Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-15

could read the riddle through their
glasses of the retreating boat and the
white vapor puffs.
The first to grasp Stanhope's hand
when he swung himself onto the deck
of the tender was Mr. Cyrus j. Trail.
"Wcll done, my lad" he cried bro
kenly. 81 thought it was all up with
you. Did you see her?"J
Yes, but only for second"
"You thought it best not to join
themI'
"You know that I would gladly 20
refuse tine better way. can't tell you
what happened. Something stilled the
sea Ike magic. Look at 1t now"
Assurcdly the waves were breaking
again around the pillar with all their
wOnted fcrocity. but one among the
Trinity house officers noticed a smooth,
oily patch floating past the vessel.
by Jove" he shouted, Brand
helped you Mt the right moment. He
threw some gallons of COLA over
board"
Traill bronzcd, spare. elderly man,
tall and straight, with eyes set deep
beneath heavy eyebrows. went to Jim
Spence and Ben Pollard whore they
were helping to sling the Daisy up TO
the davts.
II said Eve hundred between you"
be briefly announced. "lf the rope
holds ana the three people am inter
ested in reach the shore alive l will
make It five hundred apiece"
Ben Po!lard's mahogany face became
several inches wider and remained so
permanently, his friends thought, but
Jim Spence only grnned.
You don't know the cap'n, sir. Hon
save every mothers son-an' daughter
too-now he has Il line aboard
Then the eX-sailOr, chosen with Pen
from among dozens Of volunteers ow-
ing to his close acquaintance with tho
reef bethought him.
you're trcatin Ben an me magnif-
iccnt. sir" he said. but the chief credit
is due to Mr.. Stanhope. We ony obey
ed orders"
The millionaire laughed like q boy.
Il have not forgotten Mr.. Stanhopc,"
he said. Il am sure your confidence in
Mr.. Brand will be justified. You watch
me smile when ante up your share"
On board the tug and on the gallery
of the lighthouse there was no time for
talk. The vessel with the most skilful
handling, might remain where she was
for about -four hours. she was already
more than a hundred fathoms within
the dangerous area marked by the
buoy, and there was much to be done
in the time.
The strongest rope, the best wire
hawser, has its we'll defined limit of
strain, ana the greater the length the
greater the tension. From the buoy
itself naught save chain cable would
hold in such Il sea. The tug must oper-
ate from the nearer base. She was
pitching and tossing in manner cal
culated to daunt any one but sailor
and the slightest mistake made by the
skipper, the burly oilskinned man bal
ancing himself OH the bridge with his
hand on the engine room telegraph,
would snap any line ever twisted.
So, briefly, this was the procedure
adopted. \ stout rope was bent on to
that carried TO the rock by Stanhope
With this was sent n whip. thus estab-
fishing a to and fro communication
! The rope itself, when 1t had reached
the rock, was attached to buoy and
anchored. Thus it could he picked up
easily il the thin wire havser next dis
patched should happen to break
A few words may cover vast
amount of excrtion Before the sec
ond line with its running gear was
safely stayed around the body of the
lantern - even the iron railing might
| give way-a precious hour had elapsed,
and Stanhope was impatientiy stamp
| ing about the bridge OF the tender.
/ though none knew better than he that
/ not an unnecessary moment was being
/ lost.
Vt last a signaler stationed on the
| tug was able TO ask:
What shall we send firSt?'
And the answer came back:
Water, milk, bread"
All night tinsmiths had laborcd to IN.
/ close food and clothing in water tight
cylinders ready for transport. and the
/ shining packages now began their voy
| aging from the tugs trawl beam to the
| Lofty gallery, three-foulrhs Of the jour
ney being through the sea. When the
/ first consignment reached the rock an
! other lusty cheer doomed from the
watching vessels.
| Stanhope at least could picture the
/ scene in progress behind the grim gran
| ite walls-COnstance and Enid. with
! others whom he did not know serving
| out generous drafts TO thirsty and fam
| ished women and men, helping them
| selves last. and hardly able 10 empty
| the eight gallon supply Of fresh water
| before they were called on TO distrib
ute similar quantity of milk
And then the bread, the cooked meat
all cut In slices, the timed soups and
meat extracts. the wines - for Trail
/ had taken charge of the catering, and
| his arrangements We're lavish-what Il
/ feast for people almost on the verge Of
starvation.
The hours flew until the tug signaled
! that she must cast loose and back
| away from the reef The tide was
running westward now. Soon the dan
| ger would be active and in any case
! tlo Gulf Rock WAS saved from the