The Little Sparrows by Al Lacy Read Free Book Online Page A

captain’s barometer reading and told Bob she was still frightened. The storm was not letting up. Bob reminded her that Thraxton was well experienced, then read to her from the Bible and prayed with her. Suddenly, lightning was cracking through the dark black clouds, and thunder followed like bellows of rage.
    Fear beat through Louise’s chest like the frantic wings of a caged bird. She lunged for her husband and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Bob, I’m scared!”
    Bob laid aside the Bible, folded her in his strong embrace, and held her tight, speaking soft words of encouragement.
    Soon the rain was coming down in sheets and the wind continued to howl. It seemed that the waves and the dark sky were crashing together. Bob was still holding Louise when they heard loud, panicky shouts outside from the crewmen.
    Bob let go of her, telling her he would be right back, and staggered to the cabin door with the ship swaying fiercely. He opened the door, and with the spray hitting his face, called out to a smallgroup of crewmen who were clinging to a railing. “Hey! What’s wrong?”
    One of the men shouted back, “Some heavy cargo below deck came loose and crashed into the side of the ship! It’s taking in water! Cap’n Thraxton has ordered all crewmen to get down there and bail water! We’re trying to get there without being washed overboard!”
    “I’ll come and help!” shouted Bob.
    “No, sir!” the man shouted back. “You stay right there with your wife!”
    When Bob closed the door, Louise’s arms went around him like bands of steel. “Oh, Bob, I heard what he said! We’re going to sink! We’re going to drown!”
    Bob helped her back to the chair where she had been sitting, sat her down, and tried to calm her down, saying they would make it.
    She screamed, “The captain shouldn’t have believed that barometer! He shouldn’t have relied on it!”
    Bob could only hold her tight and attempt to relieve her fears.
    It only grew worse when the ship started to list to the starboard side. Louise cried out when she looked through the window and saw huge waves washing over the deck, with the crewmen trying to keep from being washed overboard.
    Suddenly the engines below went silent. Bob knew the ship was now at the mercy of the angry sea. Louise clung to him, digging her fingernails into his arms.
    Waves once split by the prow of the ship were now the size of foothills on the broadsides and came crashing down on top of the
Hampton
from stem to stern. All at once there was a crash so loud, the Marstons thought the ship would head for the bottom of the ocean at once.
    Abruptly, the cabin door came open, and Captain DuaneThraxton was there, clinging to the doorframe. “The ship is sinking!” he shouted. “We’ve got to get into a lifeboat quick! Come on!”
    Louise released a quivering wail of terror as Bob grabbed her, held her tight, and helped her to the door. When they were out on the pitching deck, Thraxton shouted, “Follow me!”
    As they struggled across the deck toward the lifeboats on the starboard side, the crewmen were climbing into them as fast as they could.
    Bob and Louise could see wooden crates bobbing on the surface of the churning sea, along with pieces of furniture and other debris from the ship.
    Suddenly the ship listed so far toward the starboard side that the captain and the Marstons lost their footing. A huge wave broke over the ship and carried them swiftly into the wild, angry sea.
    Louise screamed as they plunged into the water.
    Bob was still holding her in his arms.

Chapter Four
    O n Friday afternoon, April 17, Frances Roberts walked little Lizzie Marston into the girls’ bedroom. “All right, sweet baby, you have a nice nap now.”
    Lizzie paused at the side of her bed and looked up at her. “I’m really not sleepy, Mrs. Roberts. Do I have to take a nap if I’m not sleepy?”
    Frances smiled and ran her fingers through the girl’s curly blonde hair. “Like I told you