The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-10-27
CHAPTER III.
Age and Infancy Drift Ashore.

| With the closing in of darkness the
storm sbated. As if rebuked by the
deep shades of night it skulked away
like subdued trespasser. Only its
rumbling, disappearing footsteps could
be heard in the distance.
But for the booming of old ocean 8
mad waves, who seemed to feel that she
had conquered all within her grasp and
was reaching out her arms for the sky
and rocks to catch all above and about
her, stiffness would have prev allied
such as only exists in a calm after a
great storm.
The fishermen began to emerge from
their homes. The news of the terrible
fate of the ship and her crew had
spread about the village. While there
was none of those hardy fellows who
would dare the white-capped waves.
yet they could not sleep while succor
might be rendered In some manner.
Beacon lights were kindled upon the
hills along the shore and above the safe
landing places go that il any craft
should have survived the storm it
might steer for the place where landing
did not mean certain death, though the |
best was hazardous.
More wood" they shouted, as the /
fires began to die down and in every d. 4
rection spectre-liks forms were seen
moving about like shadows among the
big trees that lined the hills near the
shore.
Others lined up near the waters edge
with ropes in hand, and strained their
Eyes and ears for 4 glimpse or . sound
hat would direct them to q place
where humanity's most charitable act
ould be bestowed.
But 1t was q night OF work and vigil
aDce without reward. No. An object Z
Tas seen, not sound heard save that q
4 the receding waters IS they returned i
o the deep from which they came. q
The sun shot above the horizon the I
morning with . flash. The z
~ was ~ clear as . crystal. The
aters were ~ smooth on the bay as q
lwn. Only out on the bar did an &C.
.sional whitecap show its head. .
The beach was soon lined with men,
omen and children. The smoldering n
res on the hilleides sent swirling t,
reams Of white smoke straight toward
lie heavens. The great trees above the al
,ach bad Strengthened their boughs
I'd no evidence remained OF the battle oil
it'll the storm cave the broken limbs al
i'd the high piles OF driftwood that oil
tered the shore.
On the approach of a newcomer la
st glance was cast out over the BAY. th
was followed by a cloud Of disap tn
intment on his or her face. Sand tr
land had claimed many victims and
other disaster was to be added to her
,ord.
Buried deep into her sands was the
ii Of another vessel. Only a few an
lmps OF masts remained above the hi,
eek. Strain their eyes as they would liv
der the shadow of their Lands or pa
-ough their strongest glasses, not a I'm,
ing thing could be discovered on or fol
put the remains of the vessel which ri,
made such gallant fight the pre- bo
us day. wi
suddenly boat shot out from the bn
IRE to the east. An involuntary hiss tor
aped through the lips Of the other or
'ermen. 1t was old seadog and his wa
g. They Lad slept through the tri,
bit while others kept the beacon fires :
ming. They were not now on mis- .hI
! of charity bent. They had gone aa 49,.
plumber before. 20.
'ut old Seadog had other motives in o.'
v. His keen eyes had pierced deep 20 80
nto the storm the previous day. "a"
had also been reading the marine sup
., besides letters and newspapers WI
n foreign land. He thought he sia
'gnized- the vessels country, blythe ;.
vel itself and bad a motive for being uir'
aboard shorld his surmise be true. ane
n they dashed, propelled by the ne
led oarsmen, growing less and less ''re
J like young jackals they lifted their use
on the sands and climbed over in mar
he hull Of the stranded vessel. the
be people began to break sway In was
u groups. They were silent but IRON
Seadog and his boys were con- from
ned in the minds Of many. Still ~
did not know the real motive that City
opted the land pirates. =
se men scattered up and down the a..