The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-01-04

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to me the schooner would never ge
close enough to keep me from falling
into the boiling waves.
In one way / was right. Just rs she
swirled past Hudson looked sharply
at my husband, who as quickly shool
his head, muttering, mot near enough
by yard" and let go my arm with 6
despairing gesture. Before l had time
| to realize the sudden revulsion Of feel
ing, our attention was drawn by {
shout from the group Of sailors, and
we saw Gledhill, as the big schooner
passed him, make flying leap towart
her. With the help of strong arms
outstretched with sailors prompts
tude he was landed safely on her deck
1t was a magnificent jump, one that
think only the madness of panic could
have made, for when the schooner
passed our stern she was considerably
farther off than when she passed us
standing in the bows.
"Cowardw shouted my husband
shaking his fist at the fast-disappear.
ing vessel, and Hudson used stronger
words still, though l couldn't myself
blame the lad oyermuch for trying ia
save his life when he believed nothing
but swift death awaited all those on
board our sinking ship.
told Jack so, and. putting my arms
around his neck, told him how truly
glad l was, even in that moment of
despair, to stay with him instead of
being unwillingly forced on to the
strange ship, leaving him to face death
alone. 1t was only for his sake, l said,
that had consented to go. He bright.
ened up little after that, though he
couldn't long allow himself to forget
the peril he had brought me into.
By this time the waves We're wash
ing continuously over the deck, and the
little schooner was plainly settling
rapidly. 1t was impossible to launch
our one small boat, but my husband
and Hudson dragged it to the middle
of the deck and made me get in and
sit in the stern, while Hudson sat in
the bow and Jack occupied the middle
seat. In q calm sea it would easily
have accommodated four or five peo-
pie, but in such a tempest even one
less was mercy, though we scarcely
thought OF that until afterward.
One Of the strangest things to me
was the way in which the big schooner
had completely disappeared within a
few minutes Of passing us-just' as if
she had been swallowed up in the
waves. felt sure she must have gone
down, and, indeed, Jack and Hudson
were inclined to the same opinion,
though, as we afterward discovered,
we were mistaken.
shall never forget the horror of sit
ting in that little boattyaiting for the
Two Brothers to go down beneath us.
AS sat there prayed silently that
the wind and waves might go down
and enable us to keep afloat on that
rough, tumbling sea.
The mate and my husband had each
pair of oars, and at last, when our
h4hy NiuAt NaS hNii upONt thC
submerged deck, Jack gave the word,
and we literally rowed off the sinking
vessel as she went down into the
depths of the ocean. In few minutes
more the last trace of her had van
ished, and we We're alone in our frail
boat on that wide, stormy sea.
shuddered involuntarily and hid my
face in my hands. 1t all looked so
much more terrifying to me now we
We're so close to the waves, and at first
I expected that very roller that bore
down upon us would overwhelm us.
Heart up, little womanw said Jack,
speaking more cheerfully now we We're
fairly afloat and there was something
he could do. "The seas gone down
wonderfully in the last quarter of an
hour, and l think we can easily keep
this cockleshell moving if you'll help
by bailing her out with This tin pail"
1t was fact, as he said, that the
waves had gone down considerably,
and the gale showed distinct signs of
abating. When we first got into the
boat, in spite of all l could say, Jack
insisted on taking off his coat and
making me put it on over my thin
dress. He now set me to work baling
out with a small tin pail the water that
washed over the sides. / was glad
enough, you may be sure, Of something
to do, and after while the exercise
put some degree Of warmth into my
frozen limbs. Jack said that his work
at the oars kept him warm, but, of
course, all of us were soaked to the
skin, for we We're without the least
shelter from the heavy spray that con-
tinually broke over us. Sometimes il
was all the two men could do to keep
the tiny boats head TO the waves, for,
though the tumult-was much less than
before, we were still in danger of in
slant destruction if she once got broad
side on or wave broke over the gun
vale. However, they toiled on brave.
ly, and occasionally one CT them took
short spell of rest, while all of us
kept a constant lookout for vessel
each time we rose TO the summit of q
big wave.
This went on for several long, anx.
ious hours, and my arms and back sc
ached with STOPPING that could hard
ly go on baling, and even the stern
white faces of the two men began tc