Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-10-09

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
slight change in the course q tremor in
the hand on the wheel.
aft there he shouted promptly.
What are you about? Steady with
that helm. No higher-nothing OFF,
AYE. aye. sir" replied O'Neill.
standing watchfully at the con. II 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
q terrific rate; the strain upon every
thing was tremendous; q broken spar,
q parted rope. meant lost ship.
Every well dyce," cried the captain,
casting a glance aloft at the weather
leech of the topsails shivering in the
fierce wind, the quivering masts and
groaning yardarms, the lee shrouds
hanging slack. the lee braces and head
bowlines taut as strung wires, the
tacks and sheets and the weather
shrouds as rigid as 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 bucketfuls over the lee cathead.
She was ready If ever she would be;
their fate was at the touch.
"Now," shouted Jones in q voice of
thunder. "down with the helm! Over
with it-hard over!'
The old experienced seamen put the
wheel over spoke by spoke, slowly at
first, then faster, until they finally
hauled it down hard and chung to 1t
with all the strength of their mighty
arms.
"Helm's-a-lee, hard-a-lecw cried
O'Neill at this moment.
"Rise tacks and sheetsw 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.
'Haul taut.' shouted the watching
captain. "AIainsail haulw
The great yards, with their vast ex-
panse Of Stating. roaring, thrashing
canvas, whirled rapidly around as the
nimble crew ran aft with the sheets
and braces. The Ranger fell off quick
" and drlfted down toward the needle,
the aftersails aback.
Board that main tack there! Man
the head braces! Jump, men, lvelyi
Let so and haul"
There was a 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 a pull ON the lee braces, Mr..
O'Neill, and haul the bowlines. Alb.
that's well donew
They were rushing through 1t again
The white water and the breakers
were left behind. A sigh Of relief broke
from the reckless men, and even the
Iron captain seemed satisfied with his
achievement as be walked aft to tho
quarter deck.
Get a good ofring. Mr.. O'Neill," said
the captain, land then heave to. First
send the hands aloft to take in the
to'gallant sails, and then you may yet
q boat ready. We must see II there
are any poor creatures left ON that
ship yonder."
every good, sir" replied the lieuteA-
ant, giving the necessary orders, when
presently the ship. easier under the re-
duced canvas, was hove to In the beat
ing sea.
"Shan take the weather whale
boat, sirT
YES" returned the captain. Il think
you had better try to board under
her lee II 1t be possible to do anything
among that wreckage. l doubt II there
be anybody left alive on her, but we
can't afford to risk the possibility, es-
pecially in the case Of that woman
whom you found 50 beautiful" he add
ed. with q smile.
AYE, aye, SIR" said the lieutenant,
blushing beneath the bronze in spite
Of himself as he directed the boat
swain to call away the wha!eboat.
which. manned by six stout oarsmen.
with himself ut the tiller, was soon
cast into the hcaving sea. Meanwhile
the Ranger filled away again and beat
to and fro of the coast, taking care to
preserve the necessary ofiing, or dis
lance from shore to leeward.
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