Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-08-21


against the rail before he knew he was
outside the cabin. The whole ship
forward was enveloped In smoke, and !
the deck was already warplng and
cracking with the heat. The thunder
Gus roar of the fire told Of Its terrible
hold. A moment he chung to the rail
in irresolute desperation; then, burned
and stifled, he flung himself over the
rail far out into the black, boiling
mass below. He struck the water head
first, and shot deep down into the cool
Ing sea. 1t seemed soft, soothing
refuge from that cruel, murderous
fire. But there was deathly chill in
its touch, a deadly determination in
Its grasp.
He rose quickly to the surface. The
hulk Of the burning steamer had swung
shoreward from him in desperate
effort to gain the beach before those
Unsuitable flames could complete their
terrible work. The stern of the vessel
was still clear, and the attorney could
see crowd of people huddled together
on the upper deck. The engines were
still working, but before the steamer
had gone twice Its length there was
dull roar, and she swung around
broadside to the waves, and rolled
helplessly in toward the shore, blaz-
ing, roaring. seething mass
A huge swell rose over the attor-
ney's head and bore him down deep
under its ponderous wave. AS he rose
behind It, his shoulder struck some
thing hard, which he instinctively
grasped. 1t was a life belt Here
was aid, hope, life, in his hands. But
as he rested upon 1t, II sank In the
waves, and across its submerglng lines
rose the drawn, streaming face Of his
companion of the deck-the Portland
attorney They had seen each other
on the ship before, and the recognition
was mutual. Neither man spoke, but
from their eyes poured out to each
other the silent supplicatlon OF one
who has passed beyond his power. To
/ gether they sank, clinging to their de-
spair; together they rose, clutchlng
their hope.
Can you swlmT" gasped the San
Francisco attorney. as they rested a
moment between waves.
NO." gulped the Portland attorney,
struggling helplessly.
Neither can /. Tread water. Your
feet-fast-"
AS they rose behind n huge swell
they held themselves a few moments
by frantic treadlng. Again the silent,
yearning appeal went out to each
others eyes-the call of the lost to It's
kind.
ut won't-hold-u BOTH" cried the
San Francisco attorney.
The Portland attorney did not reply.
His face was drawn and set with des-
peration and despair.
Again they rose, gasping and chok-
ing, clutching and struggling. Their
eyes sought each other, eagerly, as
they held themselves up again for a
moment
Have you famIly" gasped the
San Francisco attorney.
NO" came gurgling through the
foam.
Neither have l. No one to mourn
when we CO."
Then the towering, relentless wave
fell, crushing the two men down into
Its boiling depths.
From the crest of q low swell the
shore line was dim and distant. II
was plainly impossible for the two
men, already almost exhausted, to
keep afoat until carried ashore by the
waves. When the eyes met again the
look of appeal had gone, and in its
place was only terror and despair.
They turned from each other and
looked with pltlful lone despair at the
harsh, cold, curling waves, then at
the clear blue sky above bright with
the morning glow.
Another heavy swell rolled over
them and bore them down, still cling
ing to the helpless belt. From the
eager, swapping waves the San Fran
cisco attorney raised his right arm.
Whether or not II was to grasp the
whirling belt no one will ever know
The Portland attorney saw the move,
and shrank back into the water, a look
of mingled terror and resignation
drawn deep on his pallId face.
Strike" he cried. "Strlkel II is
your right-it is the law"
Again they sank. struggling, under
the wave; again they rose, struggling,
In Its desOlate path. The eyes of the
San Francisco attorney were set with
a look that burned In the brain of the
Portland attorney TO the end Of his
days. Through It shone the determl-
nation, the power, the pathos of
mans supreme effort. The drawn face
sank behind the tossing belt. The
voice through the hurting spray was
weak and tense
There Is higher law. II is not
nature-earth. guess-it is-just--
man to man."
A tremendous wave rose over the
two men, dashlng upon their half.
sunken heads. II caught the llfe-belt
with an angry grasp. almost tearing II
from the Portland attorneys hands.
lie clutched 1t madIy. In the whlrlIng
wave. 1t came easily to his arms. II
bore him lightly TO the top Of the
wave. Hope bounded within him. Life
thrilled In his vein. But In his heart
was a terrible dread. Rising on the
buoyant belt, he dashed the spray from
his eyes and looked about him. There
was only the waste Of broken wave
and the dark. still, silent depths be
meath.
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