The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-07-09

His orders came in crisp, explosive nautical
terms that q greenhorn could not have under
stood, and his voice, when he raised 1t for the
benefit Of a crowd on the foretopgallant-yard,
sounded like the blast Of trumpet. There
was no mistaking his caliber, and no man
required the repetition Of an order.
II struck us squarely from astern when Il
came, and for few moments there was a
swapping, singing and whistling Of things that
made us think tie spars we're going. But
nothing carried Away, and we sped on, dead
before it. for il was fair wind, until the rising
rea threatened to board u.s. Until now the
ca9tain was loath to heavc to, but when be
did decide he chose the port tack.
But the wind increased, and with It the
sea- Again we reefed that spanker, then took
in the mizzentopsail, leaving the ship snug
enough for anything short Of a hurricane
under maintopsail, reefed spanker and fore
topmast staysail. But even this was too
much, and soon we thought that hurricane
was hardly the word for the solid pressure of
wind that hove us down until the lee rail was
buried, and the water up to the combings Of
the main hatch. The captain ordered the
maintopsail goose winged that is, furled on
the weather side, and / started forward %
rouse the men to this task, barely saving my
self at the main rigging from going over TO
leeward With sea by clinging tightly to the
coils. But the next sea took something else;
before had shaken the water out of my eyes,
! dimly saw cloaked figure creep cautiously
out Of the forward companion, cropping with
outstretched hands for the weather rail; then
that sea, breaking over my head with stun
ming force, swept on over the lee rail, and
when locked again, the black cloak framed a
frightened, white face on the water, half a
length to ,eeward. threw off my oilskins
and boots, sang out "man overheard" ard
when the next sea came wen. with it. The
sea was a great help; it sent ne within three
fathoms Of the girl, and with few strokes
reached her. Her clothing had supported
her head out Of water, and she was screaming.
"all right, lfiss McTavish," said cheer
ily as could. "I'm here, and they'll send a
boat" She quieted as she heard my voice
and trustfully obeyed my instructions not to
struggle, to permit me to remain behind her
and beneath, with my hands under her arms.
He'd that .opsail been furled or even goose
winged, there is no doubt that the ship, with
no hesdway except from the staysail and
spanker, would have drifted down upon US;
as it was she forged ahead and we passed
under her stern, the sgonized face Of Captain
McTavish looking down upon us. He threw
the end Of the spanllsr sheet, but it fell short
and was soon dragged away. There were no
life buoys.
And so It lasted-an hour to me, but pos
sibly ten minutes-until peep over my
shoulder showed me the white boat drifting
stern first away from the ships quarter, six
men shipping the oars, and Finnegan erect in
the stern sheets, directing them. shouted,
and they must have heard, for they headed
my way, and pulled furiously. But it was
my swimming THAI brought us together, and
was nearly exhausted WHEN the bow oarsman
shipped his oar and seizsd the girl. Next
vss seized myself and W. were both pulled in
You did well, tsmn wsl!, Mr.. Williams,
shouted Finnegan, hs eyts sparkling with ex.
citement, and his voice taking on the accent
that excitement always brings to the speech
Of Anglicized foreigners. Lift the young
lady att where there's ROOM"
She was conscious, but weak, and the men
tenderly lifted her back to the stern sheets
where she sat- trembling and white Of face
near Finnegan. The boat was in the trough
and he was about to straighten her back to a
course for the ship, now quarter Of mile
away, when he stopped over the girl and fin,
gered a lockct that had been drawn with it:
chain from beneath her dress.
Where, Miss McTavish," he asked in q
shaken voice, adid you get dis locket7"
could hear his voice indistinctly over the wind
but, though saw her lips move, ! could moi
near her response.
"Your mother?" he shouted, in answer
"Your mother gave it to your" He opened
it, looked at the inner face, and said. /:
dis your mutter's picturel"
Her answer seemed to be negative. Per
haps she did not know Of picture.
"And your name, your first name'"
Again saw her lips move. The men neal
me began grumbing at the delay; but 81
lenced them
"Not Mary" continued Finnegan, his fac'
strained and intense der name they cal
you when leetle--when youwere leetle grip
She had hardly replied when he dropped
the tiller, and put both big arms around her
'Hedwig, Hedwig," he groaned. IN,
leetle girl Hcdwig."
He drew her white, wondering face to hi
own, kissing her repeatedly on cheek and lips
until the wonder in her face gave way L
fright He took her in his arms, and rocke'
back and forth, the tears streaming down hi
face, and her nanie coming brokenly from hi
lips. Then she screamed, and he stopped
:, ka~ ~, fl. caaf and focad ,,s