Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-12-02


in his fish-book, and the harsh injus-
tice Of the manager, he would not now
be out in the night, helplessiy watch
ing some unknown fellow struggling
with death. He seemed to catch a
glimpse Of smart house, with a red
fire in a crate, and the manager Of the
Astoria Crescent toasting himself and
talking to his wife. His own clothes
were sour upon him, and the brine
hardening about his eyes made 1t tor
ture to look into the wind. Then, with
a defiant curse at the transient vision,
he stopped to his net and, raising it
fathoms at an armful, thrust it over
the side. It is the last sacrifice Co.
lumbia river fisherman makes. But
out in the tossing surges Of the bar he
saw still wavering light.
Unburdened, No. 345 answered her
helm quickly. With one hand on the
titled Andrew baled In wild haste with
the other, throwing the water to lee
ward and looking to the lashings Of
the heavy ballast-bags. Then, when
all was clear as he could make it, he
dexterously undid his cumbersome
Jacket and stuffed it under the thwart.
Another lull in the wind allowed him
to unlash second oar, and he, with
this in reserve, settled himself down
stolidly to his task.
The breasts Of the fishboat threw
the waves aside in binding spray as
he neared the chops, and when q EoIr-
ing sea swept across the tu:2bling
rattle Andrew tautened every muscle.
The sea passed in thunder into the
darkness whittier he dared not look,
and left the sturdy craft still heading
on the starboard tack toward the fee
BILE CLEAN in the murk ahead. The sail
was wet to the top OF the mast, and
from the folds where the spirit wrin-
killed. it the wind blew the water in
white foam. Then q short expanse of
less troubled sea interviewed, and Han
sen managed by a quick leap and hot
return to throw the spirit out. He was
Just in time for a mountain of water
shut out the wind and, as the boat
fell away, broke in boiling foam. Two
minutes later No: 345 was again on
her course half filed, hard to hold,
and dipping deeply at every plunge.
But the light was close aboard and the
fisherman saw to leeward of him the
blotted outlines of a small yacht. 1t
was under bare poles, and every lurch
sent the spray soaring toward the
shrilling stars from its bluff sides.
When he got within a hundred yards
of it Hansen shouted and luffed. The
gale bore him down on the yacht in
an instant, and as he was driven past
he saw a man wave his arm frantical-
ly, and then the light went out.
Steadying No. 345 with one powerful
hand on the tiller, keeping her almost
in the eye Of the wind, Andrew Han
sen waited. Suddenly his free arm
went out and caught something. A
strong pull, and a white face was lift
ed to the thwart; with wrench that
started his joints, he dragged a girl
into his boat. Still he waited, edging
up a little whenever he saw the
chance, but still waiting. An arm was
flung out at him from a rush Of foam,
and again Andrew snatched his prey.
This time it was a man, and he fell
beside the girl. "Is that all?' yelled
the fisherman over them.
There was no answer, and again No.
345 was steadied into the wind, though
the streaming waves now carried
thrill that warned the fisherman that
but little time was left to try the last
chance.
But no other form was seen, and
when a towering wall Of spumy water
tossed the capsized yacht within ten
fathoms Of his boat, Andrew eased the
sheet from about his leg, and then
started on his way to catch the thread
of the tide. He knew that for three
hours yet it would be flooding in, and
he felt that no mortal hand could save
No. 345, unless he could make this in
streaming current, and there lie to I'M
til he was beyond the clutch Of the de-
vouring bar. So inch by inch he ate
his way out, rushing his plunging boat
over the smaller waves, and hanging
her lightly on the sheer steps Of crum-
bling combers only to f1irt her over
when the cataract fell.
Time and again No. 345 rolled in
helplessness till her skipper could fu-
riously clear her Of some Of the in
pouring water; and he gave little heed
to the man and the girl lying across
his feet, except to avoid them as he
moved. But his efforts told, and foot
by foot he crept out Of the edge Of the
chops and into the more regular will
derness Of the deeper channel.
Once out Of the deadly trap where
every surge carried death, Andrew re-
Taxed a little and peered down at the
two people he had saved. When he got
a moments breathing space he put his
hand on the girl and she stirred under
it. The man shuddered to his knees
and threw his hands out to the fisher
man. Satisfied, Andrew threw his