The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-03

graph Fill, Nita was re-
R @I peating many Ave Marias
E SI before an atrocious litho-
graph of the Madonna. The fog-horn
had been growing all morning, and
her father and her lover were out
with the fishing fleet. For every Ave
she offered up for Louis, the lover,
she offered two for her father, the
Padrone. Every one connected with
the fishing industry in San Francisco
knew the Padrone, and his advice was
the law of the fishermen. Even these
who had incurred his disfavor at times
bore him no ill-will, for the heart of
that gentle, gray-haired giant was as
soft as his biceps were hard. Nita
loved him as only petted but un-
spoiled child could. Even Louis was
not half so dear to her as the father
her method of praying showed that.
Just at that time Louis and the
Padrone were greatly in need of
prayer, or perhaps more material as
sistance. A tug ug-bcdt-certainly steam
ing much faster than the half speed
prescribed. by law for vessels in the
fog-had made matchwood out of their
Gttle boat. Louis and the Padrone
plunged almost simultaneously into the
cold water just in time to avoid being
entangled in the debris. The tug may
or may not have returned to investi-
gate the damage. At any rate, it did
not find Louis or the Padrone, who
were left doundering in the sea.
Boots off, Louis" called the Pad
rome, almost cheerily: 1--WE must swim
till we reach the islands, or till the fog
lifts" He wanted to keep the younger
man from realizing how hopeless was
their condition. In q short time they
divested themselves of their boots and
their outer clothing, for they were both
good swimmers.
This way. The Farallones are this
way. Follow close, but save your
strength" said the Padrone. He was
completely lost, but there were vol
umes Of; confidence and hope in his
voice. The men struck out, breasting
the waves with strong, sturdy strokes.
They swan for several hours, but
the fog did not lift or thin in the least.
Louis began to tire, and the Padrone
heard him gasping for breath. "Cour-
age. boy, for Nita," he cried. But
Louis's strength was fast giving out.
"Put your hand on my shoulder"
ventured the Padrone; II can tow
you"
mo-" painted Louis; 81 can not last.
Save yourself"
'It is for Nita. boy. You must be
saved" said the Padrone. sharply; "in
the name Of God, listen!-the breakers!
There is land ahead"
=. The young man struck out desper-
ately. and the Padrone, swimming be-
hind. with one powerful arm pushed
him forward, holding him by the hair
and the other hand. A heavy roller
caught the pair, hurting Louis up on
an exceedingly small area of sandy
beach. But the Padrore was not so
fortunate. He was dashed against
high rock on one side Of the beach,
and though he managed to crawl over
to Louis, his left knee was painfully
crippled. They lay breathless on the
sand for some time.
Apparently they We're in little
gully. with walls running perpendicu-
larly, and the floor sloping upward at
a sharp angle.
"Holy Mary" whispered the Pad
rome. Out Of the mist above came
the sharp bark of the seal. Louis
was too much exhausted to realize
what it meant. But the Padrone knew.
The seals would soon become alarmed
and come sliding down that narrow
slope seeking the water. after their
custom when alarmed Several more
commenced to bark. The Padrone
looked upward in despair. Several
feet above, on one of the walls, little
ledge Of rock jutted outward like a
shelf.
Thank God!" muttered the Padrone;
~ can save you for Nita. Yes. the old
man will save her Louis for his little
girl"
He dragged himself quickly to his
feet, though the sharp pain in his knee
made him vince. The seals were thor.
oughly aroused by this time. Rapidly
.gauging the distance with his eye,
the Padrone seized the unconscious
young man in his arms and tossed him
softly up Oh the ledge.
The Padrone could hear the sound
IF the seals fiippers as they began their
descent. He bowed his head to re-
ceive death, with prayer on his lips.
But in the Kaleidoscope flashes of
recollection that come to men at such
times. came the momentary remem.
brance Of the days when he stood
shoulder to shoulder with the red
shirted men in Italy to receive the
charges Of Pho Nono's troops. He
lifted his head with fierce pride and
shook his fist defiantly.
"Viva Garibaldi" shouted the Pad
rome. raising the old battle cry with
his last breath. For the seals sliC
down upon him in frenzied mass
crushing him to death and rolling hi:
body into the sea.
.che story Of LoIis's rescue covered