The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-04-01

yeiiow bundle crouchlng at its far
thest extremity darted down for
twenty feet with amazing swiftness;
then, seeming to- expand itself to
four times its natural size, sailed
gently off to leeward.
MAN overboard!"
"Oh, you murderin' yillain"
shouted a couple as they all rushed
Il thought as how he'd "a hung
on an pulled it in to him." quavered
the second mate as with trembling
fingers he cut a life buoy adrift.
For a moment it looked as if he
was to follow Dan, as the men, with
black scowls and loud curses, crowd
ed around him.
But the skipper and the mate
rushed up and between, hearing the
while many words hot and bitter.
The watch below, too, came pad
ding aft with naked feet and sleepy
eyes.
And presently on the smooth, oily
summit of q comber far away they
saw their shipmate, floating high,
with q crowd of birds lowering
about him.
But had they been 1000 instead
Of twenty they could do nothing
more than uselessly throw life buoys
and hencoops overheard and watch
through contracted eyes, with little
means of pity. One can do no more
hove to in the southern ocean, with
q forty foot e running.
"God help him!" said the skip
per. "He was a good man." And
ne shut the glass with a snap, giving
the second mate a look that meant
mischief.
sHe's riding high,s said the chief
officer, peering. "The wind that
kept him up isn't out Of his clothes
yet. But the birds are at him. Poor
beggar! There's one big brute
right on his head"
At this there was q growl and a
wicked sort of move Of men toward
the second mate, standing aloof and
cullen.
The captain had walked away aft
and wa staring up ct the Irish pen
nant, still auttering from the slack
ened brace.
The chief still peered through his
glass.
Seeing murder in many eyes, the
second mate gave a loud cry and
snatched an iron Delaying pin out Of
the rail.
The cry was echoed by one Of
amazement from the chief, who,
dancing with excitement, roared:.
"He's gripped him! Stand BY, all
hands, with your bowlinesl Here
he comes like q house afre! Hoo
ray!"
And the men yelled again and fell
to knotting bowlines ~furiously as
they looked and saw Dan borne
breast high out Of the water, hang
ing on like grim death to the legs OF
a huge albatross, towed up one
green comber and down another,
but always coming closer.
Heralded by shrill screenings of
rage and terror and the quick flap
ping of mighty wings, the strange
procession came until almost close
aboard, abreast of the mizzen rig
ging.
Then as a big sea passed passed, leaving
a smooth valley, somewhat sheltered
by the ship, De4 let go, and a score
of bowlines flew around hin. in so
many seconds.
Hauled on deck, nearly naked,
with bleeding head and hands, he
staggered to his feet, and, singing
out the second mate, he fell upon
him and would have choked him.lad
his strength held.
But it did not. SO presently,
wrapped in warm Eiankets and with
six inches Of hot rum qualifying the
salt water, he was put In his bunk.
The great bird still sailed about
the ship, swooping down for the
pieces Of biscuit cast to it with q
liberal hand by the men, when the
skipper went up to the second mate.
eco and get that Irish pennant
down." said he
The man went without a word.
When he reached the deck again,
blue with cold and his teeth rat
ting, the skipper said:
"You can 60 into the foc'sle now,
Brown, and stay there. You won't
be wanted aft any more And I
hope you'll enjoy yourself.s