Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-08-03
CHAPTER XVIII.

A booming roar came down upon
them from the frigate. which had fred
o broadside, which was followed pres
emily by the whistling of shot over
their heads. Great rents were seen ia
the canvas, pieces Of running gear fell
Z to the deck, there was a crashing. rend-
ing sound, and part of the rail left
standing abaft the mzzen shrouds
smashed into splinters and drove in
board under the impact of u heavy
shot.
One splinter struck the man at the
helm in the side; he fell with a shrek
and lay white and still by the side Of
the wheel which. no longer restrained
by his hand, spun round madly. An
other splinter hit the sword Of Talbot,
breaking the blade and sweeping 1t
from his hand, and the unlucky scrap
of paper was blown into the sea. The
spanker sheet was cut in two. and the
boom swept out to windward, knock
ing one Of the men overheard. There
was neither time nor opportunity to
pick him up, and he went to his death
unheeded
Seymour dropped his sword. every
instinct OF sailor aroused. and sprang
to the horse block. The ship, left to IT.
self, fell of rapidly before the wind.
Bentley jumped to seize the helm.
"Flow the head sheets there!" cried
the lieutenant. Lively! Aft here and
haul in the spanker! Brazil up the fore
sail! Down, hard down with the
helm!"
There was another broadside from
the heavy guns of the frigate. Talbot
replied with his stern chaser, and
cloud OF splinters showed that the shot
took effect, whereat the men at the gun
cheered and loaded. and then crash
went the mizzen topgallant mast above
their heads.
Lively. men!" shouted Seymour.
1--WE must get on the wind again or we
,are lost"
,shrieked the lookout on the forecastle
suddenly. Breakers on the port bowl"
His voice ran aft in a shrill scream
fraught with terror. Breakers ahead"
Down, hard down with the helm
Bentley" said Seymour. himself spring
ing over to assist the old man at the
wheel.
But Bentley raised his hand and kept
the wheel steady. TOO late, sir, for
THAT" he cried, I'VE are In the pass.
Gold help us now, sir. Mr.. Seymour.
lcok to the ship. sir; look to the ship!"
The young officer sprang back on the
horse block. his soul filled with horror.
So fate had decided for him at last, and
duty, not love. had won the mighty
game. A third broadside passed harm
lessly over the ship. doing little dam
age, the rough weather making aim
ing uncertain. Again the fieldpiece re-
piled. Seymour never turned his head
In the direction OF the frigate. He
could not look upon the catastrophe;
besides. the exigency of the situation
demanded that he give his whole mind
to coming the ship through the mar
row pass. Bentley himself. assisted by
a young sailor, kept the helm; the old
est seaman had charge OF the braces.
The wreck of the mizzen topgallant
mast was allowed to hang for the pres
ent.
The white water dashed about the
ship in sheets OF foam. They were we'll
In the breakers now. and the most ig-
norant eye could see the danger. One
false movement meant disaster for the
ship for whose safety Seymour had
sacrificed so much He did not make
IL, To his disordered fancy Katharine's
white face looked up at him from every
breaking wave. He steeled his heart
land. gave his orders with as much ease
and precision as II Il had been prac-
tice cruise. To the day of his death he
could not account for his ability to do
so He made splendid figure stand
ing on the horse back his hair flowing
tout in the wind, his face deadly pale,
calm, cool, steady. his voice clear and
even, but heard in every part OF the
ship. The heart of the old sailor at
the helm yearned toward him and the
seamen looked at him as II he had been
a demigod. He never once looked back,
but from the cries OF the men he could
follow every motion of the frigate be-
hind him. The frigate. the unsuspicious
frigate, had followed the course of the
transport exactly and was coming down
to the deadly rocks like hurricane.
Talbot, his quarrel forgotten for the
moment, ceased firing and stood, with
1 4 nf hn rh. n H.. n