Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-10-16
CHAPTER III.

the waves had driven her farther on.
Every mast and spar was gone.
wrenched away by the storm and the
waves 1t was manifestly impossible
to approach upon the weather side
without staving the boat, SO O'Neiu
cautiously rounded the stern OF the
wreck and briefly considered the situa-
ton.
lie did not dare bring the boat near
enough to enable him to leap upon the
deck through some Of the great gaping
openings in the sides made by the ire
mendous gatherings Of the massive
spars. and he finally concluded that the
only practicable access to the Maid
stone was by means Of some Of the
gearing trailing over the side and
writhing about, snakelike, In the water.
Intrusting the tiller Of the whaleboat
to old Price, the veteran gunner, he d.
rected that it be brought alongside as
close rs consistent with safety. and at
exactly the right moment, as they rose
upon the crest Of wave, he sprang out
into the water and clutched desperate
ly at a rope hanging over the side OF
the wreck.
The men swung the boat away from
the ship instantly, and he found him
self clinging to small rope wildly toss
ing about in the tumultuous sea. He
was dashed to and fro like a cork, the
waves repeatedly broke over his head.
the life was almost buffeted out Of him.
but he held on like grim death. Fortu-
nately the other end Of the rope was
fast inbOard.
With careful skill and outstanding
his strength as much as possible he
pulled himself along the rope through
the water until he drew near the side
Of the ship. Then. though the opera
ton was hazardous In the extreme, as
he saw no other method, he began to
pull himself up hand over hand on the
rope along the side. In his already ex-
hausted state and with the added
weight of his wet, sodden clothing the
effort was almost beyond his strength.
He endeavored by thrusting with his
foot to keep himself from being beaten
against the side by the waves. but
without success, for when he had hard
~ reached the rail an unusually large
breaker struck him fairly in the back
and dashed his head against piece Of
jagged timber, cutting a great cash In
his forehead. Blood filed his eyes: his
head swan; a sick, faint feeling filed
his breast; he hesitated and nearly lost
his grasp Of the rope. The men in the
tossing boat little distance away held
their breath in terrified apprehension;
but, summonlng all his resolution to his
aid. he made a last desperate effort.
breasted the rail and fell fainting
prone upon the deck Of the ship.
A few moments in the cold water
which was flooding over it revived him
somewhat, and he rose unsteadily to
his feet and looked about him in bewil-
derment. The change from the tossing
boat to the motionless rigidity Of the
vise-held wreck was startling. There
was not sign Of life on the ship. She
was breaking up fast. Rails were stove
in, boats were gone, three Jagged
stumps showed where the masts had
been, and only the fact that she had
been driven 50 high on the reefs pre-
vented hex from laundering at once.
There was a dead body damned under
the starboard fife rail forward, but no
other sign Of humanity. In front Of
him was a hatchway giving entrance
to q small cuddy. or cabin, the roof Of
which rose . few feet above the level
Of the deck.
A he stood there striving to recover
himself in q brief lull In the storm be
thought he heard . faint voice. II
seemed to come from beneath him. He
at once turned and, with uncertain
steps, descended the hatchway. Reach.
ing the deck below, he stood in the way
q moment, brushing the blood from hil
eyes. As he gradually made out the de-
tails of the cabin. dimly illuminated by
q siylight above, he saw q woman on
her knees praying. She had her face
buried in her hands and did not ~
him until he spoke to apprise her Of hi
presence.
Madam he began thickly.
The woman raised her head viii
Startled qu!ckness and gave him one
terrified glance. The glass had told
him truly-she was beautiful and
saung a. well scarcely more than {
GIRL apparently. Even the dim gray
light could not hide those things. A
for him, he was an awful looking spec
tacle--wet, hatless, his clothing torn,
great red wound in his forehead in
tensifying his pallor. He had heavy
pistol in his belt and a cutlass swing
Ing at his side.
She stared at him In frightened d.
lence and finally rose to her feet,
deathly pale and apparently appalled,.
He saw that she was little above the
medium height. At the sume moment
from an obscure corner there rang out
shrek after shrek, and another wom-
an rushed forward, threw herself on
the deck at his feet and fairly groveled
before him.
''Oh, sir. for Gods sake, sir" she
cried frantically, good Mr.. Pirate,
don't hang Us, sir! We never hurt any.
body. Oh, sir. take Us away. Well do
anything, we"-
'Silence, you cowardv' commanded
the other woman imperiously. Get up!
Prayers are Of no avail with such
as
Nor are they necessary. madam" re-
piled O'Neill. I'VE are not pirates, and
1 am come to save you and shall do 1t.
Will you please come on deckT
Il had rather gone down on the
ship" said the girl defantly, evidently
disbelieving him. But you are here,
and you are master. Give your orders,
SIR"
"very WELL" returned the lieutenant
calmly accepting the situation. "You
will 60 up on deck ut once"
The girl motoned him forward.
'.After you, madam" he said, bowling
courteously, and she stepped haughtily
up the companion way, followed next
by her shivering. shrinking, terrified
maid and lastly by ONeill.
"Are there any others left alive on
the ship, think you, madamT he
asked.
mo one," answered the girl. "Many
were thrown overheard or killed when
we struck on these rocks here, and the