Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-07-23

the helm is shifted exactly as | direct.
Make no mistake! Lively, men, for
your livcs!
The eager crew sprang to their sta
tons. There was another moment or
two of confusion. and as they settled
| down the silence was broken only by
the wind and waves. The water was
sccthing and whirling under the fore
| foot of the Ranger. The reefs upon
which the Maidstone had crashed were
dangerously near. But the keen eye of
the captain had seen on the other side
n slender needle of rock over which the
waves broke in scething fury as it
thrust itself mcnacingly out of the an
FRY ocean. They were right among the
reefs. and only the most complete
knowledge and consummate seaman
ship could save them. They were there.
To tack ship now and come up in the
wind would throw them on the rocky
needle: to 20 off would bring them
down upon the other reefs. Jones. en-
tircly master of the situation. perfectly
cool in appearance, though his eyes
snapped and sparkled with fire, lean, |
out above the knightheads and keenly
scanned the sea before him. There was
Just room for the Ranger to pass be-
tween the two reefs. a hairs breadth
on either side would mean destruction.
AS the captain watched the boiling wa
ter he seemed to detect through n
slight change in the course'a trcmor in
the hand on the wheel.
aft there he shouted promptly.
what are you aboutf Steady with
that helm, No higher nothing Off"
aye. aye, sir replied O'Neill,
staining watchfully at the con. Il will
mind it myself"
The crash of the breakers as they
writhed their white crested heads
around the ships bows and on either
side was appalling TO every one. They
were right in them now passing
through them. The rocky needle on
the larboard hand slipped by and drew
astern. The wreck of the Maidstone
was lost sight of in the flooding waves
and driving spray of a rising gale The
ship was roaring through the seas at
a terrific rate; the strain upon every
thing was tremendous; broken spar,
a parted rope, meant "A lost ship.
Every we'll dycc." cried the captain,
casting n glance aloft at the weather
lcech of the topsais shvering in the
fierce wind, the quivering masts and
grooming yardarmS, the lee shrouds
hanging slack, the lee braces and head
howlines taut as strung wires, the
tacks and sheets and the weather
shrouds as rigid IA iron bars. the new
canvas like sheets of marble. The ship
was heeled over until the lee channels
were almost awash. the spray coming
on in hucketfuls over .he lee cathead.
She was ready if ever she would be-;
their fate was ut the touch.
Now" shouted Jones in voice of
thunder, clown with the helm! Over
with it-hard over"
The old experienced soamen put the
wheel over spoke by spoke, slowly at
first, then faster, until they finally
hauled it down hard and chung to it
with all the strength of their mighty
arms.
"IIclm's-a-lec, hard-a- lee" cried
O'Neill at this moment.
Rise lacks and sheets. roared the
captain.
The ship shot up into the wind,
Strengthened herself as its pressure
was removed from the sails lost head
way, the jibs swinging and Juggling in
the gale as she began to swing to lar
board away from the reef on the star
board side. She worked around slowly
until the wind began to come in over
the starboard bow.
"IIaul taut" shouted the watching
captain. "Mainsail haul"
The great yards, with their vast en-
panse of Stating, roaring, thrashing
canvas, whirled rapidly around as the
niluble crew ran aft with the sheets
and braces. The Ranger fell off quick
ly and drlfted down toward the needle,
the aftersals abach.
BOARD that main tack there! Man
the head braces. Jump, men, lively
Let go and haul"
There was n frightful moment
Would she make it: She stopped. All,
thank God. they gathered way again,
slowly, then faster.
Fright the helm; meet her-so
Steady. Get that main tack down now
Tail on to 1t. all Of you, sway away
Get n pull on the lee braces, Mr.
O'Neill, and haul the bowlines. All
that's we'll DONE
They We're rushing through 1t again
The white water and the breakers
ware left behind A sigh of relief broke
from the reckless men. ana even tn,
iron captain seemed satisfied with hi
achievement as he walked aft to til,
quarter deck.
"Get a good oftng. Mr.. O'Neill," sal,
the captain. land then hcave to. FRS
send the hands aloft to take in tn
tCGallant sails, and then you may sc
a boat ready. We must see if Their
are any poor creatures left on tina
ship yonder."
Every good, sir replied the liouten
ant, giving the necessary orders whel
presently the ship, easier under the re
duccd canvas, was hove TO in the beat
ing sea.
shall l take the weather whale
boat, sirT'
eyes" returned the captain. Il thin
you had better try to board unde
her lee if it be possible TO do anything
among that wreckage. ] doubt if ther
be anybody left alive on her, but W
can't afford to risk the possibility, es