Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-28

have out her white Arab: while it was
getting ready she went once more to the
tower to see the storm effect tn the dark
ening twilight. AS she looked her heart
for an instant stood still. for. after all.
she was but a woman. Half way to the
horizon great ship. ablaze in the bows.
was driving through the waves with all
her speed. She was heading toward the
little port. beyond which the shadows
sent up the moving wall of white spray.
Stephen tore down the turret stair. and
sent for the steward. to whom she snve
hurried directions to have beds prepared
and plenty of provisions made ready. She
also ordered that carriages should be
sent at once to the fishing port with
clothing and restoratives. and such mat
ters AS his experience CT intelligence could
suggest. There would. she felt, be need
for such help before time to be meas
ured by minutes should have passed.
In few seconds she was in the saddle.
tearing at full speed down the road that
led to the port The wind was blowing
so strongly in her face that only in the
lulls between the puffs of wind could she
hear the hoof-strokes of the groom s
horse galloping behind her.
When she came near to the port the
great ship was close at hand. The flames
had gained terribly. and it was race for
life and death. There was no time to do
more than run her aground if life was to
be saved at all. The captain. who, in the
the fore part of the vessel could be seen
upon the bridge. knew his work we'll AS
he came near the Shoal he ran a little
north. land then turned sharply SO as to
throw the boats head to the south of the
shoal. Thus the wind would drive fire
and smoke forward and leave the after
part of the vessel free. for time
The shock of her striking the sand was
terrific. though the tinkle Of the bell
borne in on the gale showed that the en-
I,o1 hnv c1o alc
were shaken down. and the masts broke
Off falling forward. A wild shrek from
hundred threats cleft the roaring Of
wind and wave. The mast fell. the fore
on the bridge. which was in an instant
blotted out of existence, together with
the little band of gallant men VINO stood
on it. true to their last duty. AS the wind
took the smoke south man was seen to
climb on the wreck of the mast aft and
make fast the end of great coil of rope
which he carried. He was huge man
with a full. dark beard. Two sailors,
working with furious haste. helped him
with the rope. The waves kept raising
the ship little. each time humping her
on the sand with a shock. The people on
deck held frantically to the wreckage
around them.
Then the bearded man. stripping to his
waist and cutting off his trousers above
the knee. fastened an end of the rope
one behind the other to pay it out. AS
great wave rolled under the ship he
threw himself into the sea.
In the meantime the coast guard had
and in few seconds the. prolonged roar
of rocket was heard. 1t few straight
toward the ship. rising at high angle so
as to fall beyond it. But the force of the
wind took ii as 1t rose. and the angle in
creased so that it rose nearly vertically,
N wind
south of it's objective and short of it. An
other rocket was got ready at once, and
blue lights were burned so that the course
of the venturCus swimmer might be noted.
He swan strongly. but the great weight
of the rope behind him kept pulling him
back and the southern trend of the tide
current and the force Of the wind kept
dragging him away from the pier. Within
the bar the waves were much less than
without but they were still so unruly
that no boat in the harbor-which was
not lifeboat station-could venture out.
Indeed, in the teeth of the storm it would
have ben a physical impossiblity to have
driven one seward.
AS the gathered crowd saw Stephen ap-
proach they made way for her. She had
left her horse with the groom and. de-
spite the drenching spray. fought way
against the wind out on the pier AS in
the glare of the blue light, which brought
many things into harsh unnatural per-
sPective. she caught sight of the set face
of the swimmer rising and falling with
the waves. her heart leaped. This was.
indeed. man! a brave man: and all the
woman in her went out to him. For him.
and to aid him and his work. she would
have given everything. done anything;
and in her heart, which beat in an &c
stasy of anxiety. she prayed with that
desperate conviction Of hope which comes
in such moments of exaltation.
But it soon became apparent that no
landing could be effected. The force of
the current and the wind were taking the
man too far southwark for him ever to
win way back. Then one of the. Goa st
guards took the lead-topped cane which
they use for throwing practice. and, after
carefully coiling the line attached to 1t so
that II would run free. managed with a
desperate effort to fling it far out. The
swimmer. to whom it fell close. fought to-
ward 1t frantically. and as the cord began
to run through the water, managed to
grasp it. A wild cheer rose from the
shore and the ship. A stout line was
fastened to the shore end of the cord,
and the swimmer drew it out to him. He
bent it on the rope which trailed behind
him: then. seeing that he was himself a
drag on it. with the knife which he drew
from the sheath at the back of his waist.
guards on the pier. helped by host Of
willing hands. began drawing the end of
the rope shore. The swimmer still
held the line thrown to him. and several
Unhappi!y the thin cord broke under the
strain and within a few seconds the
swimmer had drifted out of possible help.
Seeing that only wild rocks lay south OF
the sea wall, and that on them the seas
beat furiously. he turned and made out
for sea. In the dim light beyond the
glare he could see vaguely the shore
bending away to the west In deep
curve of unbroken foam There was no
hope of landing there. To the south was
the headland perhaps two miles away as
the crow flies. Here was the only chance
for him. If he could round the headland
he might find shelter beyond: or some
where along the farther shors some OPEN
ing might present itself. While the light
from the blue fires still reached him he
turned and made for the headland.
In the meantime on ship and shore men
worked desperately. AS the men on the
pier hauled in the rope. those on the ship
bent strong hawser on to the end of 1t.
and also a second thinner rope; so that
before long the end Of the hawSer was
carried round on the high cliff, and pulled
as taut as the force at hand could man.
age and made fast Thus it hung clear
over the sea. and before many minutes
were passed the breaches buoy was pass
ing out to the ship On the double line.
Then with second rope another hawser
was passed in; other breeches buoys ware
improviSed: and soon endless ropes were
bringing in the passengers and crew as
fast as place could b. found for them.
1t became simply u race for time. If the
fire. working back against the wind, did
no; reach the hawssr and if the ship out
lasted the furious humping on the sand
bank which threatened to shake her to
pieces each moment, all still on board
might vet be saved.