Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-06-25
CHATTER III.
AAe 20.
Az UNAPrREcIArEp BouNrY

n the prime of his belligerent ca
reer the Pet of Frisco had under
gone many fierce contests and
withstOod some terrible punish
ments, but never had he undertaken
a task calling for greater courage and
power of endurance than the one he
had this night voluntarily assumed
Overwhelmed again and again by the
waves, each time he emerged with the
child tight against his breast. Half
igtrangled, he continued to fight on.
But at length even his dogged OBJ
stinacy and determination began to
Gag. He felt his strength going, when.
araising his eyes. he saw one Of the
small craft from the lost vessel bear
ing directly down upon him.
4 The sight inspired new energy and
.efort. Nearer. nearer, she drew; now
she was but few yards away, Then
hasuddenly the sheet of the lifeboat
went out, and the little sail Iuttered
like a mad thing, while the men bent
with might and main over their ash
handles in the endeayor 20 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 overt"
And at once the outreaching arms re-
turned quickly to their task. AS the
child was drawn in oars dragged and
tugged. The llfeboat came slowly
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 headway to enable
her to run over and not be run down
by the seas. AS she careened and
plunged, racing down a frothing dark
billow, the convict relieved of his
burden, clung to the lower gunwale
BY desperate effort he drew him
self up. when a face vaguely remem-
bered as part of bad dream looked
into his with flash of surprise
"Eh? Gimme a 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 shiyer
At the steering oar the chief mate,
hearing the cries OF the man, cast a
swift glance over his shoulder and hes
itated. 10 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, Ee knew he was per
s0nhlly responsible for the lives in his
charge. aud 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
"He's done me-done mel" the con-
vict repeated to himself "And / ain't
never goin' to git u chance to fix him."
he thought and looked despairingly at
the sky. "Ain't never The slob!"
And with a food OF almost sobbing
inYectiye he let himself 60
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 n SER
pent or an eel. His fingers closed
about II. 1t proved TO be "A line He
drew himself along, and 10 his sur
prise found himself again on the sur
faco and near a great fragment of
wreckage This he might have discov-
cred earlier but for the anger and
hatred that had blinded him to all |
save the realization of his inability TO
wreak vengeance, Now, though he |
managed 20 reach the edge OF the |
swaying mass from which the line |
dangled, he was too weak 10 draw |
himself up ON the floating timbers,
But he did pass loop beneath his |
arms, and thus sustained he waited |
for his strength TO return. Finally, his
mind 10 a daze, the convict clambered, |
after repeated efforts, upon the wreck
age. fastened the line about him again,
aud. falling into saucer-lke hollow, |
ne sank into Inconsistencies.
The night wore on. He did not move.
The sea began 10 subside. still he lay
as II dead. Dawns rosy lips kissed
away the black shadows touched ten
derly the waves tops, and az length
tho man stirred He tried to sit up,
hut al iirst could not Finally he rails
ed himself and looked about him.
No other sign OF the vessel than that
part OF II which had served him 30
well could he see. This fragment
seemed rent from the bow. Yes. there
was the yellow wooden mermaid bob
bing 20 the waves. but not as OF OLD
Poor eastout trollopl Now the seas
made sport Of her who once had bella
her head 10 hight