Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 187 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

something. — De te eee ee ——-— + careening wreck, and poured in flooding torrents over her decks, sweeping more than one unhappy soul overboard in their fierce assault. Some few of the crew could be seen busy with — cuttin peone aha fallen i Ca. desi d most e em were c ing desperately to the rigging, an looking cara ingly ashore, where they could plainly see the efforts making for their rescue. A wreck at this time of the year was almost an unprecedented spectacle on that shore. The coast guard were only on duty from November to May. ut, fortunately, on this occasion they were present, being engaged in another duty, but ready and ea “9 to eennloy, their experience in the service of manity. The apparatus of the life-service was in good condition, and ready for immediate use. By this time nearly all the inmates of the city had assembled on the beach, facing the fierce storm, and, in their eagerness to do something toward the rescue of the unfortunate crew, simply annoying anil. checking the efforts of Harry Bains and his me “T wish the water would onl bucketfuls instead of in handfuls,” he growled, as he looked on the excited throng. ‘‘We water-dogs could stand it, and it ae ht drown out all these fair- weather flies. Howin the blazes isa man going to come ashore in ‘do anything, with such roses as these in his button- hole? How is it, Joe; is there any ammunition for the mortar?”’ ‘* Not a round,” replied the thin-featured man ad- dressed. “ ‘That’ s the generous way the Government sarves us.’ ‘*Here’s a sheaf of rockets, ” cried Fred. “Shall I take them down the beach?’ “Yes, yes! And stir up eee boys, with the ife-car. She may go to pieces before we get a line aboard, The men hastened to obey orders, getting out the life-car, which resembled a small covered boat, with air-holes in the top, and a ring at each end, to which a hawser might be attached to draw the boat through the surf, The object now to be achieved was to send out a small line by means of a mortar-shot, or a rocket. A stronger line being drawn out by this was to be attached toa mast of the vessel, and on shore, its purpose being to act as an aid in drawing the life- car forward and back, in a perilous journey for the living souls who now tremb ingly awaited the seem- ingly slow efforts at rescue, tis confounded awkward that we can’t use the mortar,” grumbled Harry Bains. ‘‘A rocket is 7 wee trust in a gale like this. Are you ready, re 't Ay, ay!”’ answered the boy, cheerily. “ Lot her fly then!’ The rocket was touched off, and flew seaward, hissing and gleaming. Behind it trailed a long, thin line from a coil that lay on the beach. All eyes watched its course with eager interest. With what eager interest it was watched by the POOF souls aboard the barque words cannot ex- “.. It will fetch them!” cried the bo maltedly. **No, no!” returned Harry, pation ead. “The wind is setting it south. There it goes, twenty yards clear of the bow,”’ A sound of disappointed expectancy arose from the crowd of observers as the line was rapidly drawn vack and recoiled, pe her a little more northing this time,”’ direct- arry. I'r og Tee ia but his shot proved as unlucky as be- fore, the wind lulling so that the hissing missile struck clear of the vessel to the north. ** Just as I always said about rockets in a gale of wind,”’ ejaculated Harry, ‘‘ Youcan’t trust them any more than a straw hat. How many have you left?” ‘* Half a dozen,” replied Fred, : sae me try my hand. See if I have any better uc Away whizzed the rocket again, but with worse in- stead of better luck than before, falling at least a hundred yards south of the wreck. ** Hang it all, why couldn’t that blast hang back for een ?”’ exclaimed Harry. ‘If the confound- ed wind would only blow steady we might count on But_you might as well trust a wo- man’s temper as these flaws and jibes.”’ Rocket after rocket was shot, with no better suc- cess, Harry Bains growin ng decidedly out of spirits, as he called the weather all the hard names in the dictionary. ‘L always said that rockets were boys’ playthings, and not fit for work like this,’ he angrily exclaimed on seeing that but a single one conetnad ;: aad there’s that mortar, which might be of some use with anything to old iron. Say, old Tom, you’ve got a good storm there you aim the last rocket,”’ ,’ said Tom, measuring it with his eye. “Ill - y it. but it’s only chance. If you kin puta spell ou the wind now and hold it level for a shor t two minutes. It’ mighty hard to allow for squalls. He step and commenced to adjust_ the rocket, with his eye on the wreck, and Eis and ex- tended to gauge the strength of the win It was a striking scene at that wages] The sun was now some distance above the horizon, and was flooding the sea with its beams, lighting up a heav- ing turmoil of waters, flecked everywhere with -hite foam, Near ehore,. it was simp ply appalll palling. Great billows, racing shoreward wit ightful speed, struck upon the boundary sands - their crests twenty Kees. in pine as they a. at thunder upon the beach. The swishing waters dash- ed far up beyond their ordinary level, forcing ob- servers back upon the sand-hills to the rear. ut in it, not worth its weight in ° | floating mass, But the undertow dragge ere’s no surety of hitting, the es at that dis- | ee The air was full of moisture, reft by the fierce winds from the apex of the waves, and threatening to wet to the skin the long line of eager and anxious spectators, who had forgotten all ulterior conse- quences in the strain of human sympathy. Not only strong men but delicate women stoo ‘there, their hearts throbbing with an anxiety and a sense of terror that drove all less potent thoughts from their minds. At one spot a dense group was gathered, oe aia | the operations of the surf-men with an earnestness asif their own souls went out upon every rocket; and a disappointment only less than that of the im- periled crew at every failure. And, to complete the picture, just beyond the surf line lay the wrecked craft, so near land that it seemed as if a strong hand could have thrown a bis- cuitashore. Her bow had plowed 80 deeply into the sands that it was almost buried, while the stern stuck up into the air, the keel nearly visible, This offered a partial shelter for the men, the decks not being swept as previously, though the hull groaned under the blow of every illow asif the craft was about to part amidships. They could be seen, clustered in the rigging or un- der the bulwarks, a group of shivering souls, the weary, almost hopeless waiting for rescue being a terrible strain on the courage of any human being. It is so much easier to be brave when striving for safety than when waiting with idle hanus for the blow of irreversible disaster. “Sighted, Tom?’’ asked Harry Bains, cheerily. Py ay f" growled the old salt. ‘Let her fly, Fred touched his torch to the last rocket. An in- stant it fizzed—then with a hiss of streaming fire it shot straight outward, aimed at a point slightl north of the barque’s position. All ey es watched it with intense eagerness. Slowly, s ry,” it curved under the force of the wind. It was bending di- rectly upon the vessel!—it would strike her deck!— ina minute more its long line of unfolding rope would be aboard the wreck! A shout of exultation went up, that was echoed from the deck of the barque. And at this very instant of seeming assur- ance a gust of wind came with a whirl and a whistle around the stern of the wreck, took the flying rocket in its strong clutch, and sent. it whizzing past the submerged bow, not three feet distant. But that three feet might as well have been three miles, so far as the question of success or failure was concerned, With an oath Harry Bains flung the bight of rope he held upon the sand, and turned away with a face full of vexed disappointment, li emulated him by tossing his torch upon the an % The rocket business is played out,’’ he ejaculat- ed. “There is nothing left but the life-boat. ‘“‘And that wouldn’t live while you could turn your hand, in them breakers,” remarked old Tom, Meanwhile Harry Bains had advanced upon the sands, speaking-trumpet in hand, as far as he ‘‘ Ahoy, the barque!’’ he shouted, during one of the momentary lulls of the tempest. It was next to HapaRA ble that his voice could car- ry against the wind to that distance; but the blast brou ht back a loud *f Ahoy!" eare played out. Can you not try and send something ashore, with a& rope?” **Can’t make you out,’ came back. “T was afeared the wind would eat up my words. We shall have to signal them. Get out the flags, Joe. Have you got the signal book?” “Here it is,’ answered Joe, passing out a thin book from a box he opened. As Harry quickly turned its leaves, Joe produced a meet of small flags, of different colors, from e After a few minutes’ search through the book, Harry turned and gave Joe directions, which were followed by the display of several different colored flags, in a definite pattern. “What is the signal?’ asked old Tom. ‘*T am asking them to try andsend a rope ashore,” A cry now came from the vessel. ‘Our boats are all stove or carried away, Will ti ous luck with the fore-top. he mast which bad gone by the board at the first striking of the vessel, was still beating her sides, held fast by its shrouds. Butithad just broken in two, leaving the top-mast floating free. To this a rope was dexterously fastened, and paid out as the mast floated off into the surge. For a moment it looked as if it would come ashore, It rode inward on the crest of a na ¥ billow, which broke and dashed its waters far up the beach. Har- ry Bains stood ready witha long boat-hook, in the forlorn hope that he might be able to rasp ine re - lessly out again when within three feet of his reach. And thus, for the next ten Seen it floated back and forth, now seeming as if it wculd dash ashore, now as if it would be carried out to sea, while every eye and every heart was riveted upon it with in- tensest interest. “It won’t fetchit; but that’s no more than I ex- pected,” exclaimed old Tom. “Hallo! the line’s parted, and the spar’s floating by itself.” The line was drawn in by the crew of the barque, on whoin the failure of their effort must have had a most depressing influence. ‘What are they up to now?” pied gaitinn Syne, sharply. Heaven! they ar ashore with the rope!” As he aooke. an alert form, vy round with what seemed to be alife-preserver, was seen to leap from the side of the ei into the baking ei “It’s desp’rit!” said old Tom, shak Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy. 7 wa | SS ee — ew -e ae ee ee ee ee oe ey doubtfully. ‘*I don’t b’lieve no man’s muscles kin buffet them waves.’ Yet the man seemed to swim strongly and lightly. In, in, he came. He was in the inuér line of the surf.’ He flung himself flat on the beach as the wave left him, with his hands clutching the shifting sands, But the str ne him ft6 dragged him, resistlessly | ei and flung him into the tossing sea again, Again and again it seemed as if he would make the shore, Again and again he was dragged away by the resistless undertow. In despair, his strength nearly gone, he signaled with the line to be drawn on board ag: in, Poor fel- low! he was never to reach that. deck alive! For the floating mast, with which they had previously sought to send a line ashore, was hurled by a strong wave with deadly force against his swimming form. The rope was drawn in, but it. had a corpse at its extremity, CHAPTER IX. THE CREW OF THE LIFE BOAT, A DEEP hush fell upon all present—the solemn hush of awe. Death had seized a victim before theireyes. Were they not destined to see the whole ship's crew perish helplessly before them? The hush was first broken by old Tom, who feel- ingly exclaimed: ‘Poor tar, he has got in the maw of that etarnal sea, that lives on human flesh and blood. I's a bad show, lads, I’m desp’rit afeared he’s goin’ to have com PANY»: ‘*T hardly see the next move on the hoard,” said Harry Bains, dubiously, ** The life boat—” “It won't live,” interrupted Joc, the thin-faced man. “Tt would bo squelched in two strokes of the ia} The wind bas sunk some in the last hall- hour, and I don't think the breakers are quite as wild as thi y were, “T doubt that,’’ remarked Fred, modestly. a ll venture to hold her head to the waves, if there’s of you ready to take the oars,”’ "Phere ain’t your match at the tiller on the Jarsey coast,”’ cried old Tom, approvingly. ‘“ But it’s too risky, I'm afeared,”’ “*And whv wouldn’t risk when there’s lives to save?’’ exclaimed Fred. ‘‘ What say you, Harry, shall we launch the life boat?” ‘* By thunder, yes!” ejaculated Harry. ‘It's life for life, and thé ‘man that hangs back now is a cow- ard. Get her out, lads, and bring her here.o posite the wreck. We'll make a break for it; and if the sea gobbles us up we'll die in harness, that’s all.” The lulling excitement of the. spectators was stirred up to fever-heat again, as. they saw. the broad-beamed metallic boat slowly haled along the sands, aneager throng of helpers lending their aid tothe work. “But we are short-handed,” exclaimed Harry Bains. “Twoof our men are off duty; and there’s Tim McDermott who has just managed fo sprain his arm. We're half a crew short, and I doubt if we'll find three men, fit ror the w ork, to take their lives in their hands at this labor.” **t kin pull an oar with any man tn the Jarseys,” cried old Tom. ‘‘AndI don’t hold my life wuth a sneeze when it’s a case like this!’’ “And I’m your pardner!” another voice respond- ed, and the stalwart form of Jack Sprat, the old waterman. | ay ed forward. “I've had to row for my own life afore now; and I’m ready to row for them poor devilh. “Bravo!” cried Harry. “I couldn’t ask for two ed oarsmen. Bet a mackerel we fetch the pares 7 ti But there’s an oar short still, Who's to e **T’ve got the man,”’ said pane if ety. **'The fel- low that’s so full of fight e hasn’t backed water at sight of the life was ‘o 8 got to stick to his challenge.”’ *No, no, Fred,” replied Harry. “It’s no baby’s play now. The fellow would ‘be catching crabs every second stroke. He'd capsize us sure. We want no land-lubbers.”’ “If he belongs to the Schuylkill navy vy he knows the merits of an oar,”’ rebtniind Fred. _ **He can swim, for we've all seen him, so he has as food a wreck chance as any of usif there's an upset. And as for heart, a coward is sometimes the hardest fighter, when he’s cornered.” , that’s all nonsense, Oy ci a “No it ain't,” Fred stoutl “He's bound to row, or back down. Isee him yonder now. He’s got to show the white feather like a cowardly cur, or take an oar like a man... And if he backs water, I'll make him the laugh of Beach City.” He walked quickly away toward agroup of spec- tators, composed of Mr. arlington an a his daugh- ter with several of their friends. Will Howard was standing beside Rose, chatting with a lightness of tone which hardly seemed to please her, for her face wore a very grave expression. He did not no- tice Fred’s approach until the latter spoke to him. ** Now, my friend,” said the young boatman, in a steady, Wetebritaetl tone. “The hour has come. We are about to launch the life boat.” ‘“‘And what is that to me?” exclaimed Howard, turning flerce toward the speaker. ““Only that there’s an oarsman short. There is a fine Sores for the gentleman who is no more afraid of salt than he is of fresh water.” “What does this mean, Fred?’ asked Mr. Darling- ton, in surprise. “Shall tell him?’ queried our hero, turning to mo Paar ’ exclaimed Howard. “It is nothing, Mr. Darlingt ton. Only a bit of chaffing.”” “If you Sack down now,” said Fred, sternly, in his ear, “T’ll post you as a confessed coward over answered, (COMMU LOO) cS (ECO)