The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1916-04-15

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Indeed, as gazed at the heavy sea
through which we were running. II
doubted that there was boat afioat.
Il did not seem possible that such
frail craft could survive such stress
Of wind and water.
For an hour saw nothing but the
naked. desolate sea. And then, where
q vagrant shaft of sunlight struck the
ocean and turned its surface to wrath
full silver. I caught small black speck
thrust skyward for an instant and
swallowed up. waited patiently.
Again the tiny point of black projected
itself through the wrathful blaze cou-
pie of points off our port-bow. I did
not attempt to shout. but commune
Gated the news to Wolf Larsen by wav-
ing my arm. He changed the course,
and I signaled affirmation when the
speck showed dead ahead.
It grew larger. and SO swiftly that
for the first time ! fully appreciated
the speed of our fight. Wolf Larsen
motioned for me to come down. and
when stood beside him at the wheel
gave me instructions for heaving to.
Expect all hell to break loose" he
cautioned me, 'but don't mind 1t.
Yours is to do your own work and to
have .Cooky stand by the fore-sheet."
The boat was now very close. and
l could make out plainly that 1t was
| lying head to wind and sea and drag
ging on its mast and sail, which had
been thrown overheard and made to
serve as a sea-anchor. The three men
were bailing. Each rolling mountain
whelmed them from view. Then. and
with black suddenness, the boat would
shoot clear through the foaming crest.
bow pointed to the sky, and the whole
length OF her bottom showing. wet and
dark. till she Seemed on end.
The Ghost suddenly changed her
course. keeping away. Wolf Larsen
was preparing to heave to. felt an
abrupt easing Of the schooner, loss
for the moment OF all strain and pres
sure. coupled with q swift accelera-
tion Of speed. She was rushing around
on her heel into the wind.
AS the Ghost widowed for an in.
slant, broadside on and rolling straight
over and far into the wind, beheld a
huge sea rise far above my head. It
descended. pandemonium broke loose.
everything happened at once. was
struck a crushing. stunning blow. no
where in particular and yet every.
where. My hold had been broken
loose. l was under water, and the
thought passed through my mind that
this was the terrible thing OF which
had heard, the being swept in the
trough Of the sea. brought up vio-
lently against what took to be the
rail. breathed. and breathed the sweet
air again. As scrambled out on all
tours passed over the body OF
Thomas Mugridge. who lay In groan.
ing heap. There was no time to in.
vestigate. must get the 1ib backed
over.
On all sides there was a rending and
crashing of wood and steel and can.
vas. The Ghost was being wrenched
and torn to fragments. The foresail
and foretopsail were laundering into
ribbons, the heavy boom threshing
and splintering from rail to rail. The
air was thick with flying wreckage
ropes and stays were kissing and coil
ing like snakes. and down through II
all crashed the gan of the foresail
The spar could not have missed me
: by many inches, while 1t spurred me
: to action. Perhaps the situation was
not hopeless. | remembered Vol
Larsen's caution. He had expected
all hell to break loose, and here II
was. And where was he? caught
: sight of him toiling at the main sheet
heaving it in and fat with his tremen
dous muscles. the stern of the schoon
er lifted high in the air and his body
outlined against white surge Of ses
: sweeping past. All this. and more--s
whole world of chaos and wreck-ir
, possibly fifteen seconds had seen and
/: heard and grasped.
did not stop to see what had DO
, come OF the small boat. but sprang Il
The jlb-sheet. The jib itself was be
, ginning TO slap. partially filling and
= emptying with sharp reports: but
: with turn Of the sheet and the ap
plicatiop OF my whole strength each
: time 1t slapped. slowly backed It
This know: did my best. pullct
till I burst open the ends OF AL my
/ fingers; and while pulled. the hyini
jib and staysail split their cloths apar
and thundered into nothingness.
Still i pulled. holding what l gainet
each time with double turn until thu
|, next slap gave me more. Then thu
! sheet gave with greater case, AMI
Wolf Larsen was beside me. heavinI
in alone while was busted taking ~
2 the slack.
q Make fast!" he shouted. And COM
!, ON"
As l followed him noted that Il
t spite OF rack and ruin . rough orde
: obtained. The Ghost was hove TO, sh
was sim in working order, and Oh
. was still working Though the rest Q
. her sails ware gone. the lib. backe
; to windward, and the mainsail haule
4 down nat, were themselves holding
and holding her bow p the furious g
. a. wolI .s,s