Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-26


Then I set to work to step the spar as q
sort Of jury mast. flashing 1t as securely
as I could to carry the three-cornereo
rag of sail / had made, and was
fastening the ropes to this: when another
squat struck us. +fiercer, wilder and longer
than the worst we had had. But we
weathered it successfully, for the drae
anchor served it's purpose we'll and kept
us head on throughout 1t.
judged that we could ride out the
storm with its help. and had been GER
tain Of our position I would have trusted
to it alone. But I knew that the tide
was now setting strongly to the south.
and feared that we should be carried
back to the island to be dashed to pieces
on it's rocky coast. I dared not run that
risk. and decided to set the sail and run
before the wind until we had passed the
northern shore of the Island.
Taking advantage Of the lull. therefore
I drew in the drag anchor. hoisted the
tiller from Masita. waiting for the next
squat with dire foreboding in my heart
lest sail and mast and gear would all be
blown clean out Of the boat. =,
We ran steadily enough at first, but !!
come kissing up astern. The boat leapt
forward as 1t struck US and we flew
through the water at racing speed. The
spar bent and creaked under the strain.
but it held. and drew a deep breath Of
still safe. ~
In order to clear the island I pointed
course as northerly as I dared In such
a wind. easing of and running straight
before it, whenever a squall struck us.
At first strained my ears for the sounds
of breakers on the shore. but when an
hour or more passed knew. that that
danger was over and that we were head
ing straight for the open sea.
Not wishing to be carried too far out.
l. - eR0 Ia
I lowered the sail and threw the oar over
board as before. and in this way we
drifted. weathering successfully squall
after squat ofincreasing violence.
All the time Masita had shown un-
daunted courage. She was very quiet,
only to murmur some word Of confidence.
encouragement or hope. was hopeful
also now. The storm had sprung up SO
quickly. that the sea was not dangerously
high and began to be confident that the
boat would ride out the gale.
But the confidence was misplaced. The
rope which held the drag anchor was
frayed by the pitching of the boat. and
in the final gust of q heavy squall II
parted. the boat slowed round with her
broadside to the waves. and we were
again In peril Of being capsized.
I rugged up the rag of sail again. and
let the boat run before the gale. which
had now reached its height. The slender
spar bent ominously under the strain. but
held for some hours. during which we
in two. and our last hope was gone.
I made one final effort. To reset the
sail was impossible, 80 wrapped it round
the broken spar. and by knotting the
ropes together fashigned such q length
of cable. as was possible and cast 1t over
board, as had done with the other cruds
drag anchor. to keep the head Of the
boat to the wind.
It helped US little, and with this
perilously slender safeguard we drifted:
in constant danger Of being swamped or
capsized. Time after time I baied out
the water, waiting in the intervals of the
work either for the end Of, the storm or
of our. lives. whichever was fated to come
first. g.
In that hour Of despairing suspense the
dawn broke. and as the light slowly
strengthened over the tossing waters. 1t
heightened the terror of the Wild scene.
Masita had been lying on the bottom
of the boat. She had borne the exposure
and hardships of the terrible night mag
nfhcently. Not word or murmur OF
complaint had passed her lips never
once had she given way. and not sign
Of doubts and fears which / lfnew must
have rent her mind In the darkness.
+ But when the light. came. and she &i1ad
her first glimpse Of the raging, tossing
sea- she could not wholly restrain her
feelings. little cry escaped her lips.
me. It was only for feeting instant.
however The next second her face.
pailid, drawn and haggard with the ter
rible experiences of the night, was calm
and unmoyed. and she glanced up. to
make sure had not seen her disquiet
and been affected by it.
I'VE are in great peril?" she asked,
,,oresoY3tIv. so