Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-14

lrAr) HEN the Sirdar parted amid
M ships the floor Of the saloon
"l heayed up in the center with
d mighty crash OF rendlng
woodwork and iron. Men and women.
too stupefied to sob out a prayer, We're
pitched hendlong into chaos. Iris, torn
from the terrified grasp OF her maid
Cell through corridor and would have
gone down with the ship had not a
sailor, clinging to a companion ladder,
caught her us she whirled along the
steep slope OF the deck.
He did not know what had happen
ed With the instinct Of self preserva.
ition he seized the nearest support
when the vessel struck. 1t was the
mere Impulse Of ready helpfulness that
caused him to stretch out his left arm
and clasp the girls waist as she hutter.
ed past BY idle chance they were on
the port side, and the ship, after paus-
ling for one awful second. fell over to
astg Joard.
The man was not prepared for this
second gyration. Even as the stalr-
way canted he lost his balance; they
were both thrown violently through
the open hatchway and swept or into
the boiling surf. Under such condi-
lions thought itself was impossible. A
series Of impressions, number. Of fam
ltnstic pictures, were received BY the be-
numbed faculties and afterward pain
fully sorted out by the memory. Fear.
anguish, ainnzement-none Of these
could exist. All he knew was TINT the
Ilifeless form OF woman-tor Iris had
happily tainted Unjust be held until
death itself wrenched her from him.
8 Then there came the headIong plunge
into the swirllng sea, followed by an
indefinite period Of gasping oblivion.
Something that felt like moving rock
rose up beneath his feet. He was driy-
en- clear out OF the water and seemed to
recognize familiar object rising rigid
and bright close at hand. 1t was the
1 pinnacle pillar, screwed to portion OF
the deck which came away from the
chart house, and was rent from the up
per framework by contact with the
reef. He seized this unlocked for sup
port with his disengaged hand.
A uniformed figure he thought It
was the captain stretched out an UNI
awaiting arm to clasp the queer raft
which supported the sailor and the
girl; but q jealous wave rose under.
the platform with devilisb energy and
turned It completely over, hurting the
man witt his inanimate burden into
the depths. He rose, lighting nadly
for his life. Now surely be was DOOM
Cd. But again, as IL human existence
depended ON naught more serious than
the spinning Of coin. his knees rested
on the same few stanch timbers, now
the ceiling Of the music room, and he
was given a brief respite. His great
est difficulty was to get bis breath, SO
dense was the spray through which
he was driven. Even In that terrible
moment he kept his senses. The girl,
utterly unconscious, showed by the
conyulsive heaying Of her breast that
she was choking. With wild effort
he swung her head round to shield her
from the flying scud with his own
form.
The tiny dir space thus provided
gave her some relief, and in that in
slant the sailor seemed to recognize
her. He was not remotely capable Of a
definite idea. Just as he vaguely real
J lied the identity Of the woman in his
arms tho unsteady support on which
he rested toppleh over. Again he re-
newed the unequal contest. A strong,
resolute man and typhoon sea wres-
tied for supremacy.
This time his feet plunged against
something gratefully solid. He was
dashed forward, still battling with the
raging turmoil % water. and second
time he felt the same firm yet smooth
surface. His dormant faculties awoke.
It was sand. With frenzied despera-
ton, buoyed now by the inspiring hope
Of safety, he fought his way onward
like maniac.
Often he fell. Three times did the
backwash try to drag him to the
swirling death behind, but he staggered
blindly on, on, until even the tearing
gale ceased to be laden with the suffo-
eating foam, and his faltering feet
sank in deep soft white sand
Then he fell, not to rise again. With
last weak flicker Of exhausted
strength be drew the girl closely to
him, and the two lay clusped tightly
together, needless now Of all things.
How long the man remained pros
trate he could only guess subsequently.
The Sirdar struck soon after day
break. and the sailor awoke to hazy
consciousness Of his surroundings to
find shaft of sunshine pickering
through the clouds banked up in the
east. The gale was already passing
away. Although the wind still whis-
tied with shrill violence. it was more
clustering than threatening. The sen,
too, though running very high, had re-
treated many yards from the spot
where he had finally dropped, and its
surface was no longer scourged with
vsnomous spray.
Slowly and painfully he raised him
self to sitting posture, for he was
bruised and stiff With his first move
ment he became violently i'll. He had
swallowed much salt water, and it
was not until the spasm of sickness
had passed that he thought OF the girl.
'She cannot be dead he hoarsely
ynurrn,pe1 feohlv trying TO lift her