The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-06-25
THE LAST
MOMENT
3, J. OLIVIER
Copyright. by Bobbs-Merrill Coz

III ~ d OL1v1Gk iii
Copyright. by Bobbs-Merrill Coz
Connoly, head and shoulders out OF
the cabin, was in time to see Svenson,
the Swede, burst like a maniac from
the group Of men fighting like shadows
In the mist of the forward pump. He
caught family his yell Of defiance as
Flick, the second officer, ran out from
among the shadows and intercepted
him with a blow from a knotted fist
that sent him Keeling into the drown
ing wash of the sea. He shouted as
the little gray man followed up Sven
sons huge bulk. like a terrier, and
other figures staggered out OF the
binding spume, naked armed, bare
chested, with Svenson's panic gleam'
lng in their eyes. Flick saw him as
he came across the deck and planted
his back against the port davit, where
the tops Of the sea swept over him
in smothering rushes.
They've left the pumps!" he
shouted as Connolly came up. Tn
damned"
A ton of water breaking over the
rail sent him Keeling out among the
men. He picked himself up and stag
gered to Connolly. his thin, gray-beard-
ed face questioning him eagerly.
"She's a little better. boys!" shouted
the captain. But we can't take her
ont into that" ,
He pointed out into the grayness OF
the sea, broken only by the foaming
tops that rode rail-high with the ship.
my God, men, no boat would
live
The voice of q seaman rose almost
In Z shrek.
Were full! We're full to Z foot OF
the matches, I tell y! She's got to
90 now or never!"
There was sullen assent in a dozen
water.blistered eyes. From early
morning until noon these men had
chung to Z sinking ship because each
cherished In him q memory OF the
woman. Because Of her they had
fought until their hands bed and
their breath came in gasps. They
had watched the schooner settle incl
by inch and foot by foot, struggling
stubbornly for the precious minutes
which would give life to her, until
arms hung limp and ehOrtless and
men fell exhausted upon the deck
when others took their turns at the
pumps. And above them all Svenson
had worked and urged and cursed
those whose nerve began to faAl them
until, when the last minute seemed
riding on each white-crested rush o.
the sea-, something broke within him
and he turned In his despair to the
boats. It was Svenson now WHO
rushed to the falls. In an instant Con
molly was among the panic-strcken
men.
You can't live in that seal" be
shouted. Fight It out another hour,
men-one more hour!"
The schooner rode more easily now.
She had settled until the resistance
she gave to the e was as solid as
that q . mass Of steel, and the ram.
ming Of her sideJ only sent Earring
throes through her timbers. as
though . thousand-ton weight touched
her gently each time she was struck
A few minutes more, q sudden sweep
Of water over the rail, and Connolly
knew that she would 60 down. quietly
and without sensation, but with mer
,ciful quickness. He turned toward
the cabin. and ct the threshold Of the
door that led to where the woman lay
he paused for an instant and fought
for the strength that he knew he
would need. Then he opened It and
entered. At the end q the a
woman lay UPON . cot, her strangely
white faee turned expectantly toward
ths door. As Connoly came through
she smiled. and her beautiful eyei
brightenea with . glad light.
ut has seemed 90 long. Jim," she
rid, her voice rising barely above q
whisper. THE storm frightens me
But it, quieter now. isn't iii"
Yes, deari"
The man took Oh his dripping hal