Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-06-09

tribute the strain. w nell eacn knOt
was securely fastened Coke vociferat.
ed u 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 ut the rope three
times, md 1t grew taut. Amid II jubi-
liant cry from the others he and Iris
were lifted clear OF the deck. At once
they were carried fully twenty feet
sen ward. 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 II few coils of Il
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 lie under
stood by gripping the rope between his
teeth. 1t was obvious that the rescu.
ers were working from n point well
overhanging the recess into which the
Andromeda had driven her bows. and
there might still be the utmost diff
Guilty In throwing rope accurately
from the rock to the wreck. AS II mat
ter Of fact. no less than six previous
attempts had beeu 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 1t 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 bnck when SOME sort of signal code
was established.
Once there was 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
crumbIing frame of the ship. II was
a fast diminishing scale. The figures
painted Oh the Androineda'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
30 L. .h.
by the fact that his dreaded ASSISTANTS
preferred the interior of the forecasile
10 the wave swept deck. He was the
only man there who had no fear Of
death. suddenly he began to Groom II
long forgotten sailors chanty.
Now. me lads. sing a stave Of the dead
man S mass
Yell never sail ONE again. oh.
We're twelve old salts an the skipper's
lass,
Marooned in the Spanish main. oh.
Sing hay
Sing no
A mixer is Davy Jones.
Just one more plug an Il swig at the jug
An up with the skull an bones"
After longer and faster haul than
had been noticed previously the rope
stopped second time Every one ex-
cept Watts was watching the whip
intently.
There she goes" yelled the sailor
In charge of the line. He began TO
haul in the slack like Il mailman.
dark form doomed downward
through the mist. 1t was Hozier. alone,
coming back to them. A frenzicd
cheer broke from the lips Of those
overwrought men. They knew what
that meant. Somewhere high above
the black rocks and the dying scud
was hope ihroncd in the blessed sun
shine. They drew him in cautiously
until Coke was able to grasp his hand
They were quick TO see that he brought
IL second rope and a spare whip.
Two at time on both ropes" was
his inspriting message. "They're
friendly Portuguese up there, but no
the island to find out what has be
come of the ship. SO step lively. Now
vnptain. tell 'em off in pairs"
Coke's method was characteristic.
He literally fell on the two nearest
men and began to truss them, Hozier
followed his example and tied two
others back 90 back. They vanished.
and the ropes returned. much more
speedily this time. Four and four
again were drawn mp to safety There
were left the captain. HoZier and the
unhappy Watts who was now crying
because the skipper had "set about
him just for "singin' reel ole wind
/ TANNER song"
"iOu must take up this swine" said
/ Coke TO Hozier. dragging Watts to his
feet with scant ceremony. IF ! lay
me 'ands on i'm III be tempted TO
throttle i'm"
Before quitting the deck Hozier help
ed to adjust the remaining rope around
the captains portly person. They were
/ lifted clear Of the trembling forecaste
almost simultaneously and in the very
nick Of time. Already the skeleton OF
the ships hull was beginning TO slip
off into deep water. The deck was
OF the vessels final impact against the
rocks. Even before the three reached
the ledge from which their rescuerS
were working the bridge and funnel
were swept away. the foremost fell
the forehold and forecastle were riot
ously flooded by the sea. and Watts
were he capable Of using his eyes
might have seen his deadly enemies
the rats. swarmlng in hundreds to the
Tiny Platform that still rose nhnXe The