A Thrilling Story Of The Sea

It was night on the water. Tlie black waves with their foaniing crests beat with sullen roar against a rocky coast, seenjing to chant n thunderous tones, the requiem of those who had perïshcd in the treacherous bosom of the deep In a little cottage that stood near the promontory known as "Rupert's Leap " (80 called becausc a hardy fisherman named Uupert had, when under the influence of liquor, offercd to bet that nobody was sucker enough to jump froin t nto the sea), satan oíd man and a pirt, the latter fast .!i?g lnt0 womanhood and striped hose. lis a wild night without," said the hshcrraan, as he listened to the weird music of the Rale as it howled dismally over moor and woodland. The o!d man had been to a Wagner concert once, butoame baok with the remark that there was no use in paying two dollars for what you could get at nonie for nothing every time the wind blew Yes, grand pa, thcnorth wind isabroad. Heaven help the poor uailors ttiat must face t." "Fifteen ycars ago this spring, Miriam, your father's good ship, the Mary Ann, of Uopher Creck, went down with all on board. " Why didn't sorue of 'em get off? " askcd the maidcn ; but ber query was unheeded. The old ruan was listening, cvery nerve strained to catch the slizbtest sound. .. nik'lew it)" ile sud(leD!y exolaimed. iJid jou not hear that faint boom jutt now ? " Yes," eaid the girl, " but I thoutrht it was Haticock's." " Jest not, girl, at sueh a time as this. tellow creatures are in danger. The lifeboat must be manned." And putting on his oilskincoat, the brave old veteran started out into the raging tetnpest, leaving the girl alone with her thoughts and a plug of tobáceo that in his excitement hergrandsire had lef t. i;owd to the clifld went the old tuan. Ine villagers were already there and had liRhted u bonfire, by whose fitful glare could be secn a vessel-a finely insured craf't- lying crosswise on a reef absut half a mile frota shore. A few of the crew could be disccrned clinging to the maintopyard, one of whom seemed to be the captain, as he had tho anchor in nis hand and was apparently giving orders. " If the spritsailjard holds the bobstay in p'ace, they may jet be saved," said Gaffer Johnson, peering ansiously in the direction ot the stranded ship. "An' if it parts, what then? " aslced a youDg man who hadpushed his way trom the outskirtsof the crowd to where the old heads wcre assembled. '' Heaven help the underwriters," said Oraffer sententiously. But something should be dono to save those unfortunato men," said the youth. ' Have you no plan ? ' ' But none could be thought of. The ship was evideotly breaking up, and soon nothïng but floating fragmenta would bc left of the once staunch huil. Word had been sent to the nearest lifesaving station, but would it arrive ia time ? The suspense was dreadful. öuddenly the noie of wheels was heard, and amid the hearty cheers of the üshermen a l'oauiing horse galloped up to thcm with thciireciouslire-liueandcannonbehindhim. By this time two of the five men at the ruasthead had becomc exhaustcd and dropped into the seething torrent bclow, never to riso. By the gray light of morning which stole slowly over the eastern bilis the three almost exhauted saüors eaw the approach of tlio lifivsaving apparatusand took hoart Jluddle.l together in the crosstrees, they looked liko tmy things instead of brawny men of giaut strength. With the life-saving oiow caoic reuevred aotivity. Tlie cannon was quickly loadud, aud the boinb that was to carry the precious lint' to the wreek placed carefully n its mouth. Old Torn üassaway, wbo had killed more whales (around the stove) than any other man in Nantuckot sinco father diéd, stood with the lanyatd in his hand. ÜHnlully be sighted the cannon, and at lerifith was rcady. It was a moment of' awful suspense. At kist he fircd. VVhen tlic sinqko had clcarod away, all eyos wore turned in the direetion of lliosliip. A cry went up. Tom's aiui had been a true one. lic had shot the men off the mast.