The Washington herald., 1907-02-08

largest for years. She had filed up and
was ready for home and a market While
half the feet were still whistling for fish
Then came another such day as that on
which the accident had happened. There
was the same leaden sky out Of which
squalls burst at intervals and without
warning-the same ugly, heaving sea,
swelling Up as II to pour its weight on
deck and sink the crafts out of hand.
The fleet was heaving and drifting now,
and fifty pairs Of eyes saw the masts Of
the SwOTdfsh 20 overheard before the
downfiy Of a squat. There was no Dave
Bliss on board this time but the thing
had happened just the same On the pre-
plenty Of sea room On this the fleet had
been drifting down into the shadows and
was just on the point Of lacking.
What every man at once realized was
that the crippled Swordfsh must 90 70
leeWard before the send of the sea until
she grounded on the sands a mile away
Then the waves would finish her IN ten
minutes. The Mary and Jane had her
home pennant flying and was already on
her course. She was loaded deep with
her catch and drawing twice as much
water as the other.
There was just one way to save the
Swordfsh. Men of the fleet will tell you
to-day that there was only one man
among them who dared take the chance
That man was Capt Dave Bliss. There
was only moment OF hesitation Then
he reused out "a hawser. had "a casting
line bent on, and setting more sail than
he would have dared to under any other
circumstance. and running a risk that
made his crew turn pale and SILVER. he
headed his craft down toward the other.
He knew the depth of water 10 an inch.
lie had but 10 look over the side 20 see
the sand boiling up. The helpless. de-
spairiEE men on the Sw0rddsh were
watching. and when his plan became
clear, Capt Baker turned to his mate and
said.
Hes the bravest man in the feet. but
he's also a fool, Both crafts viii 20 to
hell together"
The Mary and Jane was stirring up
the sand as she came flying down. for
craft with her keel within eighteen
inches of the bottom viii almost cut a
groove in the sand or mud On the bow
of this one stood Capt. Dave Bliss ready
90 heaye the casting line. and Capt.
Baker went forward 10 receive it, It
was thrown at the right second. and
men hauled away at line and hawser In
frenzied haste. The Mary and Jane
must come up into The winds eve and
hold there "A moment until the hawser
could be secured
Good sailors have said that there were
foTty-nine chances out of fifty that her
masts would 60 during that crucial. mo-
mont but the odd chance won. The
haWser was made fast, the rescuing craft
fell of. and a moment later she was
towing the wreck into deeper water and
safety IL was the top-notch Of seaman
ship and observation-disclosures.
They heard about the rescue in the
town when the Mary and Jane reached
port Tears came 10 the waiting Mary
Bakers eyes and thankfulness TO her
heart, but Capt Dave did not appear The
story was told again and again as other
crafts came in. but her lover did not
make his appearance at the cottage on
the hill II was only when the Sword
fish came limping into port that Dave
took his old captains arm and they both
walked through the streets until they
came upon Mary waiting at the gate.
Then the stern old father Joined their
hands together and whispered:
Take her. Dave and give me a corner
OF the fireplace for the few years I've
got TO live I'm done with the feet"