Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-09-11

fainter each second READ the Who!s
meaning. despair clutchirg my heart.
The vessel had waited and picked up
the Esmeralda's boats: believing she
then had on board sll who lived she
had resumed her voyage. We were
alone, deserted. in the midst Of the
dead. possibly without even a chance
20 save ourselves from going down
with the sodden wreck.
But If there should be chance there
remained not an instant TO lose. /
dashed the light about into the face
Of McCann and the girl, the man white
and haggard, his eyes as dull as though
he had taken an opiate, absolutely stu
pefed with fear. But the girl! In
the gleam Of the lantern her eyes met
mine, full Of questioning, but fearless
She must have seen, and understood
also. for she called to me, clinging to
the rail to keep her footing, her loos-
ened hair Tapping In the wind.
They are leaving rs Mr. Hollis! Ii
not that the steamer out thereF'
LAY. the last glimpse We'll ever have
Of her" l answered bitterly, forgetting
myself in anger. The D. brutes
think more of a few dollars than our
lives. But we'll make fight just the
same. Come, wake up, Mccain! Aft
with yop-oh, yes, you can; crawl
along the rail; once beyond the cabin
there's good foothold. Now, my lady,
I'll not let you fall-good! You are
the better sailor Of the two"
held the lantern il my teeth. and
clambered after them. It was thirty
foot climb, but the rail stanchions
made fair ladder. giving good hand
and foot hold. although occasionally
in the sea as to bring US to pause.
clinging grimly to the tarred rope in
order to retain our balance. Twice /
thought the doomed yacht was actu-.
ally going down. as under the blow Of
some swell she leaned heavily to star
board, giving glimpse Of the black
water just below where we chung so
desperately. Yet with sodden, sick
ening motion, like the last painful eff
fort of dying creature, she managed
70 right herself once more, every tim
Der grooming in agony, the salt spume
Of the sea blown into our faces.
Once beyond the overreach on the
cabin we found opportunity to stand
erect, gripping the iron supports which
had sustained the awning above the
after deck. In the dim rays Of the lam
tern the scene was one Of utter wreck
and desolation. There had been four
boats hung in davits above the rails;
two Of them were gone; one hung trail
ing overheard, half submerged, with
the bow still swinging to the tackle;
the fourth had been smashed into kin
ding. I staggered across to where I
could look down at the dangling craft.
holding my lantern out over the rail.
It was broken amidships and useless,
but damned under a thwart lay
mans body; the CLEAN of light rested
on the upturned face, and I recognized
with horror the features Of Fosdick.
Sickened, covering my eyes with one
arm, chung to the shattered rail, COM
pletely unnerved. The voice Of the
girl aroused me, brought me back to
manhood.
"Mr. Hollis, the dory is still here!"
I swept the lantern about, confused.
and unable to locate the sound. Nc
Cam was crouching against the cabin,
but the woman, aided by the flag
locker, had crept aft, and now leaned
out over the stern rail and was point
ing eagerly down into the black water.
I worked my way cautiously forward
to where she chung, the lantern swung
oversize, its small ring Of light giving
me view of the whole uptilted stern.
The, dory, which had evidently been
left trailing astern, was actually afioat,
although half filed, and her oars,
jammed securely under thwart, were
Still il place.
. The position of the vessel, the water
logged condition Of the smaller craft,
told me at glance the whole story.
What was left of the crew Of the Es-
meralda, together with those guests
who had lived to attain the deck, had
made their escape in the two missing
boats-they would hold twenty each,
and were strong and seaworthy. No
doubt the smashed one there had been
lowered first, but the tackle jammed,
and in the wreck Fosdick had been
killed The others had clambered
aboard the two left, leaving him
crushed behind.
The sight Of the little craft, stanch
and buoyant. bobbing about Just below
us in the glow Of light, brought back
my courage. Az, there was chance
here; we could get free Of the doomed
yacht; we were not to perish like
drowning rats, helplessly. TO be sure.
the boat was O small one, q mere
dinghy intended for use in smooth wa
ters; why they had continued trailing
1t astern SO far at sea was mystery;
yet 1t would bear the three Of US unless
storm arose. There was no time to
seek either blankets or provisions, nor
was there any fresh water to be had
but at least we need not 80 down with
the ship. We had still hope Of res
cue, fighting chance-God be thanked
for that
Ny hand closed over hers AZ she
turned md looked atuna, Never In any
eyes haveSI seen such glimpse Of
steady courage.
THE boat = strong. staneA she 4
l-s1a 1890 - Ne rYr31eS ~