The Red Cloud chief., 1905-05-26

~ u HliHnty crush VI TeuuluH
woodwork and iron. Men and women,
too stupetied to sob nj n prayer. were
pitched headlong into chaos. Iris, torn
from the terrified grasp Of her maid.
fell through II corridor and would have
gone down with the ship had not a
sailor, clinging to n companion ladder.
caught her ms she whirlcd along the
steep slope of the deck.
He did not know what had happen.
ed. With the instinct of self preservu-
ton 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 rs she iutter-
ell past. by idle chance they were on
the port side, and the ship, after paus-
ing for one awful second, fell over to
starboard.
The man was not prepared for this
second gyration. Even as the stair
way canted he lost his balance; they
were both thrown violently through
the boiling surf. Under such condi-
tons thought itself was impossible. A
series Of impressions, n number OF fan
tastic pictures. were received by the be
numbed faculties and aftcrward pain
fully sorted out by the memory. Fear,
anguish, amazement-none Of these
could exist. All he knew was that the
lifeless form OF n woman-for Iris had
happily fainted-must bc held until
death itself wrenched her from him.
Then there came the hcadlong plunge
into the swirling sea, followed by an
indefinite period of gasping oblivion.
Something that felt like n moving rOck
rose up beneath his feet. He was driv-
en- clear out Of the water and seemed to
recognize a familiar object rising rigid
and bright close at hand. 1t was the
pinnacle pillar. screwed to n 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 II
was the captain-stretched out an I'M
availing arm to clasp the queer raft
which supported the sailor and the
girl. but a Jealous wave rose under
the platform with devilish energy and
turned II completely over, hurting the
man with his inanimate burden into
the depths. He rose, fighting madly
for his life. Now surely he was doom
Ell. But again. as II human existence
depended on naught more serious than
| the spinning Of n coin, his knee rested
on the same few stanch timbers, now
the ceiling of the music room. and he
was given n brief respite. His great
| est difficulty was to get his breath. so
he was driven. Even In that terrible
moment he kept his senses. The girl.
| utterly unconscious. showed by the
| convulsive heaving of her breast that
she was choking. With a wild effort
he swung her head round to shield her
from the flying scud with his own
form.
The tiny air space thus provided
gave her some relief, and I'm that In
| slant the sailor seemed to recognize
her. He was not remotely capable Of a
definite idea. Just as he vaguely real
ICED the identity Of the woman In his
arms the unsteady support on which
he rested tOppled over. Again he re-
newed the unequal contest. A strong,
resolute man and a 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 OF water, and n second
time he felt the same firm yet smooth
surface. His dormant faculties awoke.
1t was sand. With frenzied despera-
ton. buoyed now by the inspiring hope
Of safety, he fought his way onward
like n 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 falterlng feet
sank in deep soft white sand.
Then he fell. not to rise again. With
a last weak flicker OF exhausted
strength he drew the girl closely tC
him, and the two lay clasped tightly
Dgether. needless now of all things.
How long the man remained pros
trate lie could only guess subsequently
The Sirdar struck soon after day
break. and the sailor awOke to Il hazy
consciousness Of his surroundings Il
find a shaft Of sunshine Pickering
through the clouds banked up I'm the
east. The gale was already passing
AWAY. Although the wind still whis