The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-08-26

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 lie seemed To detect through n
slight change in the course n tremor in
the hand on the wheel.
"Aft thcre." he shouted promptly.
what are YOU about? Steady with
that helm! No highcr-nothing off,
"Ayc. aye, sir" replied O'Neill,
standing wntchfully at the con. 81 will
mind ii myself"
The crash Of the breakers as they
writhcd their white crested heads
around the ships bows and on either
side was appalling TO cvcEy one. They
were right in them now-passIng
through them. The rocky needle on
the larboard hand slipped by and drew
astcrn. The wreck of the Maidstone
was lost sight of in the flooding ave
and driving spray Of n rising gale. The
ship WAS roaring through the scas at
n terrific rate; the strain upon every
thing was tremendous; n broken spar,
Il parted rope. meant n lost ship.
Every well dycc," cried the captain,
casting IL glance nloft mt the weather
lccch OF the topsails shivering in the
fierce wind. the quivcring masts and
grooming yardurms, the lee shroudS
hanging slack, the Ice braces and head
bowlines taut rs strung wires, the
tacks and sheets and the weather
shrouds rs rigid rs iron bnrs, the new
canvas like sheets of marble. The ship
was heclcd over until the lee channels
were almost awnsh, the spray coming
OH in buckctfuls over the lee cathcad.
She was ready If cvcr she would be;
their fate was Mt the touch.
"Now," shouted Jones In a voice of
thunder, clown with the helm. over
with it-hard over"
The old experienced scamcn put the
wheel over spoke by spoke, slowly ut
first. then faster, until they finally
hauled 1t down hard and chung to it
with all the strength of their mighty
arms.
"TIclm's-a-lec, hard-a-lcc!" cried
O'Ncill at this moment.
"Risc tacks and shcets!" roarcd 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 rs 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. "NTninsail haul!"
Tho great yards, with their vast eX-
panse of Stating, roaring, thrashing
canvas, whirlcd rapidly around as the
nimblc crow ran aft with the sheets
and braces. The Ranger fell off quick
ly and driftel down toward the needle,
the a~ftcrsails aback.
"Board that main lack there! Man
the head braces! Jump, men, lively!
Let 20 and haul"
There was n frightful moment.
Would she make II? She stopped. All,
thank God, they gathered way again,
slowly, then faster.
Fright the helm; meet hcr-so.
Steady! Get that main tack down now!
Tail OH to it, all OF YOU, sway away!
Get n pull on the Ice braces, Mr..
O'Ncill, and haul the bowlines. All,
that's we'll donc."
They were rushing through 1t again.
The white water and the breakers
were left behind. A sigh of relief broke
from the reckless mon, ana ever the
iron captain seemed satisfied with his
achievement us he walked aft to the
quarter deck.
"Gct n good ofing, Mr.. O'Ncill," said
the captain, "and then hcavc to. First
send The hands aloft to take in. the
to'gallant sails, and then YOU may get
n bont ready. We must sec If there
are my poor creatures left on tina
ship yondrr."
every good, sir" replied the licutcn-
ant, giving the necessary orders, when
presently the ship, easier under the re-
duced canvas, was hove to in the beat
ing sea.
"Shall I take the weather whale
boat, sirf"
Eyes" returned the captain. 81 think
you had better try to board under
her lee If 1t be possible to do anything
among that w~rcckagc. / doubt if there
be anybody left alive on her, but we
can't afford to risk the possibility, cs-
pccially in the case Of that woma
whom you found SO beautiful he add
ed, with n smile.
"Ayc, aye, sir" said the lieutenant,
blushing beneath the bronze in spite
of himself as he directed the boat
swain to call away the w~halcboat,
which, manned by six stout oarsmcn.
with himself at the tillcr, was soon
cast into the hcaving sca.s Meanwhile
the Ranger filed away again and beat
to II fro of the coast, taking care TO
preserve the necessary otiing, or dis
tancc from shore TO lccward.