The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-06-24

Win q crack ner sail mapped 1ull ana
rigid: then. with the untempcred
might Of the wind behind her. she shot
like an arrow under the brigantine's
bows. so close that the bowsprit Of the
latter first threatened TO impale the
sail: next. the bows plunging. crashed
down bare two feet behind the cat
boats stern.
Working In frenzy Of haste. Kirk
wood jammed the tiller hard alec.
bringing the cat about. and. trimming
lne mainsheet rs best he might. found
himself racing under the brigantine's
leeward quarter. water pouring In gen
rrously over the cats.
Luffing. he edged nearer handling
his craft as though intending to ram
the larger vessel. foot by foot short
aning the little interval When 1t was
four feet he would risk the jump. He
crawled out on the overhang, crouch.
ing on his toes. one hand light upon
the tiller. the other touching the deck.
ready-ready.
Abruptly the Alethea shut or the
wind: the sail fiattened and the cai
dropped back. In a second the dis.
tance had doubled. In anguish Kirk
wood uttered an exceeding bitter cry.
Already he was falling far or her
counter.
A shout reached him. He was dimly
conscious Of dark object hurtling
through the air. Into the cockpit,
splashing. something dropped-a coil
Of rope. He fell forward upon IT into
water eighteen inches deep and 70.
the first time realized that but for that
line he had gone to his drowning In an
other minute. The cat was sinking.
As he scrambled to his feet clutch
ing the life line. a heavy wave washed
over the waterlogged craft and left 4
all but submerged. and smart tug or
the rope added point to the advice
which. reaching his ears In below
like a bulls, penetrated the panic ol
his wits.
Jump! Jump, you fooiw
In an instant Of conference he saw
that the brigantine was luffing. None
the less much Of the line had already
been paid out. and there was no reck
oning when the end would be reached
Without time 10 make Il fast he hitch
ed II twice round his waist and chest
once round an arm. and. grasping i
above his head TO ease its construction
when the tug should come. leaped OF
the combing and overheard. A greer
roaring avalanche swept down upoi
him and the luckless catboat, over
whelming both simultaneously.
The agony that was his during I'll,
next few minutes can by no means b,
exaggerated. His senses were blotted
out in blackness. Then he was breath
ing once more, the keen clean air stab
bling his lungs. the while he swan un
supported In an ethereal void OF bril-
lance. His mouth was full of some
thing that burned. liquid hot. acrid
and stinging. lie gulped. swallowed
slabbered. chokcd. coughed. attempted
TO sit up. was aware that he was the
focal center Of ring Of glarIng. burn
ing eyes. like eyes OF ravening beasts
and tainted.
His next conscious impression was
OF standing up. supported by friendly
arms on either side. while somebody
was asking him II he could walk 8
step or two.
He was partly seated. partly held up
on the edge Of the cabin skyllght. az
object OF interest to some half dozer
men. seafaring fellows all. by thei,
habit. clustered round between hin
and the windward rail- OF their mum
Der one stood directly before him
dwnrfing his companions as much b,
his air Of command ms by his uncom
mon heigiIt-tall. thin faced and sal
low, with hollow. weatherworn cheeks
mouth like crooked cash from eal
TO ear and eyes like dying Goals. Will
which be looked the rescued up an,
down In one grim. semi-humorous
seml-speculative glance. In hands boil
huge and red he fondled tenderiy /
squat brandy flask whose contents hat
apparently been employed as a frs
aid 20 the drowning.
As Kirkwood's gaze encountered hi
the man smiled sourly, jerking hii
head 70 one side with slngularly dc
risivc air.
"Hi. matcyw he clustered. "'Ov
goes II now? Feelln' 'appicr. eighf'
"Somc. thank you : more like I
drowned rat" klrkwood eyed hin
sheepishly. II suppose you're the maj
who threw me that line? I'll have I,
wait til my head clears up before
can thank you properly"
"Don't mention t." lie Of the Ian
tern Jaws slowed the bottle away witt
Jealous care IN one OF his immense
coat pockets and seized Kirkwood'i
hand IN a grasp that made the youns
man vince. YOU'RE syfe enough now
My nymc's Stryker, Capt'n wiiyun
strykcr. wot's the row. Lookin' foi
fricndI- he demanded suddenly al
Rirkwood's attention, wandered.
AYES; your passengers. presume
they're below