The Pillar of Light

th determined at times. It is not so, we know. Behind the triviality on which men fasten with amazement as the governing factor in events there lies an inscrut

swept away some of the officers and crew. It was impossible to be certain of aught save the one thing-that the steamer would surely break up before their eyes. The wind, now blowing in fierce gusts, the sea, rising

thdrawn from half its length the huge hull must either slip back into deep water or break in two. The slender steel shell of an ocean liner is not constructed to resist the law of gravity acting on full five thousand tons. So the s

he exigencies of the moment. Brand, who expected to see the remainder of the ship blown up by the inr

ful commander, finding the motive power of no further avail, and certain that his ship must be driven ashore, had ordered the fires to be drawn and the steam to be exhausted from all boilers except one. Therefore, her shaft w

part had shifted its position. It was now lying broadside on to the se

red in the saloon. Some clung like limpets to the main gangway. A number, mostly men, crowded together in the drawing-room on the promenade deck

rn opened to them, great liquid tongues sprang into the darkness and licked out hapless victims by

centrated by the dioptric lens, helped not at all to dissipate the dim and ghastly vision beneath, but the great frame of the fo

, and, with some of the crew, took shelter behind the structure of the library and state cabins on what remained of the promenade

let. The next wave, passing through the saloon, sent tons of water pouring through the open hatch. One good result accrued. The strong canvas awning which prolonged the spar deck was carried away, and the group of surviv

fifty feet above the present level of the sea. It could only be approached by way of the rungs of iron embedded in the granite, and every wave, even in the comparative moderation caused by the obstructing wreck, swept at least twenty feet of the smooth stone tiers.

up the shrouds of the fore-mast. On a steamer, whose yards are seldom used for sails, the practicable rope-ladder ceases at the fore, main, or mizzen-top, as the case may be.

until he essayed the second portion of his perilous ascent did Brand realize what the other intended to do, which

t distant, and the wind would certainly carry the rope across the chasm if carefully thrown. A few strong and act

vigor. At last he reached the truck, and a faintly heard cheer from beneath mingled with the hysterical delight of Eni

ut features, a square, determined chin, two dark, earnest eyes, and a mop of ruffl

ind brought his voice plainly, but evidently he coul

I mak

e cried. "If you can h

d ob

is attached to a block with a runn

to bring it, and when the adventurer clinging to the fore-m

is way? The others wil

ow. They must be saved first, and they

a couple of sailors. W

rily, though he wondered why three

of stout cordage. More than once they feared the first thin rope would break, but it was good hemp, and soon the block was hooked to the strong iron st

to it. Soon he was close to the gallery. Catching him by arms and collar they lifted him into safety. He was one of the junior officers, and Constance, though she hardly expected it, e

r was a typ

ave. Have you a light? We mu

e rope traveled back through the pulley, and this time it carried a

t?" inquired Bran

d, including some twen

t to th

hem unconscious

ou hol

nip of

st leave you now. These

on was broken. The man looked from one to

s surprise. "That American youngst

irls, tied inside a tarpaulin and lashed to the rope. This,

d whiskey) and act as escort. The women and children were to be allotted the two bedrooms. Any bad cases of injury or complete exhaustion could be disposed of in the visiting officer's room, whilst all the men fit to take care of themselves were

cupying the active mind of the "American youngster" who had solved

nimate women. He timed the operation by his watch, as the refl

proached t

"how long do you give the

the answer. "Perhaps half an hou

ey're going up now at the rate of one every two minutes. That's thirty in half an hour. Fif

ed to be in a stupor of

adies were securely tied together, and hoisted, four at a time, like so many bags of wh

ier than ever. The ship was vanishing visibly. A funnel fell with a hideous crash and carried away a life-boat. The rest of the spar deck and nearly the whole of the forward cabins were torn out bodily. By repeated thump

me was drawing short. They did not know the second that s

icer, addressing the young Philadelphian, who,

along with the capt

in, fiercely, himself helping to

r of seniority, the juniors first. Just as the quartette were a

," he said, and

e others wanted the captain to come with them. He resisted, held out for his right to be the last to

helped vigorously from the gallery. Indeed, it was with difficulty that Pyne was held back from returning wi

en manipulated they knew that the boy had read his soul. The now useless cordage dang

followed by Constance. He suggested, as a last resource, that they

d on all that was left of the bridge, moved them to a pitch of frenzy no

vortex of foam, the tall fore-mast tottered and fell, and when the water subsided again all that was visible of the great steame

de of the gallery, was unable to see all that was taking place. But the yell which went up from th

she asked, as her

" he said. "The capta

why wasn'

s ship. His heart was broken, I

, asked if he were injured, and told him exactly how many flights of stairs he had to descend. But cocoa and biscuits

was the young American, Mr. Pyne. Her f

sister has asked me several times if you had arrived, an

. Indeed, had it been intelligible Greek, h

l, whom he had never to his knowledge set eyes on, was somewhat of a mystery, and the puzzle was made all the more difficu

ased. My name is Charles

to be bewildered. Then the e

and I happen to be alone with my father on the rock tonight. We were with him on t

shining on your

she severely. "I will bring you some coc

ed," he commented,

swered, "but I am so delighted that w

w m

y are lost. It would make me cry, and I have no ti

t tr

stairs Constance c

g you wa

icer, and send him to me. He can e