Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-06-13

his voice now. He was angry and
slightly alarmed.
"Why is 1t so emphatically silly,
Jim?" was the smiling query.
How dye know what's aboard of
her? What's them fowl after? What's
under that sail? What's that lynn
crumpled up forrard? Dead men,
mebbe. If they are, she's conveyed by
sharks"
"Sharks This it not the Red sea.
am not afraid of any odd prowler.
Once Anyhow. l am going to ask
Jones'"
Jones won't hear of It,"
"That is precisely what he will do,
within the next minute. Now, don't
be vexed, Jim. Stand by and sing out
directions if needful when am In the
water. Have no fear. am more than
equal to Leander in a sea like this"
Jim, who trusted to the head keep
er's veto-awed, too, by the reference
10 Leander, whom he hazily associated
with Captain Webb-made no rejoinder.
He focused the telescope again, gave
moments scrutiny to the steamer
| and then re-examined the boat. The
stiffness of the morning was solemn.
Beyond the lazy splash of the sea
against the Gulf Rock itself and an oc-
casional heavy surge us the swell re-
yealed and instantly smothered some
/ dark tooth of the reef he heard no
sound save the ring of Stephen Brands
boots on the iron stairs as he descend
ed through the oil room, the library and
office to the first bedroom, In the low
or bunk of which lay Mr.. Jones, keeper
and chief, recovering from sharp at
tack of sciatica.
During one fearful night in the
March equinox, when the fierce heat Of
the lamp within and the icy blast Of
the gale without had temporarily de-
ranged the occulting machinery, Jones
experienced an anxious watch. Not for
an instant could he forego attendance
on the lamp. Owing to the sleet it was
necessary to keep the light at full pres
sure. The surplus oil, driven up from
the tanks by weights weighing half
ton, must flow copiously over the brass
shaft Of the burner or the metal might
yield to the fervent power Of the col
umn Of flame.
The occulting hood, too, must be help
ed when the warning click came or 1t
would jam ana fail to fall periodically,
thus changing the character of the
light, to the bewilderment and grave
peril Of any unhappy vessel striving
against the exterior turmoil Of wind
and wave.
! So Jones passed four hours with his
head and shoulders in the temperature
Of Turkish bath and the lower part
of his body chilled to the bone.
He thought nothing of it Mt the time.
. This was duty. But at Intervals
throughout the rest of his life the sci
attic nerve would remind him of that
lonely watch This morning he was
. convalescent after painful immobility
of two days.
, Watching the boat, Jim centered her
in the telescope field and looked anx-
I iously for sharp arrow shaped ripple
: on the surface of the sea. The breeze
which had vanquished the fog now
kissed the smiling water into dimples,
and his keen sight was perplexed by
the myriad wavelcts.
y EuCl lue
, on board became more defined. Be
l meath some oars ranged along the star
board side he could see several tins.
such as contain biscuits and compress
ed beef. The shapeless mass in the
bows puzzled him. 1t was partly COW
) cred with broken planks from the dam
aged portion Of the upper works, and
it might DO jib sail fallen there when
the mast broke. The birds We're busy
and excited. He did not like that.
Nearly half an hour passed. The
Princess Royal, fine vessel of yacht.
. like proportions, sprinting for the aft.
ernOon train, was about eight miles
away, sou'west by west. According to
present Indications, steamer and dere
;. lict would be abreast of the Gully ROCK
:. light simultaneously, but the big ship
- rock strcwn shoal.
= At last the lighthouse keeper heart
ascending footsteps. This was no
I Stephen Brand, but Jones. Jim, who's,
II rare irritated moods found safety II
u stolid silence, neither spoke nor looket
u around when his chief Joined him, bin
le oculars in hand.
III Jones, man Of whitewash, polsl
II and rigid adherence to framed rules
T. found the boat instantly and recapitu
lated Jim's inventory, eliciting grunt
~ Of agreement as each item was ticket
off.
er A clang of metal beneath caught thei
is ears-the opening of the stout doors
s forty feet above high water mark. fror
a which series of iron rungs sunk i
TX the granite wall led to the rocky base.
Brands goin' to swim out It
CT hardly worth while signalin' to til
n Lands End" commented Jones.
s. No answer Jim leaned well owe
a and saw their associate, stripped t
he his underclothing. with a leather bel
10 supporting Il sheath knife slung acros
lie his shoulders, climbing down the lac
der
IN This taclturnity surprised Jones, 70
re Jim was the .cheerlest nurse who eve
u brought a sufferer Il plate of soup.
p ITS nothing for good swimmer, j
1T it?" was the anxious question.
mo. It's no distance to speak Of"
IL
ig aye, it's smooth enough"
lie Don't you think he ought to try 1t
In Every fine mornin' lie has dip off til
rock"
Id "Well, If it's all right for him al
you It's all right for me-"
G. Jim had urged his plea to the ma
whom it chiefly concerned. He wa
IL far too sporting a character to Obtai
OF the interference of authority, an
In Jones, whose maritime experience
We're confined to the hauling in or pa,
] Ing out Of lightship's cable, had nc
! the slightest suspicion Of lurking dal
| ger In the blue depths.
| A light splash came to them, and,
| few seconds later. Brands head an
| shoulders swung into view. After
dozen vigorous breast strokes he role
/ over on to his side and waved his let