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


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 10 look
straight down on the sloping deck.
Is every one here" l asked.
"All but Jem Cole. sir"
Cole, where is he?"
II was Johnson who answered.
We'll. all ! know about It is,
hauled him out o the bunk. and shook
him wide awake. Then left him to
go out and rout ont Kelly That's the
last saw Of him. sir. but IT'S a sure
thing he amt here"
De Nova had hold OF the tiller. and
| sprang forward. pushing past Sar.
chez. who was in the bow.
Lay her nose close in where can
jump for the chains" ordered sharp.
". I'VE can't leave Cole behind to
drown"
II WIS Bit Of ticklisl job the way
the sea was running. and that Jumping
wreck saEging under. hut the mate
knew his trade. and. as the boat rose
high on the swell. | lcappd and hung
on. my feet dangling In the froth. as
the sOdden hull swung Keeling over |
clambcred mp. and dropped to the
deck. The missing negro was nowhere
in sight. | leaned over. staring down
at the bnbbing 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 won't 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 mulIled 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 il 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 alt
my strength flung myself forth
Straight ont into the gray sea. went
down. down. down, feeling as If 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 II like
madman. every instant an agony:
and then. all at once. I 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. buifctinE my face with icy
spray. and there. below I'm the hollow.
''|H bHt lbhP-uuh's tN'TN pdlllu ldCe
staring up at me. | saw them fran
tically hack water. as the great surge
hurled me down headleRg. was he.
side them; they clutched at me and
missed. The stern. swung suddenly
about by the blow OF the sea. doomed
over me, and then my fingers gripped
n dripping Oar.blade. God knows how
ever chung to II, wrcnched by that
sea--how the strength. remained in
my numbed hands; but some one
twisted a boathook In The collar OF my
jacket, and so they hauled me. drip
ping and half.consciOus. over the gun.
vale. saw Doris. looked into her
eyes felt her bare hands on my
wet cheek, think II was the simple
touch OF her that gave me back life
and comprehension OF my condition. I
eudeayored weakly TO 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 zare, dam quick.
Strip re wet clothes OF, or he freeze
dead. By gar, jump you, Kelly, an
get blanket roun' himl"
hardly know what they did, for
scarcely retained sufficient life to re.