StNicholas [serial] . m both as theyclung like limpets to the swaying buoy. For a while Charley was unable to move, muchless to climb. But Buck supported him till a lit-tle strength returned to his shivering body; then, 1910.] MAROONED ON SEAL HEAD BUOY 1061 slowly and with pain, they worked their way(round by round) up from the grasp of the dis-appointed sea. Step by step they scaled the wide-swinging, flaming buoy. Were they to reach comparative safety on thelittle platform there above? Were they to havethe miserable task of hanging on, all night long,to the feed-pipe of the light, fifteen f
StNicholas [serial] . m both as theyclung like limpets to the swaying buoy. For a while Charley was unable to move, muchless to climb. But Buck supported him till a lit-tle strength returned to his shivering body; then, 1910.] MAROONED ON SEAL HEAD BUOY 1061 slowly and with pain, they worked their way(round by round) up from the grasp of the dis-appointed sea. Step by step they scaled the wide-swinging, flaming buoy. Were they to reach comparative safety on thelittle platform there above? Were they to havethe miserable task of hanging on, all night long,to the feed-pipe of the light, fifteen feet abovethe ravening surf? No, not even that; for some- gale flared this column away in roaring whirls offire like a gigantic blowpipe in the hands of a madgiant. Merciful heavens! cried Buck. He realizedwhat might happen ere long. He comprehendedthat something was terribly wrong, and that atany moment the great tank (which had now be-come a huge explosive bomb) might burst. Help! Help! he shouted wildly, even though. LET THE SHEET GO, THERE. LET GO ! thing up yonder warned Buck, numbed though hewas, that the light was flaring and whistling fartoo loudly. He smelled, too, a strange and omi-nous odor of escaping gas. What s happened here? cried he, in suddenfear. What s wrong with the old buoy? What had happened was just this: the angrysea had slightly opened a riveted lap-joint in thehuge shell, below the water-line. Now the water,oozing in, was coming in contact with the storeof carbide. So great had the explosive gas-pres-sure already become that it had already blown offthe fire-clay burner, had destroyed the lens, andwas now spurting a column of white-hot flamehigh into the night. As the blazing monster swung to and fro, the he knew that help there was none. Holding withdesperate hands to the ladder, he felt the spraysting and the wind cut. The brine in his eyeshalf blinded him; the roaring of the waves deaf-ened and confused him. Abroad over the blacksea sparkled a thousan
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidstnicholasse, bookyear1873
