Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
BY S. TEN EYCK BOURKE AND CHARLES FIR

the strength right and launch her with his
single arm Some straggers from the village who had
their way the trestle joined the surmen and
among them the surboat was again hauled back and
mounted the sand wagon for flying start into the
surf With three inboard, bucked to the thwarts
and Gascogne the steering she struck out through
open space the wreckage that hurtled hOreward
failing the beach like great clubs.
Once fairly in the water the rest of the boat crew
tumbed the side and Gascoigne, his head in the
clouds and the twentyfOOt steering sweep in his iron
grip swung the boat slantwSe with the gale, heading
out for the wreck of the Mystic Belle.
Han 'some does it, Bulies! Jump her We'll get the
kid an the miss1s too! Hang the paint" The beach
comber voice oyousy over the boom of the gale
"An' hang mel Little Welsh grunted, as he tugged
his bow oar. Hang me if l ever thought us Cow
ment pie biters nd be skippered by bloomin
beachcomber aciee Cap Casco with busted arm!'
Gascoigne heard and laughed aloud. Dye hear EN-
there, Lads? The pore kiddy's cryin in the dark
For Gawd's sake pull yore heart out"
wat re we dom now? Must think we're hydraulic
pumps the stroke gasped Il never see so much
timber Aman could walk dryshod to Europe this SEAL!
All around them the wreckage of the broken ship
tumbling in. A great beam shooting up from the
deep lowered half over them and fell with mighty
splash into the water alongside.
"Pass myers fer Kingdom Come!" Welsh yelled with
laugh Next unll snakehead us through the bottom.
They can't kill us, Boys! Well get EN-! Well get
em7 On the stern thwart Gascoigne balanced, ggan-
tic figure in his ribbed cork jacket staring ahead,
though the power of his will alone could drag the boat
the wrecked ship. The tossed the incoming
wreckage as child losses ackstraws. Once in
of sodden canvas they had stop and cut their way
through with knives Gascoigne beating at it with
his twenty-fOot sweep InSenSate fury till it swept
asern.
Then, he the open water ahead, out of the
chaos of fury his brain the reSOurceful emerged
cool and uncomfortable That the surfboat would live
through that terrible failing of the life
believed possible. Gascoigne brought her through
battered and leaking; but the lifemen there
to calculate chances. UNDERMINED the boat was
the big beachcomber had inStled his spirit Them
and no swerved for moment from the conviction
of
Discipline played part in the big beachcombers
creed; but the influence of a master man. unframed
and untrammeled, accomplished what no discipline
could do. The wind cut them like knives, they
covered with salt spume and ice; but man fatered
Gascoignes head was bare. He had not even stopped
to put oilskns His hands burned to the shank of
the His body in a turmoil of hurry; but his
soul at peace.
SUDDENLY the boat shot through the wrack into
~ the open water A hundred yards away the Mystic
Belle pounded the rock shoalS-what left of her
All round the wreck and the submerged reef the
clrned white with spars and wreckage and Salcloth
all that pertained to well found ship AS they
closed in, solden hatch cover lifted under them,
nearly capsizing the boat but the patent chambers
emptied her almost quickly as she filled. Strapped
the thwarts the life savers laughed jeeringy. Cant
kill u.s. Honey!' they chortled Gascoigne, balancing
the stern thwarts with safeguard but his own
strength and SKILL evoked the admiration of even the
scofing Welsh. "Looks like the bloomn beaChcomber
was savin up for something. eh, Yank? he said to No.
2. Il blieve he'd scull her through himself.
@Grl" said Yankee Evans laconically. Hes first
chop man, Shark is"
The cry of triumph that greeted the passing of the