Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-07-15
CHAPTER IN


mcl!|. cal never had he undertaken
8 taNh calling for greater courage ana
power of endurance than the one he
had this ui-at voluntarily assumed.
Overwhelmed a;:aiI aud again hy the
waves, each time he emerged with the
child tight against his breast. Half
struggled. he continued to fight on
l:ut II length even his logged OBJ
Sjnacy and determination began 10
flag, He fe't his strength going. when,
raiSing his eyes, he saw one of the
small craft from the lost vessel bear
ing directly down upon him.
The sight inspired new energy and
effort. Nearer, nearer, she drew; now
she was but few yards away. Then
suddenly the sheet Of the lifeboat
went out. and the little sail fiuttered
like = mad thing, while the men bent
with might and main over their ash
handles in the endeavor 10 obey the
commands Of the chief mate in the
stern. But despite skill and strength
she was not easy TO steer. Once she
nearly capsized; then eager hands
reached over the side. The convict
held up the child. A voice, the police
agents, called out that they had her.
and then the mate broke in with
harsh, warning yells.
Pull port, quick, or we're over"
And at once the Outreaching arms re-
turned quickly to their task. AS the
child was drawn in oars dragged and
'hn
about. shipping several barrels Of
water. At the same time some one
made the loOsened sheet taut, the can
vas caught the gust, and the craft
gained sufficient Roadway to enable
her TO run over and not be run down
by the seas. AS she careened and
plunged, racing down a frOthing dark
biliow, the convict, relieved Of his
burden, chung to the lower gunwale.
BY a desperate effort he drew him
self up. when face vaguely remem-
bered as part of bad dream looked
into his with 4 flash of surprise.
''Eh? Gimme Il hand"
The asked for hand swept suddenly
under the one grasping the side of the
boat and shot up sharply. In the
darkness and confusion no one saw the
act. The convict disappeared, but his
half articulate curses followed.
THE fellows let CO." muttered Lord
ROnsdale, with a SILVER.
At the steering oar the chief mate,
hearing the cries Of the man, cast a
swift glance over his shoulder and hes
itated. TO bring the boat, half filed
with water, around now meant inevi-
table disaster. One experiment Of the
sort had well nigh ended in their all
being drowned. He knew he was per-
sonally responsible for the lives in his
charge, and with but an instant In
which to decide he declined to repeat
the risk
Hes probably gone by this time,
anyhow" he told himself and drove on.
Hes done me-dOne mew the con-
Wet repeated to- himself And amt
never gOin' to git chance to fix him."
he thought and looked despairingly at
the sky. "Ain't never! The slobr'
And with food of almost sobbing
invective he let himself go.
But as the waters closed over him
and he sank his hand, reaching blindly
out to grip in imagination the foe,
touched something round. like SER
pent or an eel His fingers closed
about 1t. 1t proved to be line. He
drew himself along, and to his sur
prise found himself again on the sur
face and near great fragment Of
wreckage. This he might have discov-
cred earlier but for the anger and
hatred that had blinded him to all
wreak vengeance. Now. though he
managed to reach the edge of the
swaying mass from which the line
dangled. he was too weak 10 draw
himself ui' on the floating timbers.
But he did Eass loop beneath his
arms. and thus sustained he waited
for his s:ren::.;.i to return. Finally, his
mind in Il dize, the convict clambered,
after repeated efforts. upon the wreck
age. fastened the line about him again,
and, falling into saucer-like hollow,
he sank into Inconsistencies.
The night wore on. He did not move.
The sea began to subsidc. Still he lay
as If dead. Dawn's rosy lips kissed
away the black shadows. touched ten
DERBY the waves tops, and at length
the man stirred. He tried to sit up.
but ut first could not. Finally he rails
ed himself and looked about him.
No other sign Of the vessel than that
part of 1t which had served him 50
well could he see. This fragment
seemed rent from the bow. Yes, there
was the yellow wooden mermaid bob
bling to the waves. but not as of old.
Poor castout trollop! Now the seas
made sport Of her who once had held
her head so high.
The convict continued to gaze out
over the ocean. Far away dark
fringe broke the sea lire-a suggestion
of foliage-an island or mirage?
Tantalhing, it lay like a shadow. illu-
sive. unattainable us the forgotten
isles" The man staggered to his feet.
His garments were torn. His hair
hung over his brow. He shook his
al Ut tuC piliutdSy, ILLS
vain, empty vision. He regarded IL
now rs some savage creature might u
bone just out Of its reach. From his
lips vile words fell-to be suddenly
hushed. Between him and what he
gazed at along the range Of vision an
object on one of the projecting timbers
caught his eye. 1t was very small, but
1t cleaned like spark sprung from
the embers Of the dawn
''The dicky bird" His dried lips
tried to laugh. EFF it amt the dicky
bird" The bird looked at him. "Ef
that doesn't beat But he could not
think what it beat" The bird cock
ed its head. "Ain't you afeared O.
me-" 1t gave feeble chirp. well,
I'm dashedw said the man and after
this mild expression of his feelings
forgot to curse again.
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