Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08
The Rock
Continued from page s

him. looking around at the prospect. Since
had gone aloft the wind had hauled to the north
and died down to gentle breeze, which barely
ruff1ed the very slight ground swell 1t was not
the pressure of this wind that had driven the
ship over the rock until she hung, pvoted, at
point near the stern; it the ships
mentum. The wind however had swung her
head to the south, and it was bringing down on
cold. damp fog out of the north, which al
ready had shut out the moon and rendered in
distinct the forms of the men at work on the
boats. | could see, however. that the bow had
settled nearly under, and knew that it was only
a question of moments when the ship would
slide head first down the declivity. | ran for
ward, and just as started a report rang out
from the after companion and bullet furrowed
my hair. had forgotten Macklin but had
moved Just in time
Furious with anger and hatred halted in
the alley and reached for my revolver; but it
was gone from my pocket olted out perhaps
we jumped off the poop. So | left Macklin
to his own problem and joined the men.
There were two wha'eboats, which we had
carried upside down on the forward house. and
when | got there found that the men, sailors
all from head to foot, had turned them over
fitted in the bottom plugs. and bent long
painters that led forward outside the rigging
There was no time to rig hosting tackles aoft
nor was there need, as gang to each could
launch them bodily over, one on either side
Sailors all, from head to feet, but wild
haltersi | considered my chance in an open
boat with that crowd, and thought of my gun
lying somewhere aft on the main deck. Re
solved to risk another shot from Macklin rather
than my chance unarmed among the men. |
turned back watching the cabin windows with
one eve, and searching the deck with the other
but saw no gun, and perhaps Macklin did not
me- for there was no more shooting.
Giving it up at last, / ran forward as both
boats went over the side and the men were tum-
bling into them. As | ran noticed the sleeper
incline to the deck, and that the forecastle was
submerged; but l was not prepared for the
sudden launch of the ship into the sea, nor the
sickening crash of riven timbers as her after
body torn away, which drowned my
shouts to the men.
TN roaring, yeasty froth of tumultuous water
went under and when at last came to the
surface, half drowned | was alone on the sea.
hidden from the boats by the thick enve1op of
fog. l shouted, and was answered family; but
not able to determine the direction the sound
came from. could only shout again and tread
water hoping to make sure.
But | could not make sure; sound is
twisted around amazingly in fog, and little by
little the calls grew fainter. was tired out al
ready, and my useless right arm ached with the
hard usage it had lately received. In the next
few minutes, while my chin sank lower and
lower in the water, l thought of about every
incident of my life; but Just as the first mouth
full went down my throat my right foot hit
something, and the next moment was stand
ing it, hard. firm substance which could
be nothing but the rock.
AT first l found difficulty in holding my
footing, until realized that | must breast
current of about half knot; but when had
mastered the knack found no trouble. Feel
ing carefully with my feet | explored the
anIf o11 -