The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-09

night. but we were oil thoroughly at
nome by this time. and probable tossing
caused us no apprehension. Besides. we
should be In Colombo on the following
morning. and the thought OF a run ashore
entirely outbalanced the fear Of an evil
night
The sea rose somewhat after dinner.
though not 10 any great extent, but tho
night was intensely dark, and the phos-
phorus glowed and giimmered about us
like white fire. The wake was q wide,
blazing road Of light and showed up with
strange distinctness In the surrounding
blaokness. But there were omnious MUIR
murings In the wind, and as the ship
began to labor somewhat the people re-
tired rather earlier than usual.
After seeing Miss Hurst below had
gone to the smoking room to have
pipe, but finding the atmosphere rather
oppressive. for In spite OF the change II
was still unsufferably close below,
went out on the deck to finish my smoke.
For time I lounged against the rail a
little forward OF midships watching the
bubbling phosphorus as II 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 I
looked round. but along the dimly lighted
u
Bewtldered. I stood for a moment half
wondering n I had heard Alright, when
once more came the cry. This time there
was no mistake. nor was I mistaken In
direction from which the sound came.
Hesitating no longer. bounded away
aft, oblivious OF the fact that rny footing
was extremely unstable, and tn my hurry
1 ran foul OF one of the funnel stays, but
picking myself up with alacrity, for the
cries aft were now more urgent than
ever. / dashed on.
Two hgures were seen struggling vio-
lently against the auxiliary wheel aft.
and presently the voice of Miss Hurst
rang out clearly and distinctly, 'IIelpl
help!'
My heart almost stood stin with hor-
ror. 1 felt as though the ship was sink
ing beneath me. and cried aloud, what
l 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
IL hurled me into the lee scuppers Half
dazed ! rose to my knees and once moro
came that awful cry, Help! helpl' But
IL was muffied as with the terror OF death.
Scrambling TO my feet. / distinctly saw
the two figures struggling against the
after rail, but before l could reach them
one, the woman. was forced overheard
and fell with most awful cry into the
sea.
Ny blood was frozen with horror The
cry OF the woman I loved smote upon my
heart and for the moment robbed me of
energy but the view OF the man scud-
ding across the deck awoke me, and thik-
Ing nothing OF him I sprang aft and
peered into the burning wake.
IL may have been only my fancy but
away stern In the broad shaft of buo-
ping light thought l saw dark OBJ
lect ana without a moments hesitation
l sprang upon the rail. Then turning my
face forward. where knew the officer
would be on watch. i shouted with all
my might: "Helpl Man oyerboa ri -
and jumped into the sea-
Clearing the screw safely, I came up
In a whirlpool Of bubbles, and with but
a glace about to take my bearingsI turn
ed on my side and with powerful over
arm stroke-for i could swim fairly well
IN those days--tore down the white road
OF waters. Now. as L contemplate II,
i seems as though I wifuly oourted
Death. incumbered as I was with Clothes.
but then / had no thought save that OF
reaching the woman who had suddenly
grown so dear to me.
1 swan on. never giving a thought TO
me snip or whether my cry had been
heard ana presently l saw an object a
round. dark bail-like thing. dancing ON
The waters before me. Re doubling my
snergses, 1 quickly reached it and 10 my |
nexpressible JOY found that IL was she.
Only the mufiied greeting passed be- |
'ween US. for the beaten track Of wa |
er. was quickly giving way to the nat |
iral swell or the ocean. But l seized |
ler by the arm as II TO support her. |
when, to my surprise and delight, | found |
hat she was treading water.
You can swim" / gasped.
Yes" she answered.
Good, Couragei"
1 turned 10 look after the shin: but
ave for Its lights. IL was invisible. and |
hose could. only see as I rose on the
rest OF wave. for. though viewed
rom the high decks OF a big liner. the
ga that night was nothing terrifying.
was a dreadful chaos OF waters when
ne was down In It.
The brave girl by my side never muir
aured, and. though IL was too dark for
ne to see her face. thought that the
ght from the white. curling tips OF
waves caught the glow OF her eyes. and
4 them i seemed TO see the agony she
'as suffering. Occasionally l gasped a