The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-01-11

to help Stanhope's hazardous project
under compulsion. The sailor inform
ed them that he was determined to
carry out his scheme with or without
their assistance. SO when the Falcon,
the tender and a strong tug hired by
Mr.. Trail rounded the distant earn du
headland ut IL o'clock the lighthouse
keeper felt that further protest was
unavailing. 1t behooved him to take
all possible measures to help the men
who were about to dare so much to
help him.
| In the first place, he caused a rope
to he swung from the gallery to the
doorway. If any doubt were enter
tanned as to the grave risk attending
Stanhope's enterprise it was promptly
dispelled by the extreme difficulty met
with in accomplishing this compare
| lively simple task. Even heavy
piece Of wood slung to the end of the
ninety odd feet of cord necessary did
not prevent the wind from flashing the
| weighted end in furious plunges sea
ward. At last sailor caught the
| swinging block with boat hook. The
man would have been carried away by
a climbing wave had not his mates
perceived his danger and held him.
Then two life buoys were attached to
other ropes In case there might be
some slight chance Of using them. The
tackle which the unfortunate captain
of the Chinook had cast adrift was
utilized to construct safety lines in
the entrance way. Loops were fasten-
ed to them, In which six Of the strong
est men available were secured against
the chance of being swept through the
door to instant death.
Meanwhile the three vessels had
steamed close to the mooring buoy,
which, it will be remembered, lay in
full view of the kitchen window. Con-
stance gave them casual glance. Be
ing versed in the ways of the sea, she
instantly discovered that some unusual
event was astir.
She called her sisters attention to
the maneuvers of the steamers. One.
the Trinity tender. lay broadside on to
the incoming tide.
They are lowering a boat, 1 do de-
clare" she announced after they had
watched the proceedings for little
while with growing curiosity. At the
distance, nearly 600 yards. it was diff
ficult to discern exactly what was TAX
ing place.
"No boat can live if it comes near
the rock" cried Enid And then wild
thought brought her heart to her
mouth.
ooh, Connie" she cried in sudden
access of terror, II feel sure that Jack
is doing something desperate to save
us! Dad knows. They all know, but
they would not tell us. That is why
Mr. Pyne has not been near us for
hours"
ut cannot be. No one would permit
ii. Father would never give his sane
ton. Enid. my dear one, why do you
say such things? You brighten me!'
But Constances lips were bloodless,
and her eyes dilated with the fear
which she, too, would fain deny.
They were perched so high above the
sea that the dancing hillocks of green
water could not wholly obscure the
stoutly built craft which bobbed into
startling prominence round the stern
of the tender.
ut is! 1t ISL shrieked Enid. Look
Connie! There is Jack kneeling in the
bow. Oh, dear! Oh, dearl Is he mad?
Why don't they stop him? l cannot
bear to look. Connie, tell me-shall |
see him drowned before my eyes?"
The girl was distraught, and her Sis
ter was in little better plight. Fas-
cinated. speechless. clinging to each
other like panic stricken children, they
followed the leaping boat with the
CLASSY stare of those who gaze open
eyed at remorseless death.
They scarce understood what was to-
ward.
AS the boat, a. strong craft, yet such
a mere speck of stanch life In the tum-
bling seas, was steadily impelled near
ar they saw the tug lurch ahead Of the
other vessels until line was thrown
and caught by Stanhope. who instant
ly fastened it round his waist. The
rowers wore cork jackets, but he was
quite unprotected. Bareheaded with
his well knit limbs shielded only by
jersey, loose fitting trousers and can
vas shoes, he had declined to hamper
his freedom of movement with the
cumbrous equipment so essential for
any one who might be cast adrift in
that dreadful sea.
The girls, even In their dumb agony,
were duly conscious of scurry of
feet up and down the stairs. What did
1t matter? They paid heed to naught
save the advancing boat, now deep in
the trough Of wave, now perched
precariously on lofty crest. Whoever
the rowers were, they trusted wholly
to the instructions given by the gallant
youth who peered so boldly into the
wilderness ahead. The flying foam
and high tossed spray gave to the
lighthouse the semblance of alternately
lifting and lowering its huge frame
amid the furious torrents that encir-
cled it. Nerves of steel, strong hearts |
and true, were needed by those who |
would voluntarily enter that watery |
Inferno. N
Yet the men at the oars did not falter |
nor turn their heads They pulled |
evenly and well. with the lshort. deep