Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-05-07

WOeu Lluy SpcCK, DODDluS up anu
down on the waves, attracted his at
tention. He watched 1t indifferently
at first, and then with more concern.
He shaded his eyes with both hands,
and came to his feet with an exclama-
tion of surprise.
TITS somebody clinging to life
raft - he said.
He watched it few moments long
er, and then added, Hes nearly all
in, and trying to reach the island"
Hurrying down the rocks, he
reached the edge Of the water. The
shipwrecked man on the raft was
swimming freely now, and with pow
erful strokes propelling his frail sup
port toward he island. Dick waved
his hands, and shouted:
'"This way! I'll help you'll"
There seemed to be moment of in
decision on the part Of the swimmer,
and then as If Dicks words had been
the signal he threw up both hands.
and called family:
Help! Helpw
Dick lost no time in throwing off
his superfluous garments and plung
ing into the sea. The surf was not
heavy, and he had no great difficulty
in reaching the exhausted swimmer,
He caught the frail raft with hand
ana began towing it in.
"Can you hang on itT' he called.
The swimmer nodded, and across
the raft eyed Dick rather curiously
He seemed far from being exhausted,
and as Dick recalled his recent pow
erful strokes he wondered.
He was a seaman, with round.
bullet-like head, a scar across one
cheek, and a 'squint in one eye. AS
most Of his body was under water,
Dick could only judge Of its size and
strength by the bseadth of the .shoul
ders, bull-like neck and great hairy
arms and hands.
"Shipwrecked? he asked, between
two rollers.
The seamon nodded. What ship?"
Dick added moment later.
"The yacht Pelicanw
Dick almost lost the power of h
arms in his surprise, and big r''
tossed him back a few yards before
he could recover from the shock.
They were in the worst of the break
ers after that, and it took all their
combined strength and skill to battle
their way through them to the beach
When they were finally tumbled ashore
beyond the reach of the sucking wa
ter. Dick dragged himself to his feet
and looked at the seaman.
"You say you're from the yacht
Pelican?" he said. "What happened!
Were you knocked overheard?
"NO, sir, l come to get help. i've
been in the water for ten hours,
Reckon I'd never made land If you
hadn't seen me, sir l was nearly in
What part of the coast is this?'
"The coast? This is an island
Valhalla !"
The man grOaned and threw up his
arms in despair. Cd, then l amt
done no good!" he said. "That sWim's
all fur nothing. l thought was swim
min fur the mainland"
He appeared so genuinely grieved
and disappointed that Dick said sym
pathetically, "It's too bad! But tell
me about the Pelican. Where Is she!
And what's happened to her"
"The usual thing, sir. She ran on
the shoals in the storm last night, an
she's goin to pieces Can't last twen-
ty-four hours-doomed, sir. It's a
pity, sir, she being such a fine boat
and"
"Where was this?" Dick interrupted,
Don't know, sir. The captain he
said he'd lost his reckonin', an
couldn't get it until sunup. That's
now. But lot of good it will do
him now that I've failed him!"
He let out another groan and strug-
gled to an upright sitting position
"You say this is an island?" he added.
You sure it amt the mainlandT'
"Td hardly make a mistake like
that" replied Dick. Then, IF the
Pelicans on the rocks why doesn't she
! SulHuOn dlu lTOlu TIE 6llOlc' NliS =
equipped with wireless"
"Yes sir, but it amt working no
more. The storm ripped the wires to
pieces an flooded the dynamos. No,
SIR the capt'n can't send a message
ashore. That's why l volunteered to
swim it. l thought l could do it with
this raft, but the tide and wind must
have drifted me out of my course"
Dick nodded and said nothing He
was thinking hard. Was this a part
Of the mysterious plot? Or had the
yacht been wrecked and the seaman
risked his life in an attempt to get
help before she went to pieces?
He eyed the man furtively. He
recalled his extraordinary strength in
battling the waves until he saw Dick
and then his subsequent collapse. The
man, in spite of appearance, did not
seem so terribly exhausted. He was
breathing almost normally.