Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
Nj v

The kid won't know but what he's in bed My
Gawd!"
EVEN as he spoke, hauling in the lifeline with care
- full haste the after part of the ship and fell and
split in two halves like sliced cake Surely, inevitably
the ship squatered the shoals The deck seemed to
dissolve under his feet with grim delberation, though
let him face the death he going to the single
windward shroud parted the mast swept the side
with mighty splash.
Parayzed with terror such he had never felt for
himself, GasCoigne stood like stone So, for all
his hard work. for all his chosen repentance. this
the cruel end! He was going to lose out. He wasn't
going to have the chance to make good after all For
instant his thoughts flung abroad across the bay to
the Barnegat waterfront; then he swung both great
arms round the baby-a bulwark from HARM pore
little kiddy," he murmured.
AS though in with imminent disaster, the
babys smothered whmper rose to a wall Like blow
in the face it dspelled the ethargy that grpped the
beachcomber's senses. His great jaw set tight. I'm
darned if the pore kid loses OUT he growled. Watts
water: CANT swim? Standin here like great
BOBBY hen waitin to be choked, wen the pore kid
wants its ma An said he amt gon to get wet-an
he ANTI
1t superhuman task the big beachcomber set
himself, swim the half cable length that separated
him from the lifeboat now, driven back by the down.
pouring of wreckage from the riven ship. But there
was no other help to hope for now 1t was case of
squrmng little body close to his heart Shark Gascogne
ready to meet cyclone and swim into the heart Of
it. Gurus I most fuked, till he bawled,7 he said,
surprised at himself.
He marked big black sea coming in-the final ship
killer. He slipped out of his peaacket, still watching
the and wrapped up the baby bundle Then. when
the lifted the remains of the hulk, he plunged down.
ward into the maelstrom of water and wreckage
With high up in the air. holding his precious
burden he swami striking out for the blur that the
lifeboat swimming almost waist high in his frantic
deavors keep the child from harm. He had been bat
tered and bruised beyond the endurance of less pow
erfu coming out to the ship in that mass of TIM
bers and debris he grueed the wrack going back
The broken planks and spars ground against his mighty
ribs, rakng him from shoulder to loin His breath
in agonized gasps Still he held the baby high,
swimming with hand, the long reaching stroke of
the Barnegat baymen. He was blinded by salt and
cold; but his steel muscles did not well make
it. Kddy." he said, consoling the highhed bundle.
Air yo' warm, SOM"
\ following spar took him between the shoulders 1t
was the paralyzing blow that everything black;
but something had loomed up ahead, high white, and
sharp bowed. pounding down upon him. A man hung
the bow of the lifeboat and Gascogne, in last
torturing effort, heaved up the baby to him.
"Ketch, Welshy!' he gasped. I'm goin under!'
THREE four caved ribs, busted fin and cracked
block-wat excuse ave you got for vin'?'
1t Little Welsh bending the bandaged beach
comber at Ships Bottom station, with look of admir-
ing affection his gnarled face. Behind him crowded
the life crew. Captain Casco towering them smiling