Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-30

the green sea and the seethng foam that raced to the
shore
They're awkward" the mate admitted. Con
fonidedly awkward If we could get through them I'd
bet ten to the lot of reaching the shore alive
You can't drown in half minute. Well, some of US
will get through. It's the only chance Take long
breath before you start"
Can't you get a rope ashore?" was asked, the way
they do at wrecks-so that we could go down it?
"Ye-es" said the chief officer. a. might get rope
ashore but you couldn't hold I've cradle to
UP and down it. No. You'll have to jump"
That is the only thing left to do. Who'll go frsta"
The man and the woman looked at each other.
ave will" he said and she nodded approval.
you'd better go singly," an old sailor advised.
"There1 be chance of slipping between the snags,
you If you're tied together and gets caught
you'll both be done for
The bounder man slapped him on the shoulder.
And suppose that's what they wisha" he said Eth,
my old sport?
"Ah-h!" said the old sailor "Ahh! That makes
it all the more pity" He looked at the cord which fas-
tened them together and suddenly he laughed exctedy
and turned to the chief officer.
The very idea, sir! he said " If you got cable
ashore we'd sling EN- it in pars-et the rope be-
tween EN- slide down it, don't you see? They could
hold each other, and keep it from slipping off"
The chief officer and several of the men rushed away
and came back with Irvine and ropes. They fastened
some balls of Irvine together and bound end round
plank Then they threw the plank overheard, and the
current carried it swiftly toward the rocks 1t struck
one of the snags, and leapt violently into the air Then
it the beach, and of the sailors secured it,
and waved his
"Ah!" said the old sailor that's Bill He under
stands. He was life-boat once, Bill Look!
He's telling the rest"
He waved his arm in reply, and fastened a thin
rope and the dragged it ashore by the wine and
then by the line they pulled in hawser-several
;oin "a A lash the and
children assisted to haul, standing in long Then
the men held the end and the and children held
the line attached to it.
Those aboard secured their end firmly to the ship,
carrying it up to the stanchons of the platform round
the captains cabin to give much elevation as pos
sibe; and then their comrades ashore pulled as aut
as they could-tuggng hard that the poop of the ship
moved yards nearer the breakers. The sailors subst-
tued stouter rope for the cord between the and
the woman, tied loop in the end of the rope and
creased make it easily. They put it
the hawser first that would hang at each side,
and told them to hold each other firmly Then two or
three men held them the side ready to start.
"Now," asked the chief officer are you ready?"
"Wish each other luck" said the bounder man.
Don't mind usl
The woman smiled at him. bravely.
"God bless you ALL" she said. "There are more good
people in the world than thought Good-by"
She lifted her face to the and they kissed each
other.
"God bless you'll" he said.
"Go!" cried the chief officer, giving them mighty
push and they slid swiftly down the Sagging hawser,
through the drenching foam that sprang up from the
rocks and nearly took their breath away holding each
other more and more tightly and rocking swiftly from
side to side.
At first they went very fast; but the rope sagged
their motion slower and slower; and though the
rope between them passed the joins in the hawsers
the obstacles checked their speed. Then their feet
dragged in the foam and they moved very very slowly,
till at last the began dragging at their feet and
the oldest sailor ashore yelled out sharply:
Lower 'em Lower EN-! The current II fetch
'em!"
And suddenly they splashed in the water and the
foam flew all them; and sailor waist-deep in the
water and holding others in chain seized them and
dragged them on to the beach And without waiting to
be united they joined the rest in hauling at the
for the passage of the next pair who already at
the ships side but as they pulled they kept smiling at
each other.
"Oh!" she whispered once "And we thought life
ordinary"
All their friends ashore at last The chief officer
and the "bounder man the final pair, and arrived
couple of minutes before the remains of the old ship
broke up and disappeared, They heavy men and
swung their legs and landed unaded with run; and
then sailor cut the couples adrift. When he severed
the only lady from her companion he grinned.
"The next time you're tied up, he prophesied, =" it'll
be knot that can't be cut-a parsons knot
And the bounder beamed on them benevoently-
he felt as though he would like to lend some dol
lar he said.
"Tll go and see it DONE" he asserted, whether I'm
asked not"
Three weeks later when passing steamer had car
ried them off to England, he asked, and went. He
gave the bride a wonderful gold ornament fashioned
like a fragment of rope tied in sailor-like way.
"The parsons knot" he informed them, and the chief
officer who was also asked to the wedding took it up
and smiled.
1--WE don't call it that" he said eve call it true
lovers knot"
"That" said the bounder man, with beaming smile,
is what it will bel"