Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-21

the three cornered waves rose straight
up and fell again as though reaching
from the deep.
When the men first began to sweat
the sails UP. evidently in preparation
for an immediate departure, l objected
vehementy
You aren't going to leave him on the
ton
They did not answer me, but after a
little more, when my approximations
had become more positive, Handy Solo,
mon dropped the halliasd and drew me
to one side .-,. e, .
Look here, you" he snarled. you'd
better stow your CAB, You're lucky to
be here yourself, let alone botherin'
your thick head about anybody else,
and you can kiss the book on that, Do
you know why you amt with them car
rion?" He jerked his thumb toward
the beach. ITS because Solomon An
derson's your friend. Thrackles would
have killed you in minute count OF
his bit hand. l got you your chance
Now, don't be a fool, for | amt goin'
to stand between you and them an-
other time. Besides, he won't last long
if that volcano keeps al it,
He left me. Whatever truth lay in
| his assumption of friendship, and I
doubted there existed much of either
truth or friendship In him. l saw the
! common sense of his advice l was in
no position to dictate a course of &C
/ ton.
| After the sails were on her we gath
cred at the starboard rail to watch the
shore. There the hills ran into inky
| blackness. as the horizon sometimes
merges into thunder squat. A dense
white steam came from the creek bed
within the arroyo. The surges beat on
the shore louder than the ordinary, and
/ the foam even in these day hours
seemed to throw up faint phosphor-
essence Frequent earthquakes oscil-
lated the landscape. We watched. l do
not know for what our eyes straining
into the murk Of the island Nobody
thought of the chest, which lay on the
cabin table aft. / contributed mali
ciously my bit to their fear.
These volcanic islands sometimes
sink entirely" I suggested, land in
that case we'd be carried down by
the suction"
1t was intended merely to increase
their uneasiness, but, strangely enough.
after few moments it ended by i'm
posing itself on my own fears. | be-
gan TO be afraid the island would sink,
began TO watch for it,, began to share
the fascinated terror of these men.
The suspense after a time became
unbearable. for while the portent-
whether physical or moral we were
too far under its influence to distin-
guish-grew momentarily, our own
souls did not expand in due CORE
spondence. We talked of towing, of
hedging out, of going to any extreme,
even TO small boats. Then just as we
were about to move toward some ac-
complishment new phenomenon
chained our attention to the shore.
In the mouth of the arroyo appeared
red glow. A moment later a wave
of lava, white hot, red, iridescent, cool
ing to black crust cracked in incan-
descence. rolled majestically out over
the grassy plain. Each instant it grew
in volume until the ravine must have
been flowing half full.
Before its scorching the grasses even
at the edge of the sea were smoking,
and our camp had already burst into
flames. We had 10 shield our faces
against the heat. and the wooden rail-
ing under our hands was growing
warm.
Pulz turned an ashy countenance TO.
ward us.
My God he screamed. what's 60 |
ing 10 happen when she hits the sea-"
She hit the sea. and Immediately a
great cloud OF steam arose and the .
Kissing as Of thousand serpents. We
felt the strong suction under our keel
and staggered under the jerk of the
ships cable as she swung toward the
beach. The paint was beginning 10
,rackle along the rail. We could see
nothing for the scalding white veil that
'nyeloped US. We could hear nothing
'or the roar Of steam. the lombard
rent Of explosions and the crash Of
hunder. but our nOstriIs were assault
ID by a most unearthly medley of
smells.
We were clinging hard as the ship
'eeled- Huge surges were racing in
rom seawsrd, growing larger with
.ach successive billow.
Handy Solomon raised his head. lis
ened intently and struck his forehead.
Wind" he screamed at the top Of
lis voice and Jumped for the haIliards.
Thrackles followed him. but no one
Use moved. In an instant the two were
'ack. striking and kicking savagely.
ousing their companions TO the dan
'er. We all laid into the canvas Ike
mad. and in no time had snugged
own TO staysaiI and the peak OF
ur mainsail. Thrackles drew his knife
nd jumped for the cable. while Han
s solomon. his eyes swapping. seized
be wheel.
we Hnlshed Just IN time. I vas rurn-
~ away after tying the last gasket on
be foresail when the deck up ended
nj tipped me hsadforemost into the
scupper. AT the same time
smother Of salt water blew over the
or rail. now far above me. 10 drench
ie as thoroughly as though had fall
D overheard I brushed out ny eyes
; find the ship smack on her beam ]
IDS ard the wind hovlinz hy from
le sea.