The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-08-31

1t came to a stop within an oars length
Of him. From the babble Of voices he
distinguished one that was familiar
and cried the name of Johnny Bren.
nan. His brain had cleared now. a
great dreamlike sense Of thanksgiving
warmed him, and he felt equal to any
effort. He was vaguely amazed to
find that his limbs refused to obey
him.
His name was being pronounced
In shocked tones. The splash from an
oar filled his face and strangled him.
but he managed to lay hold Of the
blade and was drawn in until out
stretched hands seized him.
An oarsman was saying: "Be careful
there! We can't take him I'm without
swapping"
But Brennan's voice shouted, Make
room or I'll bash In your bloody skull"
Another protest arose, and O'Neil
saw that the craft was indeed loaded
to the gunwales.
Take the girl-quick!" he implored.
III hang on. You can-tow me-"
The limp form was removed from his
side and dragged over the thwarts
while a murmur Of excited voices
went up.
Can you hold out for a minute,
Murray asked Brennan.
"Yes-I think So"
"I'd give you my place, but you're
too big to be taken in without dan
ger"
go ahead" chartered the man In
the water. Look after the girl before
it's-too late"
The captains stout hand was In his
collar now, and he heard him crying:
Pull, you muscle bound heathens.
Everybody sit still. Now away with
her, men. Keep up your heart. Muir
ray. my boy. Remember it takes more
than water to kill a good Irishman.
It's only & foot or two farther, and
they've started a fire. Serves you
right, you big idiot, for going over
board with all those boats. Man dear,
but you're pulling the arm out Of me.
It's stretched out like a garden hose.
Hey! Cover up that girl. and you. lady,
tuU utT iect duu uhuuS. 1OOu! MOVE
over please so the men can bail"
The next O'Neil knew he was feeling
very miserable and very cold notwith-
standing the fact that he was wrapped
in dry clothing and lay so close to a
roaring spruce fire that it's heat bis
tered him.
Brennan was bending Owe him with
eyes wet. He was swearing, too, In a
weak. faltering way, calling upon all
the saints to witness that the PROSTATE
man was the embodiment OF every vir-
tue and that his death would be q
national calamity. Others were gath
cred about, men and women. and
from Sitka whom be had met on ship
board.
AS soon as he was able to speak he
inquired for the safety OF the girl he
had helped to rescue. Johnny prompt
ly treasured him.
Man, dear, she's doing fine. A jig
ger Of brandy brought her to, gasping
like a blessed mermaid"
AS dawn broke the cannery tender
from the station near by nosed her
way up to the %gravelly shore where
the castaways were gathered and blew
a cheering toot-toot on her whistle.
She was a fat bottomed, wet sterned
craft, and the passengers Of the Ne
braska trooped to her deck over a
~gangplank. AS Captain Brennan had
predicted, not one of them had wet a
foot, with the exception Of the two
who had been left aboard through their
own carelessness.
The reaction following a sleepless
night of anxiety had replaced the first
feeling Of thankfulness at deliverance.
and 1t was not a happy cargo of hui
mainly which the rescuing boat bore
with her as the sun peeped over the
hills.
Many Of the ships passengers were
but half dressed, all were exhausted
and hungry, each n had lost some
thing In the catastrophe. The men
were silent, the women hysterical. the
children fretful.
1t was O'Neil's turn to comfort Cap
tain Johnny Brennan. who had yielded
to the blacklist despair once his re-
sponsibility was over.
Its kind Of you to cheer me up"
said Brennan, especially after the
way ! abandoned you to drown. but
the missus won't allow me In the
house at all when she hears left you
In pickle. Thank God the girl didn't
die anyway! I've got that to be
thankful for. Curtis Gordon would
have broken me-
"Gordon!"
"Sure! Man dear, don't you know
who you went bathing with? She's
the daughter Of that widow Gerard
and the most prominent passenger
aboard, outside Of your blessed self.
Amt that luck? II ! vas a Jap I'd
split myself open with a bread knife"
but fortunately you're a sensible
harp Of old Ireland. I'll see that the
papers get the right story. SO buck up"
.N. l0rrA ~un~. -r~A S..- A.