Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-07-17
CHAPTER XIII.

"Where Is the shipT asks Dicky
Browne, laying his hand on the arm OF
one of these ancient mariners to steady
himself, whilst the old salt, who is Yearly
thrice his age, stands steady as a rock.
"Close by-a schooner from some furrin
port, with wine, they say" So shouts
the old man back again.
"And the lifeboatT'
as manned an away. Twill be tus
sic tonight, sir; no boat could live in such
a sea, I'm thinking. Hark to the roar OF
It,"
The dull moon, forcing itself through
the hanging clouds, casts at this momen,
a pallid CLEAN upon the turbid ocean, max
ing the terrors of the hour only more ter
rible. Now at last they can see the DOOM
ed vessel; the jncessant dashing of the
waves is slowly tearing it in pieces; mo-
mentarily its side is in danger Of being
driven in.
At this piteous sight men cry aloud, and
women fall upon their knees; some figure
with flowing hair can be seen near one OF
the dismantled masts. 1t is a womanI
and what is that she holds aloft-a child,
q little child.
The agony increases. Some run along
the beach in frantic impotency, calling
upon heaven TO show pity now, in tones
that even pierce the CHASTITY bowling OF
the wind. Anon, the Quiyering light
ming comes again. shedding a blue radi'
ance over all. Twice has the lifeboat
been repulsed and driven back, in spite OF
the strenuous efforts Of its gallant crew.
Dulce, who has run down to the strand
without word to any one, and who ls
now standing little apart with Roger
arm round her. hearing this unearthly cry,
covers her face with her hands and shiv
prs violently in every limb. AT this mo-
ment Portia, creeping up to where they
are standing, with hands uplifted to hei
forehead, tries to pierce the gloom. Ihe
spray from projecting rock being lung
hack uoon them trenches them thorough
~.
Roger; putting out his hand hurriedly
draws Duce out of its reach, and wouid
have persuaded Portia to come to more
sheltered spot, but she resists his entreaty,
and. waving him from her impatiently,
still continues her eyesearcb for some
thing that she evidently supposes to be CD
the beach. Where she is standing, 8
shadow from huge rock SO covers heI
that she is invisible to any conner.
Now some one is advancing toward
them through the darkness and clingina
mist. Dulce, who is sitting on the ground
and weeping bitterly, does not see him, but
Roger goes quickly toward him. 1t il
Fabian, pale but quite composed, and With
certain high resolve in his dark eyes
There is, indeed, in this settled resolv!
something that might be almost termed
| gladness.
"Ah! it is you" he says, hurriedy
reckoning to Roger to come further ava!
| from Dulce, which sign Roger obeying
brings both him and Fabian degree near
or Portia. Yet, standing motionless al
| she does within the gloom, they neither
see her Tor feel her presence.
Here, catch my watch" says Fabian
quickly, in a businesslike tone; "and,
with a short laugh, keep it if don
come back" He filings him the watch al
he speaks.
"Where are you gongT asked Roger
brcathlessly, where"
with those fellows in the lfeboat
i They want another hand, now poor Jen
kins has been bowled over, and | shall
60; they are losing heart, but my goin!
with them shall change all that. Tel
: Dulce-"
I, "You shall not go! cries Roger, fran
,tically. 1T is throwing away your life