Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-23
CHAPTER II.
The Survivors.

with 4 mighty crash OF reHdlnS WOODWORK
and iron. Men and women. too stupefied
10 sob out a prayer. We're pitched headions
into chaos Iris torn from the terrified
grasp of her maid. fell through corridor,
and would have gone down with the ship
had not sailor. clinging to a companion
ladder, caught her as she whirled along
the steep slope of the deck.
He did not know what had happened.
With the instinct of self-preseryation he
seized the nearest support when the vessel
struck. 1t was the mere impulse of ready
helpfulness that caused him to stretch out
his lei arm and clasp the girls waist as
she futtered past. BY Idle chance they
were on the port side. and the ship. after
pausing for one awful second, fell over 10
Starboard. t-.-,..s.-.-.
The man was not prepared for this second
gyration. Even as the stairway canted ne
lost his balance; both were thrown violently
through the open hatehway and swept OIL
into the boiling surf. Under such conditions
thought itself was impossible A series of
impressions. number of fantastic pictures,
were received by the benum5ed faculties,
and afterwards painfully sorted out by the
memory. Fear. anguish, amazenlent-none
of these could exist. All he knew was that
the lifeless form of woman-for Iris had
happily fainted-must be held until death
itself wrenched her from him. Then there
came the headlOng plunge into the swirl
ing sea- followed by an indefinite period
of gasping oblivion. Something that felt
like moving rock rose up beneath his
feet He was driven clear out of the water
and seemed to recognize familiar object
rising rigid and bright close at hand. 1t
the binnl lie pillar. screwed to a por-
ton OF the deck which came away from
the charthouse and was rent from the up
per framework by contact with the reef.
He seized tais unlooked-for support with
his disengaged hand. For one fleet in
slant he had confused vision of the de-
struction of the ship. Both the fore and
aft portions were burst asunder by the
force of compressed air Wreckage and
human forms were tossing about fooiishly.
The sea pounded upon the opposing rocks
with the noise, of ten thousand mighty
steam hammers
\ uniformed .igure-he thought it was
the aptain-sTretched out an unavailing
arm 10 clasp the queer raft which sup
ported the sailor and the girl. But jeal-
Gus wave under the platform with
deIflish energy and turned it completely
over. hurting the man with his inanimate
burthen into the depths. He rose fight
Ing mddiy for his life. Now surely he was
uoonied! But again, as if human exist
ence depended on naught more serious than
the spinning of a coin. his Knees rested on
ihe same lew staRch timbers Row the cell
ing OF the music room. and he was given
a brief respite His greatest difficulty was
10 get his breath. SO dense was the spray
through which he was driven. Even in that
terrible moment he kept his senses The
Siil- utterly unconscious. showed by the
cunNuIslVe heavins Of her breast that she
was choking. With a wild effort ne swung
her head round to shield her from the fly
ing scud with his own form.
The tiny Rir-sDaCe thus provided gave her
some relief, and in that instant the sailor
seemed to recognize her. He was not re-
motelS capable of definite idea just as
he vaguely realized the identity of me
woman in his arms the unsteady support
on which he rested toppled oyer Again he
renewed the unequal contest. y strong,
resolute man and a typhoon sea wrestied
for supremacy
This time his feet plum eed- slasissts some
thing gratefully solid. He was dashed for
ward. Still battling with the raging turmoil
OF water and i second time he felt the
Sd firm vet smooth surface His dor
msnt faculties awobe II was sand With
frenzied desperation. huoyed now by the
Inspiring hope of safety, he fought hYs way
onward Ike a maniac.
Often he fell. three times did the back
wash try To drag him to the swiring death
behind, but he staggered h1Trid1y on. on,
until even the tearing gale ceased to be
laden with The Suftocating foam. and his
falteting feet sank In deep soft white sand.
Then hr fell. not to rise again. With a
last weak flicker OF exhausted strength he
drew the girl closely to him. and the TWO
lay. clasped tightly together. Needless now
of all things
How long the man lay PROSTATE he could
only guess subsequently,. The Sirdar struck
soon after daybreak and the sailor awoke
TO find shaft of sunshine Pickering through
the clouds banked an in the east. The gale
was already passing away. Although the
wind still whistled with shrilI violence il
was more clustering tran threatening The
Sea too though running very high had
retrea ted many yards from the spot where
he had finally dropped. and its surface Was
no longer scourged with venomous spray
Slowly and painfully he raised himself to
a sitting posture. for he was bruised and
stiH With his first movement he became
Violently i'll He had swallowed much salt
water. and il was not untitYtfe spasm of
sickness had passed that he thought of the
Sirl
She had slipped from his breast as he rose
and WAS lying face downward, in the sand
Tie memory of much that had happened
sUrssd into his brain with horrifying sud
denness.
She cannot be dead he hoarsely muir
INJURED fee5ly trying to Lift her. Surely
Provlaecce would not desert her after such
an escape. What a weak beggar | must be
&c give tn at the last moment. | am sure
she was living when we got ashore. What
on earth can / do 70 revive herr
Fcrgetful of his own acains limbs in this
newborn anxiety. he sank on one knee and
gently plllOwcd Iris he d and shoulders on
the other Her eyes were closed. her lips
and teeth firmly Set--a fact 10 which she
uudouhteGly owed her life else sh. would
have been sufpcate5i-and the pallor of her.
SKIN seemed to be that terrible bloodless
hue which indicates death The stern lines
blurred his vision He was weak from eX-
iaustinn and want OF food. For the mrrnent
hus emotions We're easily aroused
oh, ii is pitiful.' he Almost wljmpered.
IN cannot be-"
With = gesture of despair he drew the
sleeve of his thick jersey across his eyes TO
clear them from the gathering mist Then
IL trPiuuhngly CHdeaVored 20 open the neck
81 her dress and uucasp her corSets. He
had "a vague notion that ladies' in q fainting
condition required sGch treatment and he
wsis d' speratelY resolved 10 bring Iris
Derne back to conscious existence If ii were
possible. His task vas rendered difficult
ny the waistband Of her dress lie slipped
"ut a clasp-knife and opened the blade
Not until then aid he discover that the
n1ii of the fprefnger on his right hand had
been torn ont by the quick. probably during
his endeavOrs to grasp the unsteady sun
port which contributed 50 materially TO his
escape. 1t siill hung by a shred and hin
dered the free use OF his hand Without
any hesitation he seized the offending nail
In his teeth and completed the surgical
operation by rapid jerk.
Bending to resume bis task he was
startled 10 find the girls eyes wide open
ard surveying him Win shadowy alarm.
She was quite conscious. absurdly so in a
sense. and had noticed his STRANGE actions