Mower County transcript., 1908-10-14
CHAPTER XIV.

When the PranzOs thNndered against
the "silent sentinels" every one at the
supper of honor was thrown to the
door, many being pitched headlong
over the table. Senior Lopez, tho only
one standing, was hurled against the
wall and rendered unconscious, and
Jerry Chambers awoke from q mo-
ment's insensibility to ind himself at
the bottom Of q heap Of four or i've
persons. On all sides lay the stunned !
passengers. . few jnst beginning to
realize what had happened. The lit
tered floor was at m angle Of almost
45 degrees. tho vessel having been
driven between the rocks and pitched
to a position from which the continued
fury and force of tho elements could
not dislodge her. A great hole had
been torn in one Of her sides, and the
angry waves were fairly ripping OF
the timbers.
Many of the crew had been swept
from the deck and pounded to death
on the rocks, and only few Of those
remaining were sufficiently possessed
Of their faculties to attempt the saliva
ton of passengers and themselves.
While Jerry Chambers, bruised and
battered, was trying to extricate him.
through the saloon commanding every
one to go on deck, where he purposed
putting as many as possible into the
few remaining boats and setting them
out at the mercy Of the night. Jerry
by this time was on his unsteady feet,
and he plunged towards the narrow
stairway leading to the deck. Before
steps he heard a shrek behind him.
He turned and saw senorita Mercedes
on ber knees at the first step.
"Save father!" she screamed. "He
is not dead! Save him!"
Jerry never knew why he returned
to the saloon, for his swimming mind
was intent only on getting to the deck
| himself. When he reached the base
G. the staircase the young woman stag
gereu to ner feet and threw her arms
around his neck.
''Save father! Save father!" she
cried, as Jerry tried to tear himself
away from her.
where is he?" shouted he. 1--WE
cannot wait! We shall all be dead!
We must save ourselves!"
"Try to save father!"
Jerry stared at her for an instant
and then pitched forward, rolling to
within foot of the girls father. Senor
Lopez was showing signs of regaining
consciousness, and Jerry picked him
up and, stumbling, pitching, plunging
dragged him to the stairway. Just
as he reached the first step his arms
lost their strength and the body o1
the great merchant fell to the fiool
and rolled to the side of the ship
Jerry's brain was whirling and his
eyes scarcely saw the flashes of light
ming that illumined the stairway He
began to reel and was about to fall
when Senorita Mercedes caught hin
and managed to place him on the
steps. Almost instantly Jerry's senses
returned, and the first words.he heard
were:
"We-ycu and I-sha1 go together!
In flash of lightning he saw the face
of the girl-a face that displayed
none of the terror that was in his
"Come!"
A few minutes later the two were a.
the top of the stairs, he holding with
deathlike grip to a part of the re
naming rail and she clinging to hi!
arm. After a great wave had broker
over them, she cried out: 81
1--WE shall go together-to the mas
, -first!" An instant later, she sue
, ceeded in tearing Jerry's hands from
the rail, and together they pitched to
: wards the mast; which Jerry barely
reached just as another wave swep
over the deck Senorita Mercedes
was carried on the way to a part 8
the unbroken rail on the vessels side
Jerry thought she had been swept int,
the sea until he heard dimly above til,
deafening rcar:
!. We shall SO together you and I Z
Jerry, after long tugging manage,