The San Francisco call., 1904-06-05


water being wise In the ways OF ice.
each stuffed his stomach. which they
call IN such times with grim
humor the long pocket. Some
took OF their Jackets to give
their arms freer play in the coming
fight: some frightened their belts; some
filed their pockets with the things they
loved most; all made ready. Then they
sat down to wait. and the waiting. III
that sweltering, pitching hole. with its
shadows and flickering light, was
voiceless and ndgety. 1t was the brew
ing time Of panic.
In the words OF the Newfoundlander,
It would soon be every man for his life
that dread hour when, by the ac-
cepted creed OF that coast earth is in
mercy curtained from heaven and the
impassive angels book is closed. At
such times escape is for the strong;
the weak ask for no help; they are
thrust aside; they find no hand
stretched. out. Compassion, and all the
other kin of love- being overborne in the
tumult, fee the hearts of men; there
remains but the brute greed of life
more life. Every man for his own life
for his life. Each watched the other
as though that other sought to wrest-
some advantage from him. Such was
the temper Of the men then that when
the skipper roared for all hands there
was rush for the ladder and a scufie
for place at the foot of it,
Men," the skipper bawled. when the
crew had huddled amidships, covering
from the wind. "the ship1l strike the
Blueblack inside O. thirty minutes. 'Tis
every man for his life
The old man was up on the port rail
with the snow curling about him He
had grip of the mainGsast shrouds to
stay himself against the wind and the
lunging of the ship. The thud and
swish Of waves falling back and the
din of grinding ice broke from the
depths of the snow over the bow-fronl
some place near and hidden-and the
gale was roaring past. The men
crowded closer to hear him.
''T1s time L take L the icelF he cried.
''Iss, skipper!"
Sure, SIR
Young John Nash was in the shelter
of Sauls great body; he was touching
the skirt Of the mans great-coat-like
a child in a crowd.
rs you all here?" the skipper went
on He ran his eye ever them 10 count
them. No man looked around for his
friends. Thirty three All right Men.
you'll follow Saul Nash When you gets
a hundred yards off the ship you'u
drift clear. o, the shoal Now, over the
side. all hands," In lull of the wind
the shoal seemed suddenly very near.
Lively, men. Lively"
The schooner was low with her
weight OF seaI-fat. 1t was but a short
leap to the pack in which she was
caught-at most but a swinging drop
from the rail. That was all; even so.
as the crew went over the side the
shadow of the great terror feli-fell as
from a cloud approaching. There was
a rush TO be clear of this doomed thing
of wood-to be first in the way of es-
cape, though the end CT the unJraveled
path was q shadow; so there was a
crowding al the rail, an outcry, a
snarl and the sound Of a blow.
Save upon the scattered pans, which
had resisted the grinding of the pack,
but were even then lifting themselves
out Of the press and failing back in
pieces; save upon those few pans, there
was no place where a man could rest
his foot, for where he set il down there
ii sank. He must leap-leap-from one
sinking fragment to another choosing
in fash where next 10 alfght; chanc-
ing his weight where it might be sus-
tained for the momeDt of gathering to
leap again-he must leap without
pause; he must leap or the pack would
let him through and close over. his
head. Moreover the wind swept over
the pack with full force and a sting
ing touch, and it was filled with the
dust Of snow: a. wind which froze and
choked and blinded where it could But
in the lead Of Saul Nash, who was like
a swaying shadow in the snow ahead,
thirty men made the hundred yards
and dispersed to the pans to wait
thirty of thirty-three, not counting the
skipper. who had fingered far back to
see the last Of the work of his hands
Leave us-wait-here," said Saul, be-
tween convulsive pants, when, with
John and OF Bill Anderson, he had
come to rest on a small pan He turned
his back to the wind to catch his
breath. 'Us'n clear the shoal-here,"
he added.
OF Bill fell, exhausted. He shielded
his mouth with his arm. "'Tis so good
as any place." he gasped.
"'Tis big enough for seven men,"
said John
Bill was an old hand-an old hand;
and he had been in the thick of the
pitiless slaughter Of seals for five days.
Us ii. let nOa mOare aDOarQ, Dy," he
cried. He started to his elbow and
looked around; but he saw no one
making for the pan, so he said to Saul:
" 'Tis too small for three. Leave the
young feller loo.z out for hisself; some
other
BILL" said Saul, 'the lad bides here"
Bill was an old hand. He laughed in
scorn. Maybe" said he, IF the sea gets
at this pan-to-morrow. or mex day,
Saul-if the sea gets at un, an wears
un down, tits yourse1f'll be the first T.
push the lad off, an not
Does you hear me, Bill! says the
lad -"
John plucked Sauls sleeve. "'Tis
goain' abroad" he. said. sweeping his
hand over the pack.
Then hush fell upon the ice-a hush
that deepened and spread. and soon left
only the swish of the gale and the
muffiled roar of the shoal. 1t came
creeping from the west like a sigh of
relief. The driving force OF the wind
had somewhere been mysteriously
counteracted. The pressure was with
drawn. The pack was free. It would
disperse into its separate parts. A veer-
ing Of the wind-the impact of some