The Press., 1917-09-06
to be hnshad into q terri.

| pitching idly on the long swell, which every moment was increasing. But my fears and apprehensiOns were soon chased from my head by matters of more exciting interest.
 As we neared the burning craft I | read the name La Hembrills in letters of gold on the huge stern. The light cast by the burning spars and rigging alOft afforded ample power for me to form my conclusions.
 | The ship was Spaniard. The empty davits and dangling falls told their own story plain enough to a seaman's eye. l The burning wreck had been deserted.
 Shooting under the broad, heavy cOun- | ter. we caught at the iron works of the mizzen channels. and, directing two men to remain in the boat, clambered on deck, followed by the other two sea men.
 The ship had evidently been on fire some time, the flames having full con- trol of the forward portion. The fore mast had gone by the board. The top gallant forecastIe was a sea of fire. l The mainmast was already tOttering, and 1 knew there was no time to lose. The smoke was dense and stifling, but as yet did not affect the extreme after portion of the vessel. The decks were strewn with remnants of provisions, half open cases and articles of clothing, but no trace of a human being could be seen.
 Diving down into the main cabin. which was half filled with black twist ing smoke, I took nasty glance about. The rich hangings, appointments and ornamentatiOn surprised me, showing that the unfortunate ship had been de signed to carry passengers. The sharp, shooting gleams of writhing flames from aloft penetrated through the broad skylight. tingeing every object with ruddy glaze
 From StaterOOm to staterOOm l hur- ried, but found them all empty until came to the after one. There l expe- rienced some difficulty ill opening the door, the smoke every moment becOm- ing more tense and respiration more difficult. Exerting my strength, the ! woodwork gave way, revealing a con- fused mass of white drapery lying On l the stateroOn floor. The very sight made my heart beat quick with appre- 11ensiOn, and. stepping, l soon ascer- | tained that it was a woman.
 Placing my hand over her heart, felt it throb, aud without further delay 1 rushed on deck with her in my arms. Through the eompaniOnway stagger- ed, with a strange dizziness in my 1 head, gasping for breath, but still re taining my grasp on her 1 had saved. The fresh air revived me, and the pain left my head, so that I was enabled to pay proper attention to the woman who lay helpless in my arms.
 Then, for the first time, l looked at the face of my burden, and by the bright light of the wreck I discovered she was both young and handsome. At that moment the mainmast went crash ing over the side, sinking with hiss l in the black water. A shower of cin- derS and sparks, a column of roaring flames shot on high, followed by the | excited shouts of the men, who had leaped, panic stricken, into the boat, urging me to follow.
 I Clasping the lady with my left arm, I used my right in gliding down the ships side. The mems oars were pOis- ed. I gave the word, and the next in- fstant we were clear of the vessel, which was now wrapped in flames from stem to stern.
 Dashing some water into the ladys l face, began to chafe her hands. The l treatment, though rough, had the de- sired effect She opened her eyes, closed them again as If the awakening l was painful, but in few moments was fully herself. In a few words l told her how she had been saved and assured her that in short time she would be in safety on board the brig. In return she told me that her fla | ther was the Senor Jose Gonzales of Santos, the wealthiest planter in the country She had been on a visit to Spain, where her father had a large number of relations, and had taken passage for home in the Spanish ship. The i'll fated vessel, by some means to her unknown, had caught fire dur ing the night. A panic ensued, and, overcome by terror, she tainted away. Probably, in the excitement and alarm
 
 ! looked, and when the boats showed off from the ship the SenOrita Marie Con- zales was left unconscious in her state room to perish.
 Glancing round the horizon, could | zee no sign of the brig. Not the flash of light betrayed the position of the vessel. But l had compass with ma | and noted the course I had steered while pulling for the burning wreck It was not the fact of the brig being invisible that caused me uneasiness, but the startling knowledge that great cOnvulsiOn of the elements was about to burst upon us. The dark bank l had at first noticed low down on the horizon had risen rapidly until the entirl heavens were obscured. The atmosEI0e h"d grown Gense, and the darkness was simply intense, relieved only by the now ;:ismaMtled hulk, which occasionally rev Ol.s q gleam of light
 X strange, indefina1lc rushing sound
 >rvaGed the air, slight ripple ruf1led the stagnant waters, a cold breath of ar famed my cheek, while under the black, frOWning clouds I saw a white line rapidly rushing upon us.
 Louder and louder grew the sounds The men gaZed at one another aghast. With wave of my hand motioned the seamen to pull the boat round so as to bear before it, and the next instant the hurricane burst upon us in all It's fury.
 The shriek of the tempest drowned my voice. The oars were dashed from the sailors hands, while they in terror threw themselves down in the bottom of the boat.
 In an agony of terror Marie chung to me, while I with all my strength and skill managed to keep the boat dead before the gale. ......
 On rushed the frail structure through the murky darkness, enveloped in 6