Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-07-25
door of the main companion.

door OF the main companion.
If they had to die they might as well
die in the open and not boxed up in
impenetrable darkness. AS a matter
of fact, the bolts We're forced by man
whs fred his revolver at them. The
SET .uickly discovered this new outlet.
saloon, sent tons of water pouring
through the open hatch. One good re-
suit accrued. The strong canvas avn
ing which prolonged the spar deck was
carried away, and the group Of surviv-
ors, benumbed with cold and wholly
overcome by their desperate position,
could see the entire height Of the gran
ite-cclumn in front crowned with its
diaGe;n of brilliance. The liberated
passengers saw it for the first time.
The sight brought no hope. Between
ship and lighthouse was n true mael-
strom of more titan sixty feet of water
created by the bacilwash from the
stonewerll and the shattered hull.
Even If the passage could be made, of
Nilit Nv GU was II iiiC nun ShlAohNS
door was full fifty feet above the pres
ent level of the sea-. 1t could only be
approached by way Of the rungs of
iron imbcdded in the granite, and ev-
cry wave, even in the comparative
moderation caused by the obstructing
wreck, swept ut least twenty feet of the
smooth stone tiers. 1t is this very fact
81
dom If ever serving rs refugees for ship
wrecked sailors. The ascending ladder
is SO exposed, the sea usually so tur-
bulent under the least stress Of wind,
that no human being can retain hand
hold or footing.
Yet there was one faint chance Of
succor, aud it was not sailor who
graspcd it. Tie first that Brand knew
of the desperate venture was the sight
of Il spectral man climbing up the
ShroudS of The foremost. On steamer,
whose yards are seldom used for sails,
the practicable rope ladder ceases at
the fore. main or miZZen top, as the
case may be. Thenceforward sailor
must climb with hands and feet to the
truck, a feat Which may occasionally
be necessary when the vessel is in
dock. 1t is hardly ever attempted at
sea.
The venturesomc individual who thus
suddenly made himself the center of
observation carried Il line with him.
Not until he essayed the second portion
of his perilous ascent did Brand realize
what the other intended to do, which
was nothing less than to reach the
truck, the very top of the mast, and en-
deavor to throw rope to the gallery.
And he might succeed, too-that was
the marvel of it. The taperlng spar
came very near to them, perhaps
twelve feet distant, and the wind
would certainly carry the rope across
the chasm if carefully thrown. A few
strong and active men might use this
aerial ferry. Well, better they than
none. Brave fellow. Would that the
Lord might help him!
Higher and nearer swung the stall
wart youngster, for none but 1.-the
and active boy could climb a pole with
such easy vigor. At last he reached
the truck, and faintly heard cheer
from beneath mingled with the hyster-
ical delight of Enid and Constance,
when, with legs twined round the mast,
he rested his arms for an instant on
the fiat knob of the truck.
Here his face came into the lower
focus of the lght-strong, clean shay
en-, clear cut features, a square, de-
termined chin, two dark, earnest eyes
and II mop of rutiled black hair, for
his deerstalker cap had blown off ere
he cleared the spar deck.
Look out for the line," they heard
him shout The wind brought his voice
plainly, but evidently he could distin-
guish no syllable of Brands answering
hail:
shall l make fnst!"
Cant hear word" he cried "If
you can hear me hold hand up"
Brand obeyed
Catch the line" he went on at is
attached to a block with running
tackle. Haul in and make fast" I.
"Thc megaphone!" shouted Brand to
Constance. She darted away to bring
1t, and when the advcnturer clinging
TO the foremost had thrown a coil sue
cessfully. Brand took the instrument.
why don't you come this way? The
sthers will follow he beloved.
There are women and children
down below. They must be saved first,
and they cannot climb the mast" was
the reply.
"All right, but send up couple of
sailors. We are short handed here"
''Right-o." sang ont the other cheer
lily. though lie wondered why three men
should anticipate difficulty.
Down he went Without waiting,
Brand and the girls hauled Justify at
the rope. 1t was no child's play to
hoist II heavy pulley and several hun
dred feet Of stout cordage. More than
once they feared the first thin rope
would break. but 1t was good hemp.
and soon the block was hooked to the
strong Iron Sanctions OF the railing.
10 make assurance ,loubly sure, Brand
told Enid TO take several turns of the
spare cord around tile hook and the
adjacent rails.
Meanwhile, Constance and he saw
that the rope was moving through the
pulley without their assistance. Then
through the whirling scud beneath they
made out an ascending figure sclinging
to 1t. Soon he was close to the gallery.
Catching him by arms and collar they
lifted him into safety. He was one of
the Junior officers, and Constance,
though she hardly expected It, expert
enced momentary feeling of disap.
pointment that the first man to escape
was not the handsome youth to whose
cool daring some ut least of the ships
company would owe their lives.
The newcomer was Il typical Briton.
Thanks" he said. CLOSE shave.
Have you a light? We must signal
after each arrival"
Enid brought the small lantern, and
the stranger waved it twice. The rope
Travelled back through the pulley, and
this time 1t carried sailor man, who
said not one word. but stopped to tie