The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-01-28
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CHAPTER XIX.
MAN OVERHEARD,


It was the night before our arrival at
Colombo. The weather had changed
aud was somewhat threatening. Dark
clouds had begun to pile up from the
southwest, and during the early hours
bf the evening smart shower of rain
had fallen, but otherwise there was
nothing alarming in the state Of the
weather. The ship began to lurch
bit, quickly feeling the movement of
the sea. Many predicted rough night,
but we were all thoroughly at home by
this time, and probable tossing caus-
Id us no apprehension. Besides, we
should be In Colombo Oh the following
morning, and the thought Of run
ashore entirely outbalanced the fear of
In evil night.
The sea rose somewhat after dinner,
though not to any great extent, but the
hight was intensely dark, and the
phosphorus glowed and glimmered
about us like white fire. The wake
was wide, blazing road Of light and
showed up with strange distinctness in
the surrounding blackness. But there
were ominous murmurngs in the wind,
knd as the ship began to labor some-
what the people retired rather earlier
khan usual.
AFTER seeing Miss Hurst below / had
kpne to the smoking room to have a
Dipe, but finding the atmosphere rather
pppfesslve, for in spite of the change It
waSstill insulferably close below,
wepf<Uut on the deck to finish my
smoke For Il time l lounged against
the rail a Mttle forward of midships
watching the bubbling phosphorus as
1t curled and twisted from our sides,
thinking vaguely as one will under
such conditions, when suddenly was
startled by Il piercing shrek which
came from away aft. looked round,
but along the dimly lighted decks there
was not a soul to he seen. Bewildered,
stood for moment half wondering if
] had heard Alright, when once more
came the cry. This time there was no
mistake, nor was l mistaken in the di-
rection from which the sound came.
Hestating no longer, bounded away
aft, oblivious of the fact that my foot
Ing was extremely unstable, and In
my hurry ran foul of one Of the fun
mel stays, but picking myself up with
alacrity, for the cries aft were now
more urgent than ever, dashed on.
Two figures were seen struggling vi0-
Iently against the auxiliary wheel aft,
and presently tile voice Of Miss Hurst
rang out clearly and distinctly, Help!
t%p"
Ny heart almost stood still with hor.
ror. felt us though the ship was sink
ing beneath me, but l cried aloud,
what l don't know, and rushed toward
her. 1t seemed to me that my feet
dragged heavily, that tho ship rolled
still more furiously, for with sudden
lunge to port 1t hurled me into the lee
ecuppers. Half dazed, I rose to my
knees and once more came that awful
cry, "Help! help!" But 1t was muttled
as with the terror of death. Scram-
bling to my feet, distinctly saw the
two figures struggling against the after
rail, but before could reach them one,
The woman, was forced overheard and
fell with most awful cry into the sea.
My blood was frozen with horror.
The cry of the woman loved smote
upon my heart and for the moment
.tobbed me Of energy; but the view Of
the nan scudding across the deck
awoke me, and thinking nothing Of
him | sprang aft and peered into the
burning wake.
1t may have been only my fancy, but
away astern in the broad shaft Of bub-
bling light thought ! saw dark OBJ
Ject, and without u moments hesita-
ton ! sprang upon the rail. Then turn
Ing my face forward, where knew the
bficer would he on watch, l shouted
with all my might: Help! Man over
bOard"' and jumped into the sea.
Clearing the screw safely, came up
In a whirlpool Of bubbles, and with
but glance about to take my bearings
turned on my side and with a power
tul overarm stroke--for l could swim
Mairly well in those days-torc down
$he white road Of waters. Now, as |
contemplate it, It seems as though l
Swillfully courtcd death, incumbered as
~ was with clothes, but then ! had no
thought save that Of reaching the wo-
1nan who had suddenly grown so dear
to me.
y swan on, never giving thought to
sshe ship or whether my cry had been
. }eard, and presently saw an object, n
round, dark, ball-like thing, dancing on
The waters before me. Redoubling my
energies, quickly reached 1t and to
ky inexpressible joy found that 1t was
1he.
Only a muftled greeting passed be-
tween us, for the beaten track of wa.
Ter was quickly giving way to the nat
syal swell of the ocean. But seized
her by the arm as IL to support her,
4 when, to my surprise and delight, l
found that she was treading water.
\ "You can swim? gasped.
"A "Yes," she answered.
81 Good! Courage!'
turned to look after the ship; but,
save for It's lights, 1t was Invisible, and
those I could only see as l rose on the
crest Of a wave, for, though viewed
\ from the high decks Of big liner, the
sea that night was nothing terrifying,
It was dreadful chaos Of waters when
one was down In It.
The brave girl by my side never
n nurmured, and, though 1t was too dark
for me to see her face, thought that
lhe light from the white, curling tips
II the waves caught the glow of her
tyes, and In them l seemed to see the