New-York tribune., 1911-03-19
.,,>,n.x MAGAZINE FOR MARCH 49, 1911
RAJA

RAJJA

her cgurehead. She was coming to her
death. stripped of all that could help her'
with her ewes open. When she struck, heav-
ing herself up like a despairing ship taking a
last breath, groanS from the men on inc
beach mingled with the grinding and thump'
ing and ripping of broken SparS and plankS;;
"Now they got hcr-the rocks has grlppcd
her hard." a man cried. a powerful blg
clipper. she is. an'-Lord. they's mort
people aboard-women too. go,
"Her main an mizzen's Standlng-Wc II
get a line to her. all right. Carnahan cried.
"On'v wisht she'd swing broadSide bit, =
that mainmast looks wabbly fer TAR Shot.
The brceches buoy-that life defending
weapon of the life savers on the Atlantic sea-
board-was already framed up and IN place
and a dozen brawny hands ready WIN
the hawser. 1t remained only to shoot tfle
hauling line out. and BrcSlin was already un-
limbcring the mortar. am -
"Ready," Carnahan said. and, "Ready.
the answer came back doubtiuly. On the
wrecked ship a flare from the forecastlc
showed the people crowded on deck and
men in the maintop The gun exploded. the
vh;tc lifeline Kissed out of its coils in the box
waycrinp in the air like threshing serpent.
trailing a groan and curse went up, -.
won't carry" Carnahan SAID. Col IN!
He sprang to the gun, which was close to the
surf. and stood for a moment pcering out
into the gale "By God!' he cried passion.
stclv, at will go-if have to swim with 1t:
The oath staggered the men, coming aS IL
did from the big, silent life Captain; Dut
they knew the feelings OF the father OF thc
lost child and the terrible mood that moved
him. But when the shot flarcd out again
and the line fell short, the burly Shouldcred
Captain flung himself on the mortar with
cry Of fury, dragged it up bodily in his arms
and strobe far out into the Spumc ana Suri.
"Now fire." he roarcd. The waters
washed over him, a big roller staggered hlm,
and ne rcclcd backward, cnyclopcd IN smoke,
with the kick Of the gun; but he KEEP, MS
place till the limp line lashcd his face and the
fatal groan rose again. Carnahans icat'
which was to become a record on the coast
had come 10 naught.
Its no good; she's too far out. he sad,
and threw down the gun. "Toss out my
cork Jacket, BrcS!'
For seconds space no man moved.
What was done was enough. What Car
nahan now proposed to do was useless death.
Those life savers did not Ovcrvaluc their lives,
icopardizcd in the line OF duty; but no man
could cross the waters OF Rect Rock ana 1--we.
Brcsin sat down on the belt box.
"You can't live where the boat can ne
said doggcdly. Next instant he was lifted
and tossed on the sand as Canadian had
tossed the line gun. He staggered up as
Carnahan was buckling on the cork belt.
Easy does it, Carny," he cried. "Alan,
look yondcr! There's somethin comm out
% tho wash.
ON Bresln's cry the Others took it up.
~ There's fcllcrs in the main shroudS pay
in out line, Somcthin's comm ashore!
They ain crazy enough TO think any
thing Twin can pass them rocks.
There's something goin' on" BrcSlin
sprang with Carnahan to the surf. Hold
hard, see it, It's comm there"
C4rnahan was already in the water. The
surf struck him and he paused, dazed.
When he rose. staggering back, he held Il
slim form in his arms. and the life savers saw
the line that tralci from the mans body.
~Bv the Lord its Rala!" Brcslin led the
oric~ oi amazcmcnt. "It's the kdnaky, an