The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-27
PART III.

about. From the point where we
tackled we ought 10 have been able TO
fetch the boat landing in front of the
hotel. 1t was a run Of about mile and
a half-a matter of few minutes.
There was no reason TO be afraid.
The wind, as / have said, had gone
down considerably. but there was
enough of it 10 keep the Laura's lee
rail awash. Miss Woodward had been
shifted TO the weather side when we
tackled, and she was probably not very
comfortable on a narrow seat tilted at
a somewhat violent angle.
Cant / sit on the other side?" she
asked. IL like to be down near the
water"
OF course Shirley said Certainly"
and the girl shifted her position. She
leaned over the coamings and watched
the black water rushing by ua Sud-
denly she exclaimed:
"My, it's all wet down herc,s
81 thought you might get spattered,"
said Frank. You'd be dryer if"
1T isn't the spray" she cried. Its
water in the boat. There's great pool
here"
/ got down into the bottom of the
boat in a second. The water was over
the floor. As we had bailed the boat dry
after coming TO anchor, and had not
shipped half pailful in spray, the
conclusion was obvious that there was
leak.
II guess we must have opened q sesm
when we hit that boat" said I to
Frank.
"Dail her out, boys" was the skip
per's orders.
1t took Harry and about minute
to discover that the water was coming
in faster than we could bail 1t out.
Frank" said i, "the leak is on the
starbonrd side of her, and while we're
ON the port tack it is pushed down into
the water. Bring her about and be-
lieve we can keep her dry"
lie put his helm down, and W. came
up into the wind.
"Talce her, Harry" he said, as the
boat filed away. "Now give me hand,
Bert, and I'll see what i can find. Don't
be alarmed, Alice. There's no danger"
He leaned out over the weather rail
as far as he could, and felt along the
planks.
There's hole in her." he whispered
to me moment later, as he sat up on
the coamings. "Its well out of water
while we're heeled over TO port as we
are now, but when we come about"
lie left the remainder 20 my imagina-
ton.
"We can't hold this tack ~ the time"
said /. "We shan't fetch the end of the
island. Wen run clean out TO sea-"
"a short hitch or two will work us in
to the land" he replied; "but rs for
getting up to the hotel, we can't do it,"
81 wonder if Steve is within hailing
distance" said I.
"We'll try IT." was his answer; and
then, all together, we shouted as loudly
as we could.
A moment later Steve's voice came to
us across the waves. The faintness OF
the sound showed that he was further
away than might have been expected.
Doubtless his wrath had lent him
strength To pull. Though we were
sending our voices against the wind,
we succeeded In making him under
stand that we wanted him 10 come
back; or so we judged by his response.
Bring her about, Harry" said Frank.
"We'll stand in toward him. / believe
Bert and can keep her afoat all right"
Our fair passenger wished 10 lend n
hand in the bailing but there was not
room enough for two of us TO work
easily. No sooner was we on the port
tack than the water began TO run in os
if The boats bottom had been a sieve.
eve can't stand this" said Frank.
"Hard-a-leel"
At that moment the wind seemed 10
cease, and all the noises of the night
were hushed. Then came a strange and
great sigh from the land. The sigh be-
came moan; all the trees OF the island
were sending up a cry to Heaven. Above
them the white masses from the cloud
mountains huttered like birds, and
swept out over the sea.
"The squall!" cried Frpnk. Hold
her in the wind! Clearawas that sheetl
Dert, get the jib off her. Cut the hal
yards"
l ALREADY had my knife in my hand.
| sprang forward 10 the mast, severed
the iib holyard with stroke and
seized the downhnnl. Frank was busy
with the main-sail.
1t was too late. The boats head was
swinging away to port. The wind
cnught her as she stood almost stiu;
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