The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1918-06-29

She was over so quickly can scarce
~ recall more than clasping her arm
| and she went down the rope hand over
hand. as lightly as sailor. BY the
time she reached the boat, her body
was half submerged in the water, but
Mccain gave her his hand, and assist
ed in dragging her in over the side.
Il am all right. Mr.. Hollis" she
called in her clear, steady voice. "Now
you cOme-cOme quick"
Just a second MORE" l answered.
Here is the line; haul it in. Get out
your oars, Mccain, and pull. Don't
wait, or you'll be sucked down when
the yacht sinks. Never mind me; I'll
jump from the rail, and swim out to
YOU"
l climbed onto the rail, gripping an
iron stanchion for support, and poised
myself for the plunge. The boat, sur
sounded by its little circle Of light,
drifted away, Mccain awkwardly
struggling with the heavy oars. The
lantern rays fell full on the girls up
turned face, and once she held out her
hands in pleading gesture. It could
scarcely have been a minute hest
tated, yet suddenly beneath me came
sound Of rending wood, muffled ex-
plOsiOn, and the deck reeled as though
burst asunder. l leaped straight out
ward, and went splashing down into
the sea.
must have sunk deeply. for felt
no swirl of the waters, no suction, but
when l came again to the surface,
nothing was visible but the bobbing
lantern on the dinghy. The Esmeralda
had disappeared. A faint cry reached
me, and I answered it, striking out
strongly toward the guiding light. Five
minutes later, dripping and bit ex-
hausted-fOr had been ashore long
while-I managed to Chamber in over
the stern. Even as rested GREATNESS
on the thwart, realized that the girl
had crept aft, and her hands sought
mine.
''Oh, am so glad" she sobbed, al
most Historically. II was afraid: L
l thought you went down with the
yacht"
mo such luck. jumped just as her
decks blew up. Is there anything In
sightT'
IL haven't looked but there is no
sound. no light anywhere. DO you
suppose the steamer has really left
us7"
Il have no doubt of it." I answered,
but stood up 80 as to see about more
clearly. 'They supposed all who lived
had been picked up, and then continued
on their course"
My eyes ranged the horizon, but
found nothing. We were alone on the
great ocean in the grasp Of the black
night. sat down again daxed for the
instant by the immensely Of the wa
tiers, the utter loneliness. and the sud-
den realization Of the littleness Of this
cockleshell in which we doated. Her
voice aroused me to comprehension
that alone was sailor, and that on
me depended every chance for life.
"Do you know, Mr.. Hollis, where we
are?"
mot exactly. heard the captain
state the position Of the yacht yester-
day noon, about one hundred and fifty
miles east and south Of Montauk; we
have drifted some since"
Are We in the steamer lanesr"
mot of the north Atlantic liners;
they would pass farther eastward. I
cannot imagine what that fellow who
us was doing up in here so far
out Of his course. Yes, that was q
liner: could see the lights of her
ports. The only vessel passing along
here will be coasters, or, by luck. pos
sibly some tramp bound Boston way.
Now let's see what is on board; try the
locker forward; and Miss Vera. you
might examine beneath the stern sheet. |
This boat has never been inboard since
we sailed"
They went at the task as though
glad Of the opportunity. McCann creep
Ing forward on hands and knees.
There's nothing here" he repcrt4d
discouragiugly, but roll Of tarpau-