TO Alexandria
whose name Is VIII Clay, and he is
married. The name Of his wife Is Ma
bel, for Arthur Vanc. having found n
man." knew how to make him all his
own. Exchange.