Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-02-06
By JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
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At length the captain turned, grinned
pleasantly while the raindrops splash
ed on his nose and waved one arm.
Ralph looked and saw ahead of them
the clustered buildings of the life saw
| Ing station. And he was glad to see
| them.
"whew!' puffed Captain Eri as they
opened the door. mice mOrnin' for
ducks. Hey, Luther!' he shouted.
"Wake up here! You've got callers"
They heard footsteps In the next
room, the door opened and In came
not Luther Davis, but Captain Perez.
why, Eri!' he exclaimed amazedly.
For the lands sake, Perez! What
are you doin' here"
what are you doin' here, should
say. How d'you do, Mr.. Hazeltlne"
Captain Fri pushed back his SOU
wester and strolled over to the stove.
Ralph followed suit.
"Well, Perez" said the former, ex-
tending his hands over the fire, "it's
easy enough to tell you why we're here.
We heard there was a wreck"
There is. She's a schooner, and she's
of there on the Hogs Back. Luther
and the crew put off to her more'n two
hours ago, and I'm gittin' worried"
Then Perez went on to explain that,
because Of the storm, he had been per-
suaded to stay at Mrs. Mayo's all night;
that Captain Davis had been over for
a moment that evening OH an errand
and had said that the schooner had
been sighted and that, as the north.
easter was coming on, she was almost
certain to get into trouble; that he
perez had rowed over the first thing
In the morning to get the news and
had been just in time to see the launch
ing of the lifeboat as the crew put
off to the schooner.
There amt nothin' to worry bout"
observed Captain Err. "It's no slouch
of pull off to the Hogs Back this
weather, and, besides, I'd trust Lutte
Davis anywhere on salt water"
"Yes, 1 know" replied the uncon-
vinced Captain Perez, "but he ought
to have been back afore this. There
was a kind of letup in the storm jest
afore l got here, and they see her fast
on the shoal with the crew in the rig
GIN Luther took the small boat cause
he thought he could handle her better.
and that's what's worryin' me; I'm
'fraid she's overloaded. was Jest
thinkin' of goin' out on the pint to see
If could see anything Of 'em when you
folks come"
"well, go ahead. Well 60 with you,
II Mr.. Hazeltine's got any Of the chill
out Of him."
Ralph was feeling warm by this time.
and after Perez had put on his coat
and hat they went out once more into
the gale. The point Of which Perez
had spoken was wedge shaped sand
ridge that, thrown up by the waves
and tide, thrust itself out from the
beach some few hundred yards below
the station. They reached its tip and
stood there in the very midst of the
storm, waiting for the lulls, now more
frequent, and scanning the tumbling
water for the returning lifeboat.
"Schooner's layin' right over there"
shouted Captain Perez in Ralph's ear.
pointing of into the mist. bout O
mile off shore, cal'late. Wicked
place. the Hogs Back is. too"
winds lettln' up little mite" bel
lowed Captain Eri. "We've had the
wust Of it, guess. There amt so
much
He did not finish the sentence. The
curtain of sleet parted. leaving quar-
ter mile long lane through which they
could see the frothing ridges racing
one after the other endlessly. And
across this lane. silent and swift. like
a moving picture OH a screen. drifted
q white turtleback with black dots
clinging to it. 1t was in sight not
more than half minute; then the lane
closed again as the rain lashed their
faces"
Captain Perez gasped and clutched
the electrician by the arm.
"What was it?' shouted Ralph.
what was 1t. Captain Eri?"
But Capts in Fri did not answer. He
had turned and was running at full
rpeed back to the beach. When they
came UP they found him straining at
Tie side Of the dory that Luther Davis
used In tending his lobster pots. The
boat turned bottom up. lay high above
tide mark in the little cove behind the
point.
"Quick. now" shouted the captain
in tone Ralph had never heard him
use beforea "nver with her! Lively"
They oDeyed him without question.
AS the dory settled right side up, two
heavy oars. that had been secured by
being thrust under the seats, fell back
with clatter.
What was 1t, captain" shouted
Ralph.
"The lifeboat upset. How many did
you make out hangin' on to her, Perex1
Five. seemed to me-"
-Four, thought. Fri. you ain't
goin' to try to reach her with this
dory? You couldn't do 1t. You'll only
be drownded yourself. My Lord" he
moaned, wringing his hands. "whatn
Pashy do?'
"Catch a-holt now," commanded Cap
tain Fri, Down to the shore with
her! Now"
They dragged the dory to the waters
edge with one rush. Then Fri hurried
" thrust in the thole pins. Perez pro-
tested again.
"Eri," he said, 1T amt no use. She
won't live to git through the break
ers."
Eis friend answered without looking
up. "Do you s'pose," he said, that
I'm goln' to let Lutte Davis and them
other fellers drown without maxim
try for 'em? Push OF when tell you
to-"
"Then you let me 60 instead Of you"
Don't talk foolish. You've got
Pashy to look after. Ready now"
But Ralph Haseltine intervened.
"rm going myself" he said firmly.
putting one foot over the gunwale.
1rm a younger man than either Of
you, and I'm used to q boat. mean
II. I'm going"
Cantajn Eri l0oked at the electricians