The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-06-11

waves, each time he emerged with the
child tight against his breast. Half
strangled, he continued to fight on.
But at length even his logged OBJ
stinacy and determination began to
flag. He felt his strength going, when,
raising his eyes, he saw one Of the
small craft from the lost vessel bear
ing directly down upon him. ,.-. g. .~,-
The sight inspired new energy and
effort. Nearer, nearer, she drew; now
she was but few yards away. Then
suddenly the sheet of the lifeboat
went out, and the little sail futtered
like mad thing while the men bent
with might and main over their ash
handles in the endeavor to 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 overw
And at once the outreaching arms re-
turned quickly to their task. As the
child was drawn in oars dragged and
tugged. The lifeboat 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 Roadway 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, chung to the lower gunwale.
BY a desperate effort he drew HIM
self up, when face vaguely remem-
bered as part of bad dream looked
into his with fash of surprise.
"Eh? Gimme 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.
1.-THE fellows let co." muttered Lord
Ronsdale, with shiver.
At the steering oar the chief mate,
hearing the cries Of the man, cast a
swift glance over his shoulder and hes
itated. TO bring the boat, half filled
with water, around now meant inevi-
table disaster One experiment Of the
sort had we'll nigh ended in their all
being drowned. He knew he was per-
sonally responsible for the lives in his
charge, and 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 .mey'. the con-
vict repeated to himself. And I amt
never goin' to git chance to fix him, -
he thought and looked despairingly at
the sky. "Ain't never! The slob!'
{ And with a flood Of almost sobbing
! invective he let himself go.
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 SER
pent or an eel. His fingers closed
about it. 1t proved to be a line. He
drew himself along, and to his sur
prise found himself again on the sur
face 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 to reach the edge Of the
swaying mass from which the line
dangled, he was too weak to draw
himself up on the floating timbers.
But he did pass a loop beneath his
arms, and thus sustained he waited
for his strength to return. Finally, his
mind in a daze, the convict clambered,
! after repeated efforts, upon the wreck.
! and, falling into saucer-lke hollow,
| he sank into unconsciousness.
The night wore on. He did not move
The sea began to subside. Still he lay
as if dead. Dawn's rosy lips kissed
away the black shadows, touched ten
derby the waves tops, and at length
the man stirred. He tried to sit up
but at first could note Finally he rails
ed himself and looked about him.
No other sign of the vessel than that
part Of 1t which had served him sc
well could he see. This fragment
seemed rent from the bow. Yes, there
was the yellow wooden mermaid bob
bling to the waves, but not as of old
Poor castout trollop! Now the seas
made sport of her who once had held
her head so high! ~
The convict continued to gaze out
over the ocean. Far away q dark
fringe broke the sea line-a suggestion
Of foliag-an island or q mirage?
Tantalizing, it lay like a shadow, illu-
sfve, unattainable as the forgotten
isles" The man staggered to his feet.
| His garments were torn. His hair
hung over his brow. He shook his
arms at the island-this phantasy, this