The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-11-11

| oh IhO "ofSSy 40
ancing of the men as they stood with
legs apart and feet firm planted on
the deck, keeping their places with
difficulty, as the vessel rolled in the
trough of the sea, or rose to a wave
and pitched, but working always.
And the silence, too, she noticed, and
then the constant breaking of the
same by an order, a pious ejaculation,
or an oath. Seeing every detail OF
the scene, as she did in her quiet,
clear-headed way, made 1T appear as
if she had been watching 1t for hours,
but, in truth, little more than, half of
one suficed to show chat the fire
would conquer it's foes. The handful
of brave and reseluts men were
beaten back step by step, fighting for
every inch of solid plank, and fighting
to the last, even after the most san
guine had ceased to hope. But the
struggle was worse than useless-a
mere waste of most precious time, as
it seemed at last. and now the order
came; twenty nen, picked out by
name, and the two chief officers, to
lower away the boats and see the
women safe on board them, the rest
to stick to their posts and fight the
fire to the last. The ranks were con-
siderably thinned by the twenty-five
men told off for duty with the boats
stepping out from them, but the 9TH
ers showed no sign Of wavering, be-
yond the inevitable retreat before the
flames, which ragged and more
fercely every minute. well dome,
my men!" the captain cried. "All the
world will be speaking of your pluck
by this time tomorrow. And there's
a chance for us all yet. We're max
ing light enough'to be seer ten miles
off. There'll be something come to
the rescue presently. But off with
the women!"
The boats we're lowered by this
time-only three, alas! and n Of
these a mere dinghy. The sea was
rough enough to make even the burn
ing ship seem safer than those little
tossing atoms of wood beside it, and
the women held back. The compan-
ion ladder had been let down, but it
was difficult to keep a boat alongside
it, and a horrible gulf Of shining
black water continually yawned be-
tween. In the little pause that en-
sued, Gertrude looked round for
young Redmond. He was at the
other side of the deck, trying to cut
a life-belt loose that was fastened by
wire to the bulwark, as If, when it
was made fast, the end and object
of its existence was accomplished, and
as he pulled and tugged at it he
cheered himself in an absent way by
whistling a %plaintive tune. When at
last he had succeeded in disengaging
it, Gertrude was a little anxious to
know what he would do with it
wear it himself, she supposed, but
somewhat to her surprise, he brought
it to her in his leisurely way, re-
marking, Mamma looks quite nice in
hers, doesn't she?" and he nodded his
head over his shoulder toward the
little gentlewoman who stood clinging
to the bulwark to steady herself.
Her face was very pale, but she was
quite calm, and a little smile of moth
erly pride and affection lowered about
her lips as she watched her son, from
whom she never moved her eyes.
"Chirrupy old girl, amt she?" that
youth went on. Now you may guess
which side of the family I take after.
I thought it my duty to fix her up
with a life-belt. Duty first, pleasure
afterward. Eth? This is for you,"
and he fastened the belt round Ger
trude carefully. But now the mo-
ment had come for a move to be
made, and the women still hung back
from the boats. Gertrude handed
Mrs. Redmond the little lame child.
go first" she said, "to encourage
them"
"She's right, mamma" her son ex-
claimed. Somebody must go first"
But you, my SOM"
90 mother! you would not take me
away when I'm so u~seful?"
' A painful spasm contracted her
placid face for a moment; but in that
moment she had made the sacrifice,
and, like a true gentlewoman, she
made it ch%eerfully. God be with
you and bless you, my only child"
she said, reaching up to kiss him.
The laughing blue eyes grew deep
and tender for an instant. Into His
hands I commend my spirit" the
young mar answered with a %reverent
gesture; and SO they parted.
All the men who were not engaged
in getting the women into the boats
were still hard at work battling with
the fre-not that there was any hope
Of subduing it, or even of checking it
perceptibly now; but the captain saw
the wisdom of keeping them to it till
the last, in order to divert their atten-
ton from their OWL position. The
men were entirely hidden from the
women, who were now all huddled
about the gangway, by dense volumes
of smoke, which would lift at ister-
walls and clear, allowing them to ap-
pear again, looking like demons, with
the red glare of the fire behind them.
The captain had stood on the bridge
SO far, directing them, but now the
binding, scorching smoke drove him
from thence; and his presence would
have been required on the deck at any
rate, for ominious looks were being
| cast at the heats and the natural in