The Washington times., 1908-12-17
CHAPTER NH.
THROUGH THE BREAKERS.

y IN seizure OF the broken
mast was really rather instinc-
tive-the drowning mans
grasping at a straw-than with
any idea that he could be saved.
Indeed, with the disappearance
OF the sloop. ne had already given him
self up for lost; for ne did not believe
Is possible that any swimmer could
live in such an angry sea.
Yet the same instnCt-the obstinate
clinginE to life-made him hold on to
the spar now that he had cIutched It,
and to battle on against the smOthering
waves
Again and again he was overwhelmed
and beaten down by the tremendous bill
lows; he was buffeted. beaten. and tess
ed about until it seemed as though
mere creature of flesh and blood could
no longer stand the strain: but always
when he rose to the surface his dog
ged impulse was TO strike out, ana al
ways he -gripped with bulldog tenacity
the faithful spar.
Finally he managed, by some ropes
trailing from it, 10 lash himself, and this
relieved somewhat the strain upon his
arms; but even to keep afioat was a
tremendous fight
Presently il began to seem to him
that this rising and falling with the
waves had been going on forever. and
that there was nothing else In life. and
that one might just as well permit him
self to be rocked quietly TO sleep. and
be done with it.
But no. he hesitated: there was the
island just ahead, with all the wealth
~~g-- l.
he could reach it; and he began to
struggle anew
The island, The islandl He must
get TO #. But each Of these waves
which bore him back had the face Of
old crazy Captain Ezra. and each of
them clutched at his throat with long.
twining fingers.
An, that one got him, He was chok-
ing. he was stranglinE. With delirious
frenzy he fought of the fancied clasp.
and-came to the surface
With the return of consciousness he
noted now in some surprise that the
day was advancing, and the sun al
ready high in the heavens. 1t burned
down upon his unprotected head. bis
tered with the salt and spray. like
fire
He was also consumed with a terri
bic sense Of thirst. and was sore and
aching i'm every limb.
Was ii worth while to keep I'D the
fight, when the end was inevitable?
-flis reason told him not. He had but
10 loose the fastenings which bound
him to his support. and the rest was
easy It would be no more than falling
aslecp-~y
And then, as he rose on the crest Of
higher wave. he saw something which
brought "a sudden thrill TO his heart.
Surely that line or breakers. the
white coral beach and the wooded shore
WAS nearer than when last he looked
toward it,
He waited until he vas again lifted
on mighty swell. Yes, there could BE-
no doubt Of II now
The tide had turned,
The tide had turned, and was Washing
him TO shore. With renewed v.go~ he
struck cut against his jealous enemies.
the waves.
But. even with the current in his
favor it was a gigantic undertakings
gigantic undertaking for a man i'm full
strength. much more so for one in his
weary and exhausted condition.
Again and again, when he had gained
a few inches. only to be flung back 50
many feet he felt as though ne must
give up but the good spar supported
him. and still he struggled on. until at
last he was fairly in the breakers. and
the hardest task of All was upon him.
Once ne charged that white line. only
10 be caught in the undertow and
thrown back in a smother Of foam far
out TO sea.
Twice he went at it, -and experienced
the same dishearteniug result.
Three times he tried it. All. he had
won through now! His toes were grip
ping in the yielding sandl Anotber
lunge. and he would be in safety,
And then a great. growing conber
swept IN over him, and bore him down,
down, down-tO, oblivion,
Millions of years afterward. into that
black void whittier he had descended
came faint sensation OF pain.
He could not locate il. for he did not
seem to have any body He simply
knew that it was pain. and he wished
that whatever or whoever was causing
It would so away and let him sleep.
Stronger and stronger grew the pain.
however, forcing him to recognize his
members. whether he would or not.
That was his chest. which seemed to be
suffocatirg under his labored breath.
This vas his right arm. tortured with
neuralgia twinSes. This his left leg.
Was every nerve in his anatomy TO be
thus slowly picked out by searching for
ceps Was all the blood in his veins
turned TO fire and corroding acid?
And then he became conscious that