The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-05-13

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end of it stretched into the in
finity of dripping rock and flying spray
overhead. And it had been thrown by
friendly hands. 1t dangled from some
unseen ledge.
Coke and Hozier recovered the use
of their faculties simultaneously. The
eyes of the two men met. but Coke was
the first to find his voice.
Salvage. by Jove!" he cried. up
you go, HoZier! I'll sling the girl be-
hind you. She can't manage it alone,
an it needs some one with brains to
fix things up there for the rest of u.s."
And he added hoarsely in Philips ear:
"Sharp's the word. We 'avent many
minutes"
Iris permitted Coke and sailor TO
strip off a life belt and tie her and
Hozier back to back. 1t was wonder
full. though hidden from her ken in
that supreme moment, to see how they
devised a double sling in order TO dis
tribute the strain. When each knot
was securely fastened Coke vociferat.
ed a mighty "Heave away"
But his powerful voice was drowned
by the incessant roar of the breakers.
Not even the united clamor of every
man present. fifteen all told. including
the drunken chief officer. could make
itself heard above the din. Then Ho-
zier tugged sharply at the rope three
times, and it grew taut. Amid Il jubi-
liant Cry from the others he and Iris
were lifted clear Of the deck. At once
they were, carried fully twenty feet
seward. AS they swung back. not
quite so far and now well above the
level of the windlass from which their
perilous journey had started, a ready
witted sailor seized Il few coils of a
thin rope that lay tucked up in the
angle of the bulwarks and flung them
across Hozier's arms.
Take whip with you. sir" he yell
ed. and Philip showed that he under
stood by gripping the rope between his
teeth. 1t was obvious that the rescu-
ers were working from a point well
overhanging the recess into which the
Andromeda had driven her bows. and
there might still be the utmost diff
Guilty in throwing a rope accurately
from the rock to the wreck. AS mat
ter of fact, no less than six previous
attempts had been made. and the sue
cess of the seventh was due solely to
a favorable gust of wind hurting into
the cleft at the very instant ii was
needed. The sailors quick thought
solved this problem for the future. BY
| tying the small rope to the heavier one
those who remained below could haul
it back when some sort of signal code
was established.
| Once there was a check. They wait
ed anxiously but there was no sign
given by the frail rope that they were
to haul in again. Then the upward
movement continued.
Chunk o. rock in the way" an
nounced Coke, glaring round at the
survivors as if to challenge contradic-
ton. No one answered. These men
were beginning to measure their lives
against the life of the wedge of iron
and timber kept in position by the
crumbling frame of the ship. 1t was
a fast diminishing scale. The figures
painted on the Andromeda's bows rep
resented minutes rather than feet.
Watts was lying crouched on deck,
with his arms thrown round the wind
lass. Looking ever for fresh incur
sion Of rats, he seemed to be cheered
by the fact that his dreaded assailants
preferred the interior of the forecastle
to the wave swept deck. He was the
only man there who had no fear of
death. Suddenly he began to Groom q
long forgotten sailors chanty:
Now me lads, sing stave of the dead
mans mass
Yell never sail 'ome again. oh!
We're twelve old salts an the shippers
lass,
Marooned in the Spanish main. oh!
Sing hay
Sing no.
A mixer is Davy Jones.
Just one more plug an a swig at the jug.
An up with the skull an bones!'
After a longer and faster haul than
had been noticed previously the rope
stopped a second time. Every one ex-
cept Watts was watching the whip
intently.
There she goesv' yelled the sailor
in charge of the line. He began to
haul in the slack like mailman.
A dark form loomed downward
through the mist. 1t was Hozier, alone,
coming back to them. A frenzied
cheer broke from the lips of those
overweight men. They knew what
that meant Somewhere high above
the black rocks and the flying scud
was hope throned In the blessed sun
shine. They drew him I'm cautiously
until Coke was able to grasp his hand.
They were quick to see that he brought
q second rope and spare whip.
1.-TWO at time on both ropes" was
his inspiriting message. They're
friendly Portuguese up there, but no
one must be seen IL boat is sent from
the island to find out what has be-
come of the ship. So step lively! Now,
captain, tell 'em off In pairs"
Coke's method was characteristic.
He literally fell on the two nearest