The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-03-29

ing to the water concealed from our
sight the clouds above. When 1t came
it burst upon us with mad ferocity,
the wind whirling TO the north and
striking us with all the force Of three
hundred miles Of open sea. The mist
was swept away with that first fierce
gust, and we were struggling for life
in a wild turmoil Of waters. | had
but a glimpse of it-a glimpse of wild.
raging sea; Of black, scurrying clouds.
so close above | could almost reach
out and touch them; OF dimly revealed
canoes flung about like chips, driving
before the blast.
Our wv was hurled forward like an
arrow. the Indian paddlers working
like mad I" keep stern to the wind.
their long hair whipping about. The
soldiers crOuched in the bottom, cling
ing erimly to any support, their white
faces exhibiting the abaSement of fear.
The sergeant alone spoke. yelling his
orders. as he welded steering paddle.
his hat blown from his head, his face
CHASTITY with sudden terror. 1t was but
the glimpse Of an instant: then n pad
die broke, the canoe swung sideways.
balanced on the crest of a wave and
went over
/ was conscious Of cries, shrlll, in
stantly smothered, and then | sank.
struggling hard to keep above water,
yet borne down by the weight Of the
anoe. I came up again, choking and
half strangled, and sought to grip the
boat as it whirled past. My fingers
found nothing to cling to, slipping
along the wet keel, until I went down
again, but this time holding my
breath. My water-soaked garments
and heavy shoes made swimming al
most impossible, yet l struggled to
keep face above water. Two men had
reached the canoe, and had somehow
found hold. One Of these was an In
dian, but they were already too far
away to aid me. and i'm another mo-
ment had vanished In the white crest
ed waves. Not another Of our boats
crew was visible, nor could / be sure
Of where the shore lay.
Twice | went down. waves break
ing over me, and fiinging me about
like a cork. Yet / was conscious,
though strangely dazed and hopeless.
I struggled. but more as If in a dream
than il reality. Something black.
shapeless. seemed to sweep past me
through the water; it was. borne high
on a wave, and 1 flung up my hands
in protection; l felt myself gripped,
lifted partially, then the grasp failed,
and l dropped back into the churning
water. The canoe, Or whatever else
it was. was gone, swept remOrselessly
past by the raging wind, but as l
came up again to the surface a hand
clasped me, drew me close until l had
grip on a broad shoulder.
Beyond this 1 knew nothing; with
the coming Of help, the sense that
was no longer struggling unaided for
life In those ~treacherOus waters, all
strength and consciousness left me.
When l again awoke, daZed, trem-
bling, a strange blur before my eyes,
l was lying upon a sandy beach, with
a cliff towering above me, its crest
tree-lined, and l could hear the dash
Of waves breaking not far distant. !
~endeavored to raise myself to look
about, but sank back helpless, fairly
struggling for breath. An arm lifted
vs. had from tho couH and I otarQd
into a face bending above me, at first
without recollection.
Lille still a moment" said a voice
gently. You will breathe easier short
ly and regain strength"