Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-12

he pillar and Its icy spray be with
leld?
Each wave, as 1t struck to westward
If the column, divided itself into two
.oaring streams which met exactly
where the iron rungs ran down the
wall. There was mighty clash of the
forces and further upward
rearing of shattered torrents before
the reunited mass fell away to give
place to its successor
Full twenty feet Of the granite layers
were thus submerged and exposed
whenever big comber Travelled sheer
over the reef.
B.t these straightforward attacks
were spasmodic. Often the eddies Gre
atel by the rocks came tumbling pell-
nell from the north. Sometimes they
would combine with the incoming tide,
and then the water seemed to cling
to the side Of the light
house until 1t rose to great height,
swamping the entrance and dropping
back with tremendous crash. There
were times when the northerly ally dis
dained to merge with its rival. Then it
leaped into the hollow created by the
receding wave and all about the light
house warred level whirlpool.
Stanhopes plan was to rush the boat
in when one of these comparatively
less dangerous opportunities offered.
He would spring for the ladder, run up
If possible, but If caught by vault
ing breaker lock himself with hands
and feet on the iron rungs and en-
deavor to Withstand the sitting en-
brace Of the oncomlng sea. He was
sure he could hold out against that fu-
rious onslaught once at least. He was
an expert swimmer and diver, and he
believed that by clinging limpet-like to
the face Of the rock he had the requi-
site strength of lungs and slnews to
resist one If not more Of those watery
avalanches. .ft
The rope around his waist was held
from the tug. The instant he made his
leap the men with him We're to back
water. the crew Mt the drag to haul for
all they were worth and consequently
pull the boat clear of the next wave
ere it broke. That is why he selected
handy craft in place of the lifeboat
offered to him rs soon rs his resolve
was whispered ashore. 1t was on ra-
pidity, quick judgment, the utilization
of seconds, that he depended. The un-
wieldly bulk of the lifeboat not only
detractcd from these all important con-
siderations, but made it more than
probable that she would be capsized or
touch the reef.
For the same reason lie timed his ap-
proach on the rising tide. He could
venture nearer to the lighthouse itself,
and the boat could be rowed and drag
ged more speedily into safety. With
him, too, We're men who knew every
inch of the Gulf Rock. He knew he
could trust them to the end.
Although he had mapped out his pro-
gramme to the last detail, Brands in
SEPARATION in using the oil created n
fresh and utterly unforeseen set of con-
ditions.
Mountainous ridges still danced fan
tastically up and down the smooth
granite slopes, but they no longer
broke, and it is broken water, not tu-
multuously heaving seas, that an open
boat must fear.
With the intuition Of a born sailor,
ready to seize any advantage given by
human enemy or angry ocean. Stan
hope decided in the very jaws of op-
portunity TO abandon his original de-
sign totally and shout to the men he
saw standing In the entrance to heave
him a rope. He would have preferred
the danger Of the jump. He almost
longed to endure the fierce struggle
which might ensue before he reached
those waiting hands. He thought he
would have his reward in the tense joy
Of the fight, in bringing salvation to
Enid and those with her, in seeing her
sweet face again after these days and
nights of vigil
But the paramount need was to sue
coed. The extraordinary and, to him,
quite inexplicable change In conditions
which he had studied during tortured
hours passed on the bridge of the Fal-
con or the Trinity tender made it pos
sible to remain longer in the vicinity
of the rock than he had dared to hope.
Therefore he knew 1t was advisable to
adopt the certain means of communi-
cation of the thrown rope in preference
to the uncertainty of his own power to
reach and climb the ladder.
Flinging out his right arm he mo-
toned to the men in the lighthouse to
be ready to heave coil. The wind
was the chief trouble now, but he must
chance that.
"Vast pulling" he yelled over his
shoulder as monstrous wave pranced
over the reef and enveloped the col
umn.
aye, aye" sang out his crew.
Up went the boat on the crest and a
fearsome cavern spread before his
eyes. revealing the seawced that chung
to the lowest tier Of masonry. In the
same instant he caught fleeting
glimpse of lofty blllow rearing back
from the rocks on the north.
Down sank the bont until the door of
the lighthouse seemed to be an awful
distance away. She rose again, and
Stanhope stood upright. his knees
wedged against the wooden ribs. One
piercing glance In front and another to
the right showed that the antagonism
of the two volumes of water gave the
expected lull.
"Pullw
The boat shot onward. Once, twice,
three times the oars dipped with pre-
cision. These rowers, who went with
their backs turned to what might be
instant death, We're brave and stanch
as he who looked 1t unflinchingly in the
face.
"Heave" roared Stanhope to the
white visaged second officer standing
In the doorway far above him.
The rope whirred through the mir, the
boat rose still higher to meet 1t, and
the coil struck Stanhopc In the face,
lashlng him sayagely In the final spite
of the bafIied gale which puny man
had conquered.
Never was blow taken with such