The Red Cloud chief., 1906-10-19
CONTINUED

piloted his boat half the remaining dis
lance the wave currents surging about
the rocks ceased to toss their yellow
name so high, and the high pitched
masses of foam vanished completely.
The seamen stationed in the entrance
were astonished by the rapidity of the
change. In less han Il minute they
found they were no longer blinded by
the splndrift cast by each upward rush
right into the interior of the light
house. The two nearest to the door
looked out in wonderment. What devil |
mcnt was the reef Matching now, that
its claws should relax their clutch on
the pillar and its icy spray be with
held?
Each wave, as ii struck to westward
of the column, divided itself into two
roaring streams which met exactly
where the iron rungs ran down the
wall. There was a mighty clash of the
opposing forces and u 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
WIZ thuo I'LL 5No Nv NnpooSa
whenever a big comber travelled sheer
owe the reef.
But these straightforward attacks
We're spasmodic. Often the eddies Gre
ated 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
tenaciously to the side of the light
house until it rose to a great height,
swamping the entrance and dropping
back with a tremendous crash. There
were times when the northerly ally dis
dained to merge with its rival. Then 1t
leaped into he hollow created by the
receding wave and all about the light
house warred a level whirlpool.
%Stanhope's 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 a vault
ing breaker lock himself with hands
and feet on the iron rungs and en-
deavor to withstand the sitting en-
brace Of the oncoming 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 llmpet-llke to
the face of the rock he had the requi-
site strength of lungs and slnews to
resist one IL not more Of those watery
avalanches.
The rope around his waist was held
from the tug. The instant he made his
lam Tho MAN ruith hin, v,nrn IN hocH
water, the crew at the drag to haul for
all they were worth and consequently
pull the boat clear Of the next wave
ere II broke. That IL why he selected
a handy craft in place Of the lifeboat
offered to him as soon as 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
detracted 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 he timed his ap-
preach 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, were 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
splration in using the Oil created a
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 1t 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-