The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-03

liner. Yet her offensive powers seemed
undiminished, and she fought on. The
Torbay, too, soon began to show evil
dences of the terrific pounding she was re-
ceiving. Both ships were filled with dead
and wounded men and were much cut up
allow and aloft. -
Grafton fought to win his wife, to serve
his country, to avenge the shattering Of
the little Boxer five years before, and with
no bitterness in his heart. De Kersaint
fought not only for the honor Of France,
but with a jealous rage in his heart to kill
the man who stood between him and his
hopes. Neither would be- denied They
drew nearer to each other. De Kersaint
resolved to resort to coup de main.
Grafton also at last made up his mind that
he would have to carry the opposing ship
by boarding, which was quite in conso-
nance with his desire. He had even gone so
far as to call his boarders away when
sudden squall struck the two ships. For
the moment the wind blew a hurricane
! The two vessels heeled suddenly under the
terrific impact. going over and ocer under
| the irresistible pressure until they lay al
| most upon their beam ENDS. De Kersaint
put the helm of LIE Thesee hard down at
once. But she did not respond. The water
! rushed in her open ports. She began to
settle like a sstone, Fighting slowly as she
went down. The Torbay was scarcely in
better condition. On the return roll to
|
main deck ports also. -.
"Close the main-deck ports" shouted
Grafton, as he saw the French ship going
so fast, his first impulse being to save
his own ship. Lively, for Gods saae!''
The peril of the ship was reflected in his
voice. - ~
The men below sprang to the port-shut-
ters and in spite of the fact that the water
was already sweeping in, by superhuman
| efforts they got them closed, but not until
the ship had been half filled. She lay like
a sodden log on the waves, six feet of
water in the hold. The gun fire had ceased
instantly.
Meantime, what of LIE Thesee?
Grafton stood in the darkening evening
on the rail Of his own ship and stared
at his rival She was sinking In
silence. No human power could keep
her afoat Before his eyes the water was
streaming through the open ports and
gushing in through her riven Sides It
had come so suddenly that there was
scarcely time for those below to reach the
i spar-deck, which was yet swarming with
men. Where was Anne? o, God, was
4 she below still?-abandoned lost!
1 A little group still stood on the quar-
! ter nearest him. There was de Kersaint,
4 the bold captain; by his side young man,
i his head bound about with blood -spat-
Z tered cloth, his arm hanging useless by
his side. 1t was deVitre. There was the
IAS1I4u4S, lOo' Toll, opdiSs 1HlpefluTDdDie
) as ever There was old Jean-Renaud
staggering aft, and in his arms-God OF
l heaven, a woman! The faithful old Bre-
II ton placed her on the rail and held he1
? here erect. The stop Of Grafton's heart
/ told him who. Her black hair was blown
away from her face by the force Of the
s wind. She stood, without a cloak, in a
3 white dress. like a bride of death. She
: recognized him, stretched out her hands
a toward him in love and appeal. It was
$ his wife. There was nothing he could
el do He was helpless. He could only
4 look and look-he could not pray, even.
a The French ship was lower now. Hel
4 decks were awash. Anne waved hel
8 | hand to him in farewell. He cried out t
6 her over the dark water. She could no,
hihear. His wife! His wife! o. GOD. his wife