Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-06-30

M A N bOOM1NN1 CdI1G uOWA N "A upon them from the frigate, RSSsssES which had fired broadside,
 S4S$2N which was followed presently by the whistIing of shot over their heads Great rents were seen in the canvas, pieces of running gear fell to the deck, there was crashing, rending sound, and a part of the rail left stand ing abaft the nlizzen shfouds smashed into splinters and drove inboard under the impact of heavy shot.
 One splinter struck the man at the helm in the side; he fell with shriek 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 it from his hand, and the unIucky 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.
 i Seymour dropped his sword, every instinct of sailor aroused and sprang Ito the horse block The ship, left to it. Iself, fell off rapidly before the wind. Bentley Jumped to seize the helm.
 "Tlow the head sheets thereF' cried the lieutenant. "Tivelyl Aft here and haul in the spankerl Brail up the fore safl Down, hard down with the Ihelm!'
 | nbaro xxroe oro+9,er hroadsfda from the heavy guns of the frigate. Talbot replied with his stern chaser, and a cloud of splinters showed that the shot took effect, whereat the men at the Igun cheered and loaded, and then crash went the mizzen topgallant mast above their heads.
 Lively, men!' shouted Seymour, i've must get on the wind again or we are lost"
 Breakers on the starboard boww Ishrieked the lookout on the forecastle suddenly. Breakers on the port bow' His voice ran aft in shrill scream fraught with terror, Breakers aheadw
 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. iGod help us now, sir. Afr. Seymour, look to the ship, sir; look to tho shtp!"
 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; lbesidss, the exigency of the situation demanded that he give his whole mind to coming the ship through the nar- row pass, Bentley himself, assisted by Ia young sailor, kept the helm; the old est seaman had charge of the braces, The Wpack of the mizzen tapgallRpt mastswas allowed. to hang fopftha pres lent,
 l The white water dashed ah0ut the Sehip in sheets Of foam. They were well in the breakers now, and the most ig- norant eye could see the danger, One false movement meant disaster fer the ship for whose safety Seymour had sacrificed So much, He did not make it, To his disordered fancy Katharine's white face looked up at him from every breaking wave, He steeled bis heart and gave his orders with as much ease and precision as if it had been practice epHise. To the day of his death he could not account for his ability to do so. He made a splendid figure standing on the horse block, his IhaiF flowing gut in the wind. his face deadly paip, ea1ul, cool, stARdF, his voice clear and eveA but heard in every pant. of the ship. The heart of the old sailor at the helm yearned