The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-11-15

|
new sound In her ears, q muffied
boom, which was neither sea nor
wind. AS she flew out of bed she
heard 1t again, and a moment later
her brother Dick pounded on her
door.
| Hey, Jean, Did you hear the sig
nal-guns? There's a wreck! We're
going!"
oh, wait for me! I'll be there in
two minutes! Do waitl"
well, you must hurry! We have
work to do"
Dick bounded down the hall to
complete his own hasty toilet, and
Jeans fingers few. Every hook and
button seemed to escape her excited
grasp, but nevertheless she was down
stairs in an incredibly short time,
bundled in her warmest wraps. She
clutched at her fathers arm as they
started out, half-frightened by the
blackness and violence OF the storm.
Dick and Will were running ahead,
and they gave shout as rocket
suddenly shot up offshore.
| "Shes right off here!" Dick called
back. Captain Trail has two miles
to come! Let's go meet him and help
drag up the stuff"
They turned abruptly down toward
the life-saving station, but they had
not gone far before they met Captain
Trail and the two Prices, dragging
the little mortar as they ran, painting
with haste and looming up like huge
bears in their oil suits. Captain Trail
shook his head as Mr.. Red6eld shout
ed question to him over the tumult
of wind and waves.
ITS pretty bad!" he roared back,
hoarsely. There amt a boat made
that could be launched or landed in
that surf. We've got the breeches-
buoy, but l don't know how we're 60
ing to get line to 'em in this wind!
Come on, she may go to pieces any
minute"
Jean shuddered, but in spite of her.
self her heart gave leap of excite
ment. The breeches-buoy! How
many times she had lowered around
it in the life-saving station, getting
! Captain Trail to tell her how 1t was
that people came ashore in that little
thing, with only rope above them
and black and boiling surf beneath!
She would see it! If human hands
could do 1t this night, she would see
| that shipwrecked crew come ashore
in 1t, one by one, over that bowling
tumult of waves. She was almost
crying with excitement as she looked
over toward the dim figures of her
father and the boys. and thought that
they were lending generous hand to
this fine work.
| Another rocket went up from the
distressed vessel, and Captain Trail
sent up an answering signal from the
shore, volunteering the shouted opin-
ion that she was a three-masted
schooner, and by her location must
be grounded and in momentary dan
| ger of being pounded to kindling-
wood, but to Jean there was nothing
but shapeless blot against the dark
ness. Ugh! How cold 1t was!
| With terrible earnestness the men
on shore bent to their work. In the
| gloom their faces were strained and
anxious, and Captain Trails quick
orders showed him an entirely differ
ent man from the bluff, good-natured
sailor Of the afternoon before. One
-two-three-four-five life-rock-
cts scared out one by one toward the
vessel, but each time the wind sent
the rescuing line wide of its mark.
Captain Trail shook his head impa-
tiently, and tossed the sixth life
rocket aside, turning his attention to
the hooked projectile which the life
saving mortar threw out. Perhaps
that would do better.
Jean shivered and drew her wraps
closer. The darkness was slowly be-
ginning to lift, although she could
not yet distinguish the outlines of the
unfortunate vessel.
The snow of the afternoon before
had turned to a fine sleety rain,
which froze as it fell; the waves were
mountains of angry foam, and a fly
Ing spume cut the face like needles.
Little icicles dripped everywhere. How
terrible 1t must be for the poor souls
out there
Suddenly the slender line was shot
out over the waves, and Jean strained
her eyes to follow it, but it was lost
In the gloom. 1t fell short, and at
the second trial the wind beat 1t back
like feather; but Captain Trail set
his teeth and waited for momentarY
lull Then there were few seconds
of aching suspense, followed by a
lusty cheer from the shore as the
Tightening OF the line showed that
. eager hands were fastening IL to the
mast A little more of the good work
and the first sailor would be making
, that wonderful journey toward land.
Jeans heart was pounding with
excitement, but as she moved nearer
she heard the words, "Perishing cold,
poor souls" jerked out grimly by
her father as he worked. and a gud-
den idea came which nearly took her
breath away. Less than an eighth
of mile away the light in their
kitchen window shone like friendly
beacon. The sailors would be
dragged to shore drenched, numbad,
exhausted. The limited hospitality
, of the life-saving station was two
miles away on one side, end the VIII
lage mile and a half on the other.
Her own home was the nearest, and
she---she was hostess while her