Meade County news., 1917-09-27

"Yes, of course; you are a man, I
take it. The lantern is still burning,
and we have a chance. Come now,
wake up, McCann-we are Americans,
and it is women first, you know"
If he was a coward, he had no wish
to let it be known, although the sud-
denness of disaster had broken his
nerve. The words spoken, the tone of
my voice, touched his pride, his real
manhood.
"Ah, you're right, Hollis" he said
heartily, and the grip Of his hand
tightened. 'I'm no seaman; hate the
sea, but no one ever called Mccain
gutter. I'll go as far as you, and
We'll get that girl out, or drown to-
gether."
was climbing the rail before he fin
ished, reckless of all else except the
task confronting us. The face of the
girl whose hard / had held in mine
under the light of the stars, seemed to
rise before me, her eyes pleading for
help. The vision urged me forward.
I know not what strength or skill en-
abled me to swing from the rail, and
grip the cabin front, but hung there
with one hand, my feet finding slight
support on the slippery slope of the
deck, and reaching back, gave McCann
support, while he also made desperate
passage to the safety of the compan-
ion. An instant later 1 was beside him,
and we crept together down the in
verted stairs.
The frightfulness Of our position be-
came more evident as we advanced.
The dead bodies, the smashed furni-
ture, the horrid swaying Of the hulk
beneath us, suspended, we had to use
the forward wall as a floor crawling
through the litter, made us feel that
certain death must end the adventure.
There was hook in the deck below
for what purpose it had been placed
there do not know-but it gave me
foothold, enabling me to kneel.
"Here, Mccain, climb to my shoul-
ders," 1 ordered, "and take down the
lantern. Quick now; I'll hold you all
right"
His face was ghastly, and he obeyed
as though he moved in his sleep. Ev-
cry muscle in me felt the strain, but
I held him, Strengthening out my body,
and balancing myself, until his uplift-
cd hands gripped the light.
"Have you got it2"
yes; let me down slowly"
"All right; hang on to it for your
life-now."
My arms gave under the strain, and
a sudden surge Of the sodden wreck,
but he held to an end Of the overturned
piano, the light still burning feebly,
threatening every instant to flicker
out. 1 caught and steadled it, turning
up the wick, and casting the faint
glimmer along the passage leading to
the stewards pantry.
I slipped down, gripping the lantern,
the dim, smoky glow of which made
the passage visible. The pantry door
stood open; indeed, doubt if 1T had
door, but everything else was closed.
McCann was just above me, and sung
out to him to hold fast; then, the Ian
tern wire gripped in my teeth, l low
cred myself the full length of my arms.
This brought the water to my knees,
while the lodged chairs were a foot or
two below. AS hung there, dreading
the plunge, my eyes were directed op-
posite the pantry, and the CLEAN Of the
lantern glittered on the blade of a
hatchet just inside the door. Never
was tool more welcome.
"Hold tight above there" managed
to calculate through closed lips.
"What are you going to do?"
"Swing in toward the door on the
right-there is a hatchet lying there"
With feet braced against the oppo-
site wall, l forced my way across, max
ing three efforts before my fingers
finally gripped the hatchet handle.
Clinging with one hand, 1 thrust the
tool into my belt, fully prepared now
to let go.