The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

426 A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC, the bulwarks while another sea passed and then ran across the deck to a heavy grating. With difficulty he loosed it from its sais and dragged it from under the débris heaped upon it. He first fastened his precious valise securely to this poor raft. ‘Then he obtained a heavy axe from the cook’s galley and an oar from the chest amid- ships. His injured arm pained him cruelly with every movement; but he set his teeth, seized the axe, and attacked the bulwarks. Every time a sea dropped over the stern he was nearly carried off his feet. He worked like a tiger when the deck was clear. At length he accomplished his purpose. A wave, surging across the deck, carried away a great piece of the splintered rail. A breach was made into which he dragged his raft. With a rapid turn of the line he bound him- self to the grating, and awaited the onslaught of the next wave. It came, tumbling over the stern in a great, turbid flood, and rushed seething and foaming forward. ‘The grating was caught up like a chip upon its bosom and with a roar and crash he was inthe midst of the turmoil of waters over the reef. ‘The sea boiled like a caldron beneath the brig’s bows, but Thorne was carried safely beyond the rocks. Driven onward by the momentum of the wave, the raft neared the towering cliffs. Thorne raised himself upon his knees, wrenched the oar free, and tried to paddle with it ; but the implement was torn from his weakened grasp and he could only fall upon his face and cling to the tossing raft. Had the boats bearing his companions in distress reached the land? He saw no light upon the shore. He could distinguish a narrow line of shingle on which the billows broke with sullen roar ; but only when the fitful lightning illuminated the scene could he see objects clearly. He was being driven into an inlet, or cove. The shore lay upon his left— the frowning cliffs seemed towering all around him. He struggled madly to beach the grating. He even slid off into the sea and strove to touch bottom; but the water was too deep. The current had grasped his frail support as though with a giant hand, and was hurling it upon the cliffs. He fought despairingly to push the grating to land. But it was impossible. , : Then he let go his hold and struck out for the shore alone. Once.he touched bottom, but a receding wave snatched him away again. ‘The sea played with him as a cat might with her prey. He was tossed like a bit of flotsam from wave to wave. Suddenly, as he was again swept shoreward, he saw a wind driven figure standing at the water’s edge. Me shouted and threw up his hand. There was an answering cry and, as he came nearer, the figure rushed in and caught him by the arm. The wave broke and ran far up the beach, leaving them sprawling in the boiling surf. Thorne struggled to his feet. He seized his companion by the hand. A vivid flash of lightning lit up the scene. It was Sydney Latimer ! _ “Quick !’’ she gasped. ‘‘ Quick, before we are swept back again !”’ But even as she spoke another billow broke around them. ‘They went down before it. Once more they struggled up, still clinging to each other’s Eomichbooks Zs