The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-03-09

only uie great ohiii Va oM
- Ger prevented their capsizina
CSsgsE before the w%haleboat finally
drew near the Maidstone. The ship
had hit the reef hard at food. tide. and
tile waves had driven her farther on.
Every mast and spar was gone.
wrenched away by the storm and the
waves. 1t was manifestly impossible
to approach upon the weather side
without staving the boat, so O'Neill
cautiously rounded the stern of the
wreck and briefly considered the situa
ton.
He did not dare bring the boat near
enough to enable him to leap upon the
deck through some Of the great gaping
openings in the sides made by the tire
mendous gatherings of the massive
spars. and he finally concluded that the
only practicable access to the Maid
stone was by means of some OF the
gearing trailing over the sic and
writing about. snakelike. in the water.
Intrusting the tiller of the wllaleboat
TO old Price. the veteran gunner. he al
racted that ii be brought alongside as
close as consistent with safety. and al
exactly the right moment. as they rose
upon the crest of Il wave. he sprang cut
into the water and clutched desperate
ly at a rope hanging over the side OF
the wreck.
The men swung the boat away from
the ship instantly. and he found him
self clincing 10 a small rope wildly toss.
ing about In the tumultuous sea. lie
was dashed to and fro like a cork. the
waves repeatedly broke over his head.
the life was almost buffeted out of him.
but he held on like grim death. Fortu-
nately the other end Of the rope was
fast inboard.
With careful skill and outstanding
his strength as much as possible he
pulled himself along the rope through
the water until he drew near the side
OF the ship. Then. though the opera
ton was hazardous in the extreme. as
he saw no other method. he began TO
pull himself up hand over hand on the
O along the side. In his already ex.
hausted state and with the added
weight of his wet. sodden clothing the
effort was almost beyond his strength.
He endeavored by thrusiing with his
foot to keep himself from beins. beaten
against the side by tie waves, bur
without success. for when he had hard
Is reached the rail an unusually lar~
breaker struck lin fairly in the back
and dashed his head against a piece o.
jagepd timber. cutting ii great cash n
bis forehead. Dleod hllyd his eyes; his
head swan: a sick. faint feeling flled
lis breast: he Lesitated and nearly losi
Lis grasp Of the rope. The men in ths
tossing beat Il little distance away held
their breath in terrified apprehension.
nut. sumnloning all his resolution 10 hl:
ala. he made Il last desperate enorl
breasted the rail and fell ~faintin.
prone upon the deck of the ship.
A few moments in the cod watc:
which was flooding over II revived him.
somewhat. and he rose unsteadily Il
his feet and looked about him in bewll
derment. The change from the tossiu.
boat 10 the motloniess rigidity OF III
vise.held wreck was startling. Their,
IN liOt a. Si@H VI - WI NV sup tNh
was breaking up fast. Rails were o
in. boats were gone. three jaggen
stumps showed whore the masts haze
been. and only the fact that she hat
been driven SO high on the reefs pre-
vented her from laundering at once
There was Il dead body damned undN.
the starboard fife rail forward. but NJ
other sign of humanity In front OF
him was a hatchway giving entrance
to Il small cuddy. or cabin. the roof OF
which rose a few feet above the Lever
OF the deck.
As he stood there striving to recover
himself in a brief lull in the storm be
thought he heard Il faint voice. II
seemed to come from beneath him. He
ut once turned and. with uncertain
Sens. descended the hatchway. ne&cn
Ing the deck below. he stood in tie way
n moment. brushing the blood from his
eyes. AS he gradually made out the de
tails of the cabin. dimly illuminated by
a skylight above. he saw n woman on
her knees praying. She had her face
buried In her hands and did not see
him until he spoke to apprise her OF his
presence.
Madam he began thickly.
The woman raised her head with
startled ~quickness and gave him one
terrified glance. The glass had told
him truly she was beautiful and
young as well. scarcely more than A
girl apparently. Even the dim gray
light could not hide those things. AS
for him, he was an awful looking spec
tacle-wet. hatless, his clothing torn, a
great red wound in his forehead In
tensifying his pallor. He had a heavy
pistol in his belt and a cutlass swing
Ing at his side.
She stared at him in frightened 81
lence and finally rose to her feet,
deathly pale and apparently appalled,.
He saw that she was 4 little above the
medium height. At the same moment
from an obscure corner there rang out