The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-09

with All MY Strength ] Flung Myself
Forth-Straleht Out Into the Sea.
son, tumble IN and handle the ropes;
Sanchez. fend of, and have an oar
ready. Now, then, tail on the rest OF
you. and let her go-easy. there easy!
Slide down the line everybody. and
cast off-oars. men. oars, or she'll
swamp us"
The dip OF the chains missed us by
the barest inch; then we swung clear,
tossed high on the creamy crest of a
huge roller. which enabled us TO look
straight down on the sloping deck.
is every one here?" asked.
"All but lem Cole. sir"
Cole, whore IS he?"
It was Johnson who answered.
well, all | know about It is,
hauled him out o the bunk. and shook
him wide awake Then left him to
60 out and rout ont Kelly. That's the
last saw of him. sir, but it's a sure
thing he amt here"
~ "HbNh HdN Hb4u Va me tHltE, avn
sprang forward. pushing past San.
chez. who was in the bow.
Lay her nose close in where can
jump for the chains" I ordered sharp
". I'VE can't leave Cole behind to
drown
1t was bit Of a ticklisA Job the way
the sea was running. and that humping
wreck sagefHg under. hut the mate
knew his trade. and, as the boat rose
high on the swell leaped and hung
on. my feet dangling In the froth. As
the sodden hull swung Keeling over
clambcred up. and dropped to the
deck. The missing negro was nowhere
in sight. leaned over. staring down
at the bObbing boat being hurled back
by the rebound Of the surge. yet see.
ing only the white face OF Doris up
turned appealingly toward me.
Pull out, boys; strong. now! Give
her plenty of room so she wont suck
You down when she drops. I've got
to try the cabin"
got aft that far even got fair.
ly within the door, and my ears caught
the dull. muilIcd sounds of blows he.
tween decks. My God. the fellow had
actually gone back into that icy hold
to dig for gold. AS stood there. trem.
bling. wondering If | could dare the
passage. felt sudden CULVER of the
deck, heard sharp. ripping sound
forward. a yell of mingled voices. and
turned and ran for the rail. With all
my strength flung myself forth
straight out into the gray sea. went
down, down. down. feeling as II the
very life was being sucked out Of me.
every muscle paralyZed by the icy
GOODNESS OF the water. As came up,
gasping, struggling. scarce able to
move cramped limb, the suction
caught me, dragging me back and
down again. | battled against It like
a mailman. every instant an agony:
and then, all at once. found the crest
and breathed in the welcome air, my
stifened limbs moving mechanically,
my brain thrObblng with pain. could
see nothing until huge roller flung
me upward. buifetinE my face with icy
spray. and there. below In the hollow,
tossed the long.boat. every pallid face
staring up at me. saw them fran
tically back water, as the great surge
hurled me down headlong | was he.
side them; they cmtched at me and
missed. The stern. swung suddenly
about by the blow of the sea, doomed
over me, and then my fingers grIpped
dripping oarbfade. God knows how
ever chung to 1t, wrenched by that
sea-how the strength remained in
my numbed hands: but some one
twisted boathook In The collar OF nv
jacket, and so they hauled ME, drip.
ping and half.conscious, over the gun.
vale. ! saw Doris looked into her
eyes. felt her hare hands on my
wet cheek. think It was the simple
touch OF her that gave me back life
and comprehension OF my condition. l
endeavored weakly 10 lift my head.
fighting against the awful numbness
that held me PROSTATE. Everything
seemed a dream. yet in that dream
heard De Nova's voice:
Take him for'ard care, dam quick.
Strip re wet clothes of, or he freeze
dead. By gar, jump you, Kelly, an
get blanket roun' him!"
! hardly know what they did, for |
scarcely retained sufficient life TO re-