The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-11-24


the Swede. burst like a maniac from
the group OF men fightigg like shadows
In the mist OF the forward pump. He
caught family his yell OF defiance as
Flick, the second officer, ran out from
among the shadows aud intercepted
him with blow from knotted INST
that sent him Keeling into the drown
Ing wash of the sea. He shouted as
the little gray man followed up Sven
sons huge bulk. Ike terrier. and
other figures staggered out of the
binding spume, naked armed bare
chested with svenson's panic gleam-
ing In their eyes. Flick saw him as
he came across the deck and planted
his back against the port davit, where
the tops OF the seas swept over him
in smothering rushes.
They've left the pumpsl' he
shouted as Connolly came up. I'm
damned"
ton OF water breaking over the
rail sent him reellng out among the
men. He picked himself up and stag
gered TO Connolly, his thin, gray.beard-
ed face questioning him eagerly.
shes a little better, boysl" shouted
the captain, But we can't take her
out into thatl"
He pointed out into the grayness OF
the sea. broken only by the foaming
tops that rode rail-high with the ship.
MY God, men, no boat would
live"
m. ,,ot., 90 a ,.,,,,a,, 1901, ot,,o.t
in a shrek.
Were fun We're full TO foot OF
the matches. tell " She's got to
go now or neverl"
There was sullen assent in dozen
waterblistered eyes. From early
morning until noon these men had
chung 10 a sinking ship because each
cherished in him memory OF the
woman. Because of her they had
fought until their hands bied and
their breath came 10 gasps. They
had watched the schooner settle inch
by inch and foot by foot. struggling
stubbornly for the precious minutes
which would give life to her. until
arms hung limp aud effortless and
men fell exhausted upon the deck
when others took their turns at the
pumps. And above them all Svenson
had worked and urged and cursed
those whose nerve began TO fail them,
until when the last minute seemed
riding on each white.crested rush OF
the sea, something broke within him,
and he turned In his despair to the
boats. II was Svenson now who
rushed TO the falls. In an instant Con.
molly was among the panic.stricken
men.
You can't live In that seal" he
shouted Flight It out another hour,
men--one more hour"
The schooner rode more easily now.
She had settled until the resistance
she gave TO the sea was as solid az
that OF mass OF steel, and the ram
ming OF her sides only sent jarring
throes through her timbers, as
though a thousand-ton weight touched
her gently each time she was struck
few minutes more, a sudden sweep
OF water over the rail, and Connolly
knew that she would go down, quietly
and without sensation, but with mer
ciful quickness. He turned toward
| the cabin. and az the threshold OF the
door that led to where the woman lay
he paused for an instant and fought
for the strength that he knew he
would need. Then he opened Il and
entered. AZ the end OF the room o
woman lay upon cot. her strangely
white face turned expectantly toward
the door. As Connolly came through
she smiled. and her beautiful eyes
frightened with a glad light.
1T has seemed so long, Jim she
said. her voice rising barely above 0
whisper The storm frightens me
But it's duieter now, isn't ~"
Eyes. DEAR"
The man took of his dripping hal
and coat and Eat down beside her
The woman, as he did so, drew dowr
the coVerlet few inches 80 that b,
might see the little pink face lyinl
against her bosom. He leaned over
more 10 hide his own Wilderness thar
10 caress. and stroke the baby'i
check with big forehnger Tn,
woman took his other hand an,
pressed II happily. She spoke n,
word. but when the man raised him
self TO look into her face he saw u,
great dawn OF the new life shinlni
adoringly in her eyes. After a tim,
the woman said.
"JlmW
Yes, dear"
Are you-yery glade
The man pressed her face to hin
with passionate tenderness He di
not answer IN words. but the womaI
was satisfied. Then he gently DIRE,
himself away, the young wife's eye
following him inquiringly.
You're not going back -now?" sh
asked. Il thought"
"Yes-Flick IS IN charge" he sal
quickly. But ! must see-that ever,
things all right" Between his word
he hesitated listening 10 sound M
der his feet that thrilled him Il wa
like The humping of noating carg
against the deck Tho water WIS ri,
ing faster than he supposed. but b
showed no sign Of the fear that wa
In him.
"You viii be back soon?"