The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-09

It was 3:90 in the morning. and the shades of mist were lifting before the glow which seemed to foretell the ocean burst
 ing into flame, far out where the blue
 of the sky came down and touched the
 gray-green water.
 The north-easter which had been blow
 ing for three days had expended it's en-
 ergy the night before, and now the south
 wind, strong and regular was steadily
 forcing northward the chill which had
 permeated the atmosphere. The white
 caps had disappeared, but the roar of
 the surf and the heavy, rushing seas be-
 talked the effect of the northeaster.
 At the life saving station all was quiet.
 and the grey outlines of the buildings
 were only faintly discerned in the light. The nearest indication of prospective pleasure was the basket of sea-weed sit ting by the door, which led into the din- ing room. Below the green were several
 dozen nervous restless crabs, of varied size and disposition; some vigorous and antagonistic, others sleepy and indifferent, but ready to take advantage of an op- | portunity to escape.
 | A small boat lay on the beach, out of reach of the tide. It was half the size of dory, but every inch of plank staunch and stout as the judgment and skill of an expert could make 1t. A boat in which only a few would care to venture far ! beyond the breakers, but one which caught and held the eye of a. fisherman like a brilliant float darting downward through the water No more than an egg-shell on the vast expanse. but under the control of an experienced oarsman capable of performing apparent wonders A tall fellow clad in duck came out of the house. His long rubber boots
 reached nearly to his thighs, and the oil brooches and jacket which he quickly donned completed his protection from the salt water
 A quick. concerted shove, a continued tug for a few second, and the boat was in the shadows. Then came the waiting for a chance to get out. If one of those ten-foot seas struck the small craft she would be full in a flash, and the thing to
 do WAS to ride them successfully before they broke. One wondered if 1t could be done with that boat and how. Not that 1t mattered to get vet. The air Itself was tonic, the saltwater a balm. and half sn excuse would have been sufficient for jumping overheard. He waited watching carefully the seas as they broke. and the heavy rolls of water, far out, rushing shoreward
 The northeaster's tall had not been beaten dead The south wind was doing her best, but the man who had patrolled the beach in rough weather and calm, looked doubtful 1t was enough to make 6 cheerful fisherman blue. There seemed absolutely no opening. Finally, after a wait of fifteen minutes, with the stern of the boat firmly in hand to prevent the tide from swerving it aside, and the bow pointing straight to sea, the oars shaped for instant use, he exclaimed; "we'l try it anyhow''
 The boat shot off the beach. he sprang aboard at a bound. the spray dashed un- der her. and she moved ahead like some thing live A dark rolling, mass of water was rushing toward us There seemed one chance in a thousand that 1t would | not break athwart and dash us pell-mell upou the beach, A fraction Of second l too soon. a bit too late. and this would have happened The bow went up at a sharp angle, the flashing spray, dashed | by us like feathers, and the unbroken wave of green moved under and astern l But another was upon us. higher than l the first. mighty. angry devouring thing, We slacked in the nick of time, again the beauty did her part nobly, and I went over like a swan. two gallons Of water came aboard. and we were out! We stopped. and waited for the next one smaller and less fearsome and It rolled under like oil.
 Two minutes later we were speeding seaward. At the regular dip of the oars she sprang ahead as If eager to cross the | broad Atlantic. little later and a neaVy | fog rolled astern. cutting on all view or | the shore. the only indication or us oi- rection being the heavy roar of the oreak-