The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-28
CHAPTER ii.

WI was q long, hard pull, ana
IMI only the great skill of the Off
sS-eS0 Ger prevented their capsizing
ks.sAa.sJ before the whaleboat finally
drew near the Maidstone. The ship
had hit the reef hard at flood tide, and
the waves had driven her farther on.
wrenched away by the storm and the
waves. 1t was manifestly impossible
to approach upon the weather side
without staving the boat, SO O'Neill
cautiously rounded the stern of the
wreck and briefly considered the situa-
ton
He 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
writing about, snakelike, in the water
Intrusting the tiller of the whaleboat
to old Price, the veteran gunner, he di-
rected that it be brought alongside as
close as consistent with safety, and at
exactly the right moment, as they rose
upon the crest of n wave, he sprang out
into the water and c!utched desperate
II at 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 q small rope wildly toss
Ing about in the tumultuouS sea. He
was dashed to and fro like 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 great cash in
his forehead. Blood filled his eyes; his
head swan; sick, faint feeling filled
bis 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, summoning all his resolution to his
aid, he made 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 so high on the reefs pre-
vented her 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 a small cuddy, or cabin, the roof Of
which rose a few feet above the level
Of the deck.
AS he stood there striving to recover
himself in brief lull in the storm he
thought he heard a faint voice. 1t
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 his
eyes. AS he gradually made out the de-
tails of the cabin, dimly illuminated by
a skylight above, he saw a woman on
her knees praying. She had her face
buried in her hands and did not see
him until he spoke to apprise her of his
presence.
Madam he began thickly.
The woman raised her head with
startled Quickness and gave him one
terrified glance. The glass had told
him truly-she was beautiful and
young as well, scarcely more than
girl apparently. Even Tie Gin gray
light could not hide those things y
for him, he was an awful looking spec
tacle-wet, hatless, his clothing torn, Ii
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 81,
lence and finally rose to her feet
deathly pale and apparently appalled,
He saw that she was little above the
medium height. At the same moment
from an obscure corner there rang out
shrek after shrek, and another WON
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 az