Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-02-20
CHAPTER XIX.
MAN OVERHEARD.

1t was the night before our arrival at
Colombo. The weather had changed
and was somewhat threatening. Dark
clouds had begun to pile up from the
southwest, and during the early hours
Of 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 a
bit, quickly feeling the movement of
the sea. Many predicted rough night,
but we We're all thoroughly at home by
this time, and probable tossing caus-
ed us no apprehension. Besides, we
should be in Colombo on the following
morning, and the thought of run
ashore entirely unbalanced the fear of
an evil night.
The sea rose somewhat after dinner,
though not to any great extent, but the
night 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 murmurings in the wind,
and as the ship began to labor some
what the people retired rather earlier
than usual.
After seeing Miss Hurst below l had
gone to the smoking room to have
pipe, but finding the atmosphere rather
oppressive, for In spite of the change 1t
was still insufferably close below,
went out on the deck to finish my
smoke. For time l lounged against
the rail little 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 piercing shrek which
came from away aft. looked round,
but along the dimly lighted decks there
was not soul 70 be seen. Bewildered,
stood for a moment half wondering If
had heard Alright, when once more
came the cry. This time there was no
mistake, nor was mistaken in the d.
rection from which the sound came.
Hesitating no longer, 1 bounded away
aft, obliyious 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 vio-
lently against the auxiliary wheel aft,
and presently the voice of Miss Hurst
rang out clearly and distinctly, "Help!
help!"
My heart almost stood still with hor-
ror. felt as though the ship was sink
ing beneath me, but l cried aloud,
what don't know, and rushed toward
her. 1t seemed to me that my feet
dragged heavily, that the ship rolled
still more furiously, for with a sudden
lunge to port 1t hurled me into the lee
scuppers. Half dazed, / rose to my
knees and once more came that awful
cry, Help! help" But 1t was mufled
as with the terror of death. Scram-
bling to my feet, 1 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 1 loved smote
upon my heart and for the moment
robbed me Of energy; but the view of
the man scudding across the deck
awoke me, and thinking nothing of
him l sprang aft and peered into the
burning wake.
1t may have been only my fancy, but
away astern in the broad shaft Of bulb
bling light thought / saw dark OBJ
ject, and without moments hesita-
ton sprang upon the rail. Then turn
ing my face forward, where knew the
officer would be on watch, 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
l turned on my side and with power
full overarm stroke-for could swim
fairly well In those days-tore down
the white road of waters. Now, as I
contemplate 1t, 1t seems as though
willfully courted death, incumbered as
I was with clothes, but then had no
thought save that Of reaching the wo-
man who had suddenly grown SO dear
to me.
I swan on, never giving a thought to
the ship or whether my cry had been
heard, and presently saw an object, a
round, dark, ball-like thing, dancing on
the waters before me. Rebuilding my
energies, l quickly reached 1t and to
my indispensable joy found that it was
she.
Only a muftled greeting passed be-
tween M Cor TIA beaten track of wa