Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-10-11
90
CHATTER -IY.-iContinned.l

CHAPTER IY-(Continued.)
TIE helm went over. and the yacht
Eoomed up black as our own light died
AWAY and passed lis within cables
length What lift Of the night there was
showed us her decks again: but trey were
not deserted. for as one or two aboard
gave L great cry. ! saw the white and
horribly distorted face Of a man who
chung 10 the main shrouds-and he alone
was the guardian Of the wanderer.
That vision Of the man / had left we'll
and hopeful and strong not three days
since was terrible 10 me. \ brave man
had gone TO his DEATH but to what
death. if that agonizod face and distorted
usage betokcned aught. And had prom
sed to aid him, and was drifting there
with the schooner, raising no hand to give
him help.
Skipper" l cried this time we'll risk
getting boat off I'm going aboard that
vessel now, if | drown before l return.
Then | turned to the men and said: You
saw the yacht pass just now, and you
saw that man aboard her-he's my friend,
and I'm going to fetch him"
As the good fellows gave way and our
boat rode easily before the wind, ! no
ticed for the first time that the clouds
were scattering: and we had not made
another cables length when a great cloud
above us showed silver at its edges, and
opaquely white in its center, through
which the moon shone. Anon it dissolv-
ed and the transformation on the surface
Of the water was a transformation from
the dark Of storm to the chrome light of
Il ,-.,y4l,+
was beating up to Us, and we stood right
in her track.
Get a grapunI forward, and look out
there, cried The man in command.
As il to help MS, the wind fell away as
the schooner came up and she began to
shake her sails. Suddenly there was the
sound as of fierce contest. of the bursting
Of wood, and the spread of flame; and in
that instant the decks of the yacht were
ripped up, and sheets of fire rose from
diem TO the rigging above.
Give way roared Dan again, for the
men sat motionlcss with terror. Are you
going TO let him burn?"
The words awed them They shot the
long boat forward and | stood in her
stern to observe, if | could, what passed
on the burning decks. And | saw a sight
the like to which pray that ! may never
see again. Martin Hall stood at the main
sErouds. motionless, volumes of fame
around him, his figure clear to be viewed
by that awful beacon.
why doesn't he jump it?" / called
aloud. But Martin Hall never moved
his gaunt figure was motionIess-the
flames beat upon it., it did not stir; and
worst
Hes dashed there-and he's dead"
said Dan 'I,asy for a parcel of stark
fools Would you run alongside herr"
There they lay, for any nearer ap
proach would 1--we been perilous, and even
In that place Where we WERE twenty feet
on the windw d side. the heat was nigh
unbearable. 5 near were we that | look
ed close as it might be into the dead face
of Martin Ha2, and saw that the fends
who had dashed him there had done their
work too well. But l hoped in my heart
chat he had been dead when the end of
the ship had begun to come, and that it
were no reproach to me that he had per-
ished for to save his body from that
holocaust was work no man ight do.
SO did we watch the mounting fire, and
the last tack of the yacht La France
Saucily she raised her head TO new
breeze, shook her great sail of flame in
the night. and scattered red light about
her. Then she dipped her burning jib
as if in salute and there was darkness.
As we ncared our own ship Roderick
took my hand, giving it great grip. Then
we came aboard, where Mary waited for
us with a white face. and the others stood
silent; but we said nothing 90 them going
below. There l locked myself in my own
cabin. and though fatigue lay heavy on
me. | took Martin Halls papers from my
locker and lighted the lamp TO read them
through
But not without awe, for they were
message from the dead.