Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-29
Continued from page Z

leVanter was stretching us arms ana nl1ng
its cheeks again.
For the third time the big boat rocked and
ground; but at the same time hail from
leeward and the chugging of the motor came
to her. The lifeboat loomed up like spray
sheeted ghost, and roar told of the coming
of Noreen'S father.
A FTER thelifeboat had gone in, Old Ocean
1 off Barnegat saw three people, two men
and a woman, making sail on big, tan
colored lighter, the woman with bandaged
head standing by the tiller, and the two men
working like madmen at a huge standing
spar,-the mast and hosting derrick in one.
"'Twill cost me my number for not stand
in by the Light; but there's naught more
we could do there, on'y git off of it, Mac
Murdo said. "For Noreen wouldn't go!'
Tom only grinned, a wide grin of complete
enjoyment. No, Noreen would not 60
ashore in the lifeboat-not for any induce
ment.
"If there's danger, we'll face it together,
Dad" she said. "If this ship will sail at al,
I've gone through enough to sail on it"
@The blows comm heavier an heavier
there's wind behind that, big wind"
"The sooner it will be over, then,' Noreen
said, cutting her brother short. But fear
the same inexpGcable feeling that had taken
her on the Rocking Light.
@What is it," she said "What is it, I'm
less
Was that the white lifeboat off to the north
east? Her heart was in her mouth. 1t
couldn't be Casco coming back-not from
that direction!
Both men saw it before she could call out.
Tom let the big boomlesS leg mutton sail
flap to leeward, and both men damned the
tiller hard down, working the lighters head
to the coming gale.
aJump below, Sis! You'll get blown over
board There's water behind it too-a noun
tain-a reg lar seawash-'
Toms words were blown from his mouth.
The two men wrapped their arms round the
long tiller, clinging to it for life.
A moment before the lighter had been
wallowing and plunging in heavy sea, but
making good Roadway for Barnegat Inlet,
with Rocking Light gradually going astern
to starboard.
Now the whole sea seemed to lift bodily
and fall upon the wallowing craft. 1t struck
the lighter bow on; not lifting, but crushing
her under. Tons of water swept over her,
from bow to stern. Then she lifted higher
and higher. Tom gasped:
"The hull drink S blowed up from bottom!"
The great tidal wave passed; the lighter
rolled and wallowed again on what seemed,
in comparison, smooth water. The wind
was still blowing strong, but steady.
@Oh!' Noreen gasped. II hope they re
not welt"
Even in the danger the men laughed.
MacMurdo opened the hatch. The lego
mutton sail was still standing, and the boat
uninjured, so far as they could see.
well make another start" he said.
The great wave seemed to have cleared
the atmosphere in passing. Overhead stars
broke out. Dead ahead they saw Ships
Bottom lights, and those of Barnegat village
far beyond.
Rocking" The word choked in No
reen's throat Speeches., she pointed
astern. Far as they could see-east, north
south-there was no sign of the ill-fated
Rocking Light.
"Our. lights goner, Dad!" Tom Mac
Murdo cried. Lucky we wasn't on herr
"The big wash took her, like the Depart
ment's always feared nd happen" Mac
Murdo agreed. Lets be gettin' ashore
Boy. She'll be BLOWN up again"
SOMETIME after dark, big, tan-colored
- lighter wallowed in through Barnegat In
let, on the teeth of a strong northeast wind
rolling and plunging under the pull of a leg
4