New-York tribune., 1912-12-01

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full haste the after part Of the ship rose and fell and
split halves like sliced cake Surely inevitably.
the ship squatered the shoals. The deck seemed 70
dissolve under MS feet with grim deberaon, as though
let him face the death he going meet the single
windward shroud parted the mast swept over the side
with mighty splash.
Paralyzed with terror such he had never felt for
himself Gascoigne stood like stone man. SO, for all
his hard work for all his chosen repentance, this
the cruel end He 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 liddy," he murmured.
As though in with imminent disaster, the
babys smothercd whmper to a wall. Like blow
in the face it dispelled the lethargy that gripped the
beachcombcrs senses. His great jaw set tight. I'm
darned if the pore kid loses out. he growed "Wats
water? Can't swim, Standin' here like great
booby hen waitin' to be choked ven the pore kid
wants its ma. An said he amt goin to get wet-an
he amt!
It was a superhuman task the big beachcomber set
himself to 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
no other help 10 hope for now II was case OF
swim and keep the baby dry. With the feel of the
squmng little body close to his heart Shark Gascogne
ready to meet cyclone and swim into the heart OF
it. Gurus | most hukcd till he bawled, he said,
surprised at himself.
He marked a big black sea coming n-the final ship
killer He slipped out Of his peajacket still watching
the sea, and wrapped up the baby bundle Then, when
ward into the maclstrom OF water and wrcckage.
With arm high up in the air, holding his precious
burden he swami striking for the blur that the
lfcboat swimming almost waist high in his frantic en-
deavor 10 keep the child from HARM He had been bat
tered and bruised beyond the endurance OF a less pow
erfu man coming out to the ship: in that mass OF tim
bcrs and debris he grclcd the wracl going back
The broken pankS and spars ground against his mighty
ribs, rakng him from shoulder 70 loln His breath
came in agonizci gasps. Still he held the baby high.
swimming with one hand the long reaching stroke Of
the Barnegat baymcn. He blinded 10y salt and
cold; but his steel muscles did not We'll make
it. Kiidy,' he said. consoing the highhed bundle.
Air yo' warm SON;
\ following spar took him between the shoulders. Il
was the paralyzing blow that sent everything black;
but something had oomcd up ahead, high white. and
sharp bowed pounding down upon him. man hung
over the bow Of the fcboat, and GaScognc, III last
torturing effort, hcavcd up the baby TO him
"kctch. Wcshy" he gasped I'm goln under.
THREE or four cavci ribs busted fin and cracked
block-w'at excuse ave YOU got for livin,
Il was Little Welsh bending over the bandagcd beach
Coubcr at Ships Bottom station with look OF admir-
ing affection on his gnarcd face. Behind him crowded
the ,c crew. Captain Casco towering over them smiling
a., ne nodded his complete satisfaction.
Hell do now the Captain said
rx.u Gasgoignc come back from the darkness
of oblivion. saw that in the faces of the
crew that brought o sigh OF content. "Np
done It after all, he said. The kiiys
i'm. he. an dr.