Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-03-10

aud Inc whipped spray leaped twenty
feet in the air.
Had 1t not been for Yamate's hand
at the tiller, the catboat would also
have crashed and crumpled in like
a birch canoe; but obedient to his
touch. It turned aside from the out.
standing rock and drove on yet far
ther toward the solid abutment of the
mainland, that could not be lodged.
Still the daring Japanese had no
sight of Nakamura. Upon the tumul-
tuous surface Of the water was strewn
the contents of the boat; there was
a floating mass of corks and lines,
an empty can, the two oars and a
basket. but Of the man not sign.
Then an indistinguishable mass OF
some kind dubbed up within a cou.
pie Of yards of the stern. 1t did not
come quite to the surface, but va
mate lost not an instant. He took
a turn Of the sheet about the cleat,
grabbed with the other hand a gan,
and leaned far out over the gunwale.
He secured and pulled up the OBJ
ject. 1t was the empty coat. But
In the same instant his quick eye
caught sight of second shadow In
the waters, which rapidly assumed
the shape OF black head of hair.
Yamate hooked again and brought
up Nakamura by the arm.
With his stomach over the tiller,
and so holding 1t, he heaved his coun-
tryman inboard. In the next instant
he did three things-resumed the
tiller, loosed the sheet from the cleat,
and turned his attention upon the
sea. He was none too agile. The
boat had swung round broadside to
the waves, and billow of no mean
Size was less than six yards distant.
There was but one chance OF escap.
ing ito slack OF before the wind,
to drive in still closer to the wall of
rock. This Yamate did, letting go
the sheet upon the instant the craft
came round and taking the sea upon
the stern. The distance lost was ap.
palling; 1t seemed that the grip of
the wave would not loose until it had
borne them to the very rocks. The
instant 1t passed, Yamate jerked in
the sheet to bring the boat about;
but 1t was not to be. A second more
followed so closely that once more
he had to turn back. Then Yamate
for an instant lost hope, for GER.
tainly If no time were given him be-
tween breakers to turn, he could not
draw out of them. Boats do not sail
backward
Small as his hope had become, how
ever, the Japanese stood alert at helm
and sheet. To his Joy, he saw that
the third was far behind the two
that had fallen in such quick success.
sion. Amidst the furry, even before
the billow had passed, he bore over
the tiller and stood away.
The boat came whirling round and
sped down through the foaming
trough of water with the speed Of a
gull. So close 1t was upon the rocks.
that the boom end almost scraped
IN turning; SO close, too, that the un-
dertow helped to sweep it back. But
although the boat lived, there was
the whole tumbling line OF breakers
that stood between her and safety,
Still she was headed toward the
open sea, and for Yamate that was
enough to stir hope, although he knew
that every inch of the way must be
fought for against wind and wave.
With the sheet somewhat free to
acquire momentum, he ran off on
long tack almost parallel with the
shore.
When the foremost wave reached
him he shot up int and through
without misfortune, and Immediately
Stacked away again to get up speed
for meeting the second.
His eye meanwhile swept the whole
belt of breakers, where three already
definitely formed waves were racing
toward him. The first two were Of
moderate size, gathering height and
momentum as they advanced; but the
third and most remote sent chill
to his heart. 1t was far out, rising
so high as to shut out the horizon,
and looked to the troubled sailor like
an unstable mountain ridge coming
against him.
While the spell of that sight held
him, the nearest of the three waves
fell upon his starboard bow. Al.
though he had mechanically forced
over the tiller TO meet it, the boat
was not fully in position; and in con-
sequence sea-water came over the
gunwale.
Yamate did what he could to bring
the craft properly up, and then, as
the breaker passed, stood away as
before. One favoring circumstance
did not desert him-the breeze swept
in from the sea without gust or lull.
But for that he would before now
have come to grief.
Up came the tremendous ridge OF
water, rising higher and higher,
growing thinner and thinner. AL
ready the crest was forming and
glints of white were beginning to
show. The wind caught away the
comb and made of 1t streaming pen.
nants of mist. So high and thin the
water lowered that 1t became trans.
lucent green, beautiful but omirous.
Meanwhile the intervening billow was
threatening the desperate Japanese
sailor. 1t was perfectly able to over
whelm the boat If allowed to catch It
ibroadside. and in the absence of its
overtowering pursuer, 1t would have
caused anxiety. But Yamate met and
cut through 1t without taking aboard
a drop.
So closely followed the mountain.
Gus mass of the great third wave that
the Japanese did not attempt an.
other tack. He sprang Immediately
forward. tore the mast from its step,
and with all his might heaved It. to.
gether with sail and rigging into the
sea. Then back he ran into the
stem-sheets and again caught the
tiller.
Down upon them came the smother
OF foam. The seethipg flood poured