Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-25

reiopinE some Gripping ailmcnt II
was hard to say what WAS the trouble
aboard tho sloop: but Philips heart
was In his mouth as ho watched the
leading vessel being swept gradually
but steadily. inshorc by tho poundinv
seas. II would not DO long before sh n
was on tho rocks. Even now tho skin
per az the lroGhcr wns mmtinous in
tho fact OF Philips insistcncc thnt hc
hold on after tho sloop through surh
dangerous water.
Abruptly he elected to save his shin
regardless or tho wrath or his ms
SrnScrs. Turning deaf ear To tbnI,
protests. he put the helm over. and tho
droshcr aufed up into tho wind. BE-
fore she could pay or on tho outward
tack the sloop had struck
Philip. dividing attention between
nor ana the management OF tho
droSher. saw the other, swinging h,s,,
ON the crest OF mighty roller. como
down heavily upon some immov,hIc
obstacle, and hold fast. STATIONARY hut
for her shuddcring.
wave washed over her. noodi,.
the cockpit Az 10 passed. the wut,h
er sa" Ramon and the Savatz leap to
ter.
Thereafter. intcrmittcntly. ,bcir
heads were visible 10 those abo,rd ,ha
droshcr, bobbing shorewards.
No third person following thcn, IN
their hazardous attempt to escape
drowning.
with Il prayer that they might sink
in penalty Tor their dastardIv selfish
ness In leaving the Princess to perish
pent UP I'm the cabin OF tho sloop
Philip caught up the end OF long
line coilcd OH the deck and hitchcd IL
round his body just beneath his arm
In,
stand by and see that the master OF
the droEhcr stood by as well-or
throw him overheard.
For all response Juan selected n
heavy capstan-bar and eyed the skipper
truculently.
Now there was Approximately a
quarter mile Of whlte-capped waters
between the two vessels. the droGhcr
laying TO just enough off the wind 10
prevent her making much leeway
No, daring to hesitate to weigh his
chances. Philip threw himself over
board.
The water was warm. and both the.
run or the sea and the set OF the cur
rent favored him. For ali that the
task he had undertaken was one 10
test the strength OF giant in the
fun flush OF his powerS-whereas
Philip was sorely weary from many
trials.
Yet his will served him. Battling
savaGely with waters that seemed fe-
rociously bent OH Overwhelming him.
he drifted past the stern OF the ship
wrecked sloop. Then Juan aided him
by making fast the other end OF the
line. preventing him from further drift
ing. The check swung him round UNI
der the lee OF the sloop. Fighting for
every foot OF advantage. he won at
length TO her side. seized the Eunwale.
and dragged himself over into the
flooded cockpit
a huge roller swung Gown like
great blue Hill upon the doomed craft;
Philip threw himself Nat upon tn.
deck beneath the weather seat. 1t
seemed hours that he lay there. buried
beneath a mountain OF water.
Then again he saw dayliEh. and
struggled 10 his feet. and 50 10 the
cabin doors.
They were fastened with en- outside
catch: he freed this and threw them
open. The palid face Of the half
drowned girl within noatcd within
arms length. lie seized and drayged
her out.
She lay limp and inert, insensible in
his arms. And another huge roller Was
hanging like the wrath OF God over
the sloop. Somehow he dropped over
the leeward side with Julia claspcd
tight TO him before that trip hammer
blow fell.
simultaneously the droEher paid off
swinging the line and its double bur.
den clear OF the wreck aboard her
deck Juan Lopez was putting forth
almost superhuman efforts 10 haul in
Philip saw the sloop shattered and
swept shorcwards by the hammering'
seas.
Then he lost consc ousness: but never
once did he relax the embrace which
held the Princess Julia TO his bosom
tTo BE Continued