Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-01-12

grew any stronger her sail, service
able as 1t had proved and stout as it
was, would be torn to pieces. The
silk braid had done splendid service,
but she marked that it was now
strained to the breaking point. Again
the helplessness of her position came
upon her. She could not take down
the sail. In the first place she was
afraid to leave the helm and III the
second place she realized that If she
started TO furl it she could only do 1t
by cutting the flashing and at the first
cut the whole thing would blow away.
So she held on. There was nothing
else to do
The night fell in burst of rain
which was most grateful to her, but
which was forecast of fiercer blow,
and at midnight the hurricane broke
in full force upon the little boat. The
first blast tore the sail from the lash
lngs. BY a lightning flash she caught
a glimpse OF it for second whirled
away like great bird. For some rea-
son, perhaps because one or two
shreds of cloth still chung to the mast.
and perhaps because the broad blade
of the oar offered some surface for
the thrust of the wind, she was able
by the exercise OF constant vigilance
and all the strength OF which she was
capable, to keep the boat before the
wind. Hitherto she had had no idea
OF the violence of the wave motion. 1t
was with difficulty that she kept her.
self from being dashed to pieces
against the sides or hurled overheard
il: the mad whirling and plunging to
which the launch was suddenly sub.
iected. 1t was caught up by one wave
utter another and driven on for hours.
Che could not tell how long. She lost
all consciousness of time and OF every
thing else except that she must cling
to the helm. The boat was still hurled
forward. One great wave after an.
other would seize her uplift her and
bear her on. The strain upon her arms
was terrific. She locked her teeth and
hung on. breathless. exhausted, yet de.
termined.
But there was limit to her powers
and she felt that 1t had been reached.
Yet she did not deliberately let go.
One final and terrific heave jerked
her away from the wheel. She fell
aprawling in the bottom OF the boat,
but had sense enough to lock her
',ands around thwart and lie there.
The launch broached-to In an instant
She was turned broadside to the
waves. Fortunately she did not cap.
size instantly and the next breaker
filled her. She lay. her gunwales flush
with the water. Her motion was still
violent, but less jerky She was swept
ever onward by the vast undulations
The indomitable woman clinging to
the tllwart managed to keep her head
out of the water. She realized that
that was the end and yet while she
! had remainder of strength, while
she could draw u flickering breath
she would not give up. The boat, be
ing water-logged, did not pitch SC
much as before. and she was able to
maintain her hold. although every
wave that broke over her drenched
! her again and again
| She wondered why the boat did not
/ sink and then she realized that the
/ empty gasoline tanks which she had
closed and locked. prevented the final
catastrophe; that the boat was In q
certain sense a life boat; that it would
float SO long as the water pressure
did not succeed in opening the tanks
/ Therefore. she was for the moment
/ safe. The only immediate danger
would be the capsiz .ng OF the boat
which would throw her out Since
the launch was already full OF water
I the woman did not think this was
/ likely to happen.
She held on. her vitality gradually
growing weaker hoping for the morn
Ing and an abatement of the storm
She had no idea OF time of course
She could not tell what the hour was
1t was still dark. however, when q
strange sound smote her ear. She
heard 1t above the wild scream OF the
wind and the awful beat of the waves.
1t WAS crashing sound, baftering
sound. a fearful, protentous sound,
The boat ran i0rw:rd more swiftly
now. She wondered the reason. TAX.
lug advantage OF brief luIl she
abandoned her grip on the thwart and