Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-11-09

~ IAPTA1N ERR knew that the
~ hardest and most dangerous
E$YSESI portion of his perilous trip
was just at it's beginning. II
the dory got through the surf without
capsizing it was an even bet that she
would stay right side up for awhile
longer at any rate, SO he pulled out of
the little cove and pointed the boats
bow toward the laundering smother of
white.
The first wave tripped over the bar
and whirled beneath him, sending the
dory high into the air and splashing its
occupant with spray. The captain held
the boat stationary. waiting for the
second to break, and then. half rising,
put all his weight and strength on the
oars. The struggle had begun.
They used to say on board the Han
nah NJ. that the skipper never got rat
tied. The same cool head and steady
nerve that Josiah had admired when
the catboat threaded the breakers at
the entrance of the bay now served
the same purpose in this more tangled
and infinitely more wicked maze. The
dory climbed and ducked. rolled and
slid, but gained inch by inch foot by
foot. The advancing waves struck
savage blows at the bow. the wind did
its best to swing her broadside on, but
there We're $50 pounds of clear grit
and muscle tugging at the oars. and,
though the muscles We're not as young
II thnv had fhnpn Of
experience to make every pound count.
At last the preliminary round was over.
The boat sprang clear of the breakers
and crept out farther and farther. with
six inches of water stopping in her hst-
tom. but afloat and seaworthy.
1t was not until she was far into
deep water that the captain turned her
bow down the shore. When this was
done it WAS on the instant. and, al
though a little more water came in
board, there was not enough to be
dangerous.
The dory jumped from crest to crest
like hurdler. The sleet now beat
froze OH his eyebrows and lashes, but
he dared not draw in an oar to free q
hand. The wind caught up the spin
drift and poured it over him in icy
baths. but he was too warm from the
furious exercise to mind.
In the lulls he turned his head and
gazed over the sea, looking for the
boat. Once he saw it, before the storm
shut down again, and he groaned aloud
to count but two black spots on its
white surface. He pulled harder than
ever and grunted with every stroke,
while the perspiration poured down
his forehead and froze when it reached
the ice dams over his eyes.
At last it was in plain sight. and the
two dots, now clearly human beings,
were still there. He pointed the bow
straight at 1t and rowed On. When he
looked again there was but one. a fig-
ure sprawled along the keel, clinging
to the centerboard.
The flying dory bore down upon the
lifeboat and the captain risked what
little breath he had in aAhail. The
clinging figure raised its head and
Captain Fri felt an almost selfish sense
Of relief to see that it was Luther
Davis. If it had to be but one, he
would rather it was that one.
The bottom of the lifeboat rose like
a dome from the sea that beat and
roared over and around it. The CEN
terboard had floated up and projected
at the top. and it was about this that
Captain Davis arms were clasped.
Captain Fri shot the dory alongside,
pulled in one oar and the two boats
fitted closely together. Then Fri reach
ed out and seizing his friend by the
belt round his waist pulled him from
his hold Davis fell into the bottom Of
the dory. only half conscious and en-
tirely helpless.
1t was out Of the question to attempt
to get back to the cove. The landing
must be made on the open beach. and,
although Captain Fri had more than
high surf, lie had never attempted 1t
when his boat had nearly foot Of wa
ter in her and carried helpless pas
senger
Little by little, still running before
the wind, the captain edged III toward
the shore Luther Davis moved once
or twice. but said nothing. His oil
skins We're frozen stiff. and his beard
was a lump of ice. Captain Fri began
to fear that he might die from cold
and exhaustion before the attempt at
landing was made. The captain re-
solyet. to wait no longer. but to take
the risk of runnn. directly for the
beach.