The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-09

lidiliHS lOl iiiiii III US Idllt put DY the grace of chance and the distance
 of half an inch he escaped unharmed.
 At his hand was splintered boom
 some eight feet long, with cordage and
 a tattered shroud attached, and on this
 Joe climbed to look about him. Some
 distance away he could dimly see the , outlines of the two great ships still locked together, while on his ears fell tumble of excited cries, the rasp of commands through a naval megaphone, and the screams of women praying to be saved. Then came a new develop ment. Through the breast of a huge green roller protruded human hand which the young Kentuckian seized and pulled with heroic power. His efforts bore rare fruit. From the water ap- peared a hideous plaid cap, and be- meath 1t rose a crystal monocle still
 tightly affixed in a noble eye.
 Well, I'm damnedv" said Joe, and as-
 sisted the balance of the strangling
 Lord to a perch beside him on the
 boom.
 Thank you" began Lord Cranton
 when a mouthful of bitter water could
 be exchanged for speech. "Uncommon-
 ly decent of you, really, and want
 to say"
 "Shut up!" commanded Joe, and His
 Lordship tactfully obeyed.
 In his rescue the American had lost
 his bearings, and the ships were no
 longer visible while the sounds of -tumult, though still in evidence, were
 less pronounced. This proved two
 facts. First, that the steamers passen- gers were being transferred to the
 battleship second, that the castaways were drifting further and further from the hope of life.
 For an hour the two men shouted, slngly and in unison, but without results, while the fog grew thicker, mingling with the shades of night. At last brisk wind rose, disperslng the mists and cleav- ing a path for the glow of the million stars. league to the north a fiashlight beat the sea in sweeping circles, then winked away across the rim of elod, black waters To the shipwrecked trav- elers came the echoes of one hoarse, de- rsive snort from a comfortable battle- ship, and then they were left alone with the spirits of the clammy deep. "Aw, hell!' observel the young Ken | tucllian in low-voiced fervor
 "Rig'ht-o.' echoed the moist Lord Cranton from the other end of the wab- | bly, boom, and mutual silence fell be- l tween them. | Twas splendid joke of fate, this fling 1 ing together of two erstwhile enemies, | the patrician and plebian, each seated a-straddle on his respective end of a | floating timber, drifting to nowhere in particular through the solemn night. This 1 lasted for several hours, when suddenly ! the Kentucllians ear was caught by a sound which caused him to cock his head ] in the manner of a setter dog as he 1 scents his game. At first he was uncer- | tain, but after time the sounds became more distinct, and the faint but steady | pounding Of a surf could have but one | meaning-land!
 | "Goodl@ Joe ehucbled, and the shiver- 1 ing Briton echoed a faint cheerful "Jol- | lyi"
 l Slowly they drifted toward a dry re- | treat. while the roll of the waves in l creased till it mounted to an awful | thunderous roar. They swept past g spine of sharp, black rocks where the | waters rushed, recoiled, and flung them | selves on high, to fall in a spray of blind | ing foam At last the boom went spin 1 ming through the breakers, and the two | men chung to the cordage, desperately ] choking. submerged, but battling fol !, their breath and life. Then, caught 1T
 the grip of monster roller. they were l tossed with one last, tooth-loosenins | bump on the bosom of a sandy beach. .sWhat lucki" coughed the Englishman 1 kicking out his legs and wringing water from his ugly overcoat.
 Luck nuthingl" his fellow maroonel | growled "Its Provy-dence, I~tell you
 an blame big chunk of 1t. at that ! 'Twas the Gawd of Isrull wha showed m' | overbode. an him what soused you II | the drink beside of me. Cause why | Well, he sets me an you on terra firm!
 ies' three durn days afore I thought h' | would"
 The sentiment seemed justly pious, thu | following on the heels of miraculous es cape, and yet there was certain grim
 ness of delivery which caused the Eng lishman to doubt. This doubt, however ! was speedily dispellsd. for Joe walked