The Halfpenny Marvel, Vol. 5, No. 109 — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

a ee “THE PHANTOM MOUNTAIN round the bulwarks: then, sweeping the full length of the tramp, its vast volume passed On. For several seconds Gordon was almost choked by the surg Lashed as he was to the mast, its vibrations were Suddenly, to hia unspeakable horror, he ing water. painfully evident, md Prepay 7 tsa / LVY YAEL Ape ba So 7GN Na MN o er ee r J A i) 3 : “ah, | / \ " {} ; A Ae J of ts wv 4 Vink H : G Opes ie sf A FLASH, A TERRIFIC REPORT, AND THY LORCHA SHOT UPWARDB, HURLING SHAPIERED SPARS ON EITILER BANK, AND GASTING MPS STRUGGLING OCCUPANTS ISTO THE AGITATRD WATERS, {See page 11.) felt the wood part in the middle, and a second Ister he was ewep! overhourd on the crest of the gigantic wave. A ery of dismay broke from the crew. he doctor, who was below, heard it. and, fearing something terrible had happened, he beat frantically at the fayt-closed hatchway. Momente of awiul suspense followed, Ho could hear the waters wash the deck, and feel the vessel shiver Jike some drowning creature, as, toaling a gallant attempt, she righted herself. Then the glad sound of footsteps overhead assured him that hig knock- ing had been heard. Some minutes later the hatehway was opened, and the skipper, bending over, called hoarsely for Bruce, “Obl here you are!” he exclaimed, as the doctor leapt on deck. “ Your mate’s been washed overboard along with this mast,’ And he pointed to the jagged stump, ‘Bruce recoiled forrified, } “Is there no means of saving him?’ he asked quickly. “ Yt may not be too late. See! yonder floats the mast!’ In bis excitement the doctor rushed to the bulwarka, aad would have leapt after his drowning friend had not two of the crew interposed in the nick of time. “Throw a line!*' roared the skipper, though he knew it was impossible to reach Taverlock. ‘One of the sailors ubeyed the order, as the dark mass loomed on the starboard port. The repe paid out its full length, then ran taut. | “ By tha stars and stripes, he’a caught it!’ cried the skipper, Haul gently.” oo The ime was halfway in; then another gigantic wave swept forward, and engulfed thse doomed vessel. She trembled from stem to stern. The water poured into the hold. A jar louder than the howling of the wind ascended upward as the boilers exploded, and the ill-fated “ Flying ite’’ sank slowly to the bottom. | Bruce clung despairingly to the line, and struggled hard te vain the surface. With a glad cry, he breathed freely again. It waa ton dark to see, but, hauling himself slong, he neared the slender haven of eseape. Ashe came within reach, a fresh danger threatened. Tho 4d Run, lads, run, cf every nation;\CHRISTMAS NUMBER, out next week. only id, : Tell your friends, © Tell your fr] nse Run te hear the proclamatlon— waters whirled the wreckage fiercely round and round, and more than once the lina was all but wrenched from his grap, Still, he clung to it with the tenacity of despair, and, takin: advantage of a momentary lull, worked his way to the edge gi the floating spar. ponder. he | Once, twice, thrice he essayed to clamber over the slippery sides, but the great waves beat him off. Suddenly his greasy was wrenched apart, and, with a cry of despair, he realived that his only hope of safety had ‘gone. But his ery wag heard, and in an instant Haverlock’s strong arm grasped the collar of his jacket. For some minutes the two men drifted side by side, one bound tightly to the shattered mast and the other kept afloat by the strength of hig friend’y night arm, ) Vhen Broce nerved himself for a final attempt. Turn-ig completely over, he made a desperate clutch at the entangirJ rigging. It slipped, but, on running taut, he wae overjoved te find he eculd mount the spar. But his streneth waz sigh, exhausted, and his hands benumhbed by cold, “Hold tizht!? shouted Gordon. | | | 3 The words infused fresh strength into the despairing man, Raising his vight arm, he caught the entangled mans of reps aud struggled frantically out of the secthing waters. ~\He was just in time. A gigantio wave lifted the spar ish up, then dushed it down into the hollew and paased on. Up and dewn on the crexb of huge billows, then deep + the hollows, the wreckage drifted. All through the nigh. o « rtorm raged, lashing the waves into tewering ridges, and «ai Ing tous of spray over the two halnless castaways. Providence mercifully spared the doctor’s life, for, a9 dec: Pierced the inky blackness, he found that the action cl ee water had eutangled him amid the ropes; aud thus, jig Haverlock, he was firmly lached to the spar. “Yor, Broce!" eried the latter in astonishment, as dar inci.4 revericed bis compunion's identity. “ ¥ce3; and you and [ are the only survivors!” replied tha doctor, expiaining the loss of the “ Flying Kite.” iaveriock listened in amazement, “\ fear,” le added presently, “we ure docined, alas! '}} chill is terrthle, and, helpless and entangled as we are, it w vw nd be impossible to attract the notire of a passing vessel.’ Bruce chared the same opinion, though he said noth: instead, he cautiously untangled the matted cords, and eres; 4 along the spar to assigt hia companion, Ho gained Garden's side, ancl commenced to untie the lashings. It was a diffe ig task, for the water had swollen the knots. Still, he persever- J, tugging desperately with hig teeth and hands, while, with ‘4 legs, he retained a firra grip of the mart, In this perilous position they drifted on aome minutes. 21:", carvied on the erest of a towering wave, the full sweep of tru gale caught the wreckage, and spun it fiercely down int tc hollow below. The shock upset the doctor’s balauee, and, clutching des; -: ately at Haverlock. he plunged forward, dragging hia frewd after him. Yor several minutes the two men battled frantically with ols waves, Bruce retained the rope between his tecth, and, w. rare presence of mind, turned over on hie back: while Gorce +, guided by the jine, strageled towards the apar. It was a desperate attempt, hut fortune favoured the adventurers. Gaining the wreckage, Flaverlack hauled Bo: back, and together they neraaa bled onve more un the slippey sides of their frail craft. “ A narrow squeak!" @itined the doctor, horrified, “Av; but it may prove a blesaing in disguise,? retur: od Haverlock, much to fis companion’s surprise. “Look !? he added quickly. “What do yon male of tut dark object hovering over youder crest?” . The doctor failed to make out anything. “Jt’s so dark!” he exclaimed. And, in truth, the lowering heavens carb their omine¥ shadow over the vast expanse of storm-toased ocean. Cordon strained his vyes to catch another glimpse. “Tt’s a derelict!’ he eried hoarsely. “tf we could |i steer, it might be possible to board her.” tn an instant a thrill of liepe inspired the two castavoe. They waited breathlessly till again the sparc maunted ou -} crest of another wave. Then 8 ery of astonishment |ioc4 rimultaneously from hoih men. , “ By all that’s wonderful, a balloen!’ cried Bruce. “She’s bearing down upon ug quiekly,” added Gorden, «+ eraning forward, he followed the movements of the etroc.- derelict. | _ It was not easily distinguished in the dense gloouis tcl. es they dipped into the trough of tha water again, the wo curtailed their vision. They waited eagerly, counting 6 seconds, which had never seemed so long before. ‘Then, almost before they knew it, the aerin) monster Joo 3 overhoad, dragging her car over the raging surface. “Quick !? cried Haverlock, leaping to his feet: “jump! ’ Bruce sprang forward as the car struck the’ wrechage, 264 turned it over, Clambering swiftly up the sides, he gras} °¢ \ » GhoOoksReonn