Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-06-28
NUMBER 26.

, His voice IAN aft IN Il siIrill scream
fraught with terror. Breakers ahead"
Down. hard down with tie helm.
Bentley" said Seymour. himself :. ring
ing over to assist the old man ut the
wheel.
But Bentley raised his hand ani kept
the wheel steady. TOO late. sir. for
that" he cried. 1--WE are in the pass.
God help US now, sir. MIR. Seymour,
look to the ship. sir; look to the ship"
The young officer sprang back on the
horse block. his soul filed 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 aini-
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 well
In the break ers 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 katharines
white face looked up ut him from
every breaking wave. He steeled his
heart and gave his orders with as
much ease and precision as If ii had
been a practice cruise. To the day OF
his death he could not account for his
ability to do so. He made splendid
figure standing on the horse block. his
hair flowing ont 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 ut the helm yearned
toward him and the seamen looked Mt
him as If he had been Il demigod. He
never once looked back. but from the
cries of the men he could follow every
motion OF thr frigate behind him. The
frigate. the unsuspicious frigate. had
followed the course of the transport
exactly and was coming down to the
deadly rocks like Il hurricane.
Talbot. his quarrel forgotten for the
moment. ceased firing and stood. with
all of the men who could be spared
from their stations. looking aft at the
tremendous drama being played.
The ffigate. Look 1T the frigate!
she's going To strike. sir" cried one of
rhe seamcn cXcitedly-old Thompson.
who had sailed upon her see. they
see the hrc:kcrS Now there 20 the
head yards. IL won't do. It's too late.
Ny tod. she strikes. she strikes. I'll
have one more shot ut her before she
goes. he shrieked. taking hasty aim
over the londed tieldpece and touch
Ing the printing. AYE, and hit too.
Hurrah, Irurrah! To Tophet with ye.
where We belong. ye"-
silence aft" shouted Seymour In
voice OF thunder. Keep fast that
gun. and another cheer like that and
put you In irons. Thompson"
The water in the front of the Mellish
suddenly became darker. the breakers
disappeared, the ship was in deep
water again: she had the open sea be-
fore her and was through the channel.
I'VE are through the pass, sir" said
Bcltley.
II know it," answered Seymour at
last. Il suppose there is no use beat
ing back around the shoal, BentleyT
he said tentatively.
NO, use: no use. and. besides, in this
wind We could not do ii. and. sir, you
know nothing will live in such n sea.
Look at the Englishman now, sir"
The captain turned ut last. The
frigate was hopeless wreck. All
VI S'h' ~ eAS
board; she had run full OH the rocky
ledge Of the shOal ut the mouth OF the
channel The wind had risen until it
blew heavy gale; no boat. no human
being. could live in such Il sea. The
waters rushed over her ut every sweep,
and she was fast breaking up before
them. Night had fallen. and darkness
at last enshrouded her rs she faded out
of view \ drop of snow fell lightly
upon the cold cheek Of the young sail
or, and the men gazed into the night
In silence, APPALLED, by the awful catas-
nophe. Bentley, understanding IT all.
laid his hand lightly on Seymour's arm,
saying softly:
fro BE CONTINUED