The Van Buren press., 1897-03-06

whats the ase Of reefng in this
eold2" complained Mayne. Wen freeze
to death. and to no purpose. SAe.l
stand all this blow
As he spoke. A hard sqaall struck
The runner went high. the sail lost ths
wind. ard the three we're nearly out OF
/ the lee.
Ease her Off What did tell you!'
cried Dorey. II am no baby. and
know that this IS a roaring Old blizzaFs
that is crawling upon us"
TITS IN the air. shouted Colonel
1T has DANCED uueanny feel. Babies
or fools. want no bath N MENDOZA
This day. teVo miles from the court
What are you making out there for
'Dood2' Can't you hold her IN on tbs
Point mofe?"
"Not without going up n the air,
grfnned =Doods
Then come about" cried Dorey.
T The open water was just ahead.
Don't try to jump; it's toe wide
Doreyfs face blanehed through the rea
of cold and the tar Of a week at wind.
"Cot to take It now." said Mayne
terseIY. its al right. I've made Il
dozens Of times
DoreY reached for the helm
Come akontfr he e-ied-
Let eogs shouted Mayne. You fsoi,
40 you want to drown Us ~
The open crack was not ten yards
away. The path af black water stood
sharply cut against the ice. Mayne held
her to it. Two runners had the ice; the
third was high. 4 leap, and then, with
crunch and serape, the boat took the
assure safely On she speed. qaartering
faster THAI a kfrd.
A white. fine SHOW began to drive
bsfor~ the Wild There was a hush
and then an angry snarl came from out
the blotting whiteness. In the next IN
slant the blizzard struck; the boat shig-
ered- whfrled fun about in the shrieleing
blast. Clear from the ice she raised and
spun. once. twice. again-then struck
and slid. like a crab. back towards the
Yawning ice crack. The boom Jaws
we're sprung from the mast. The sal
was whipping heIplessly. The iib, with
It's sheets. cracked and snapped like a
pistol. Mayne came hard on the helm
The runner would not stick Twice he
slammed the helm. Twice the runner
caught for but moment, and then slid.
The boat neared the open water. Again
the helm. Nearer. Again. She held.
The boat stopped on the brink
"Bertts cried Mayne, "hold her where
she isl Hold herl Colonel the boomE
Raise her. Set the Jaws. There! Now
to reefts
IT was no time for laying blame. No
one would have said it, anyway. The
icy snow came thicker. Il was a fine
sift, now. II struck the flesh like
needles On the wind With fingers
numb to Stiffness the two boys labored
with the reefng. The boat shook in the
blast.
shell never hold" cried Dorey.
How can we cross the crack, when
we've no start? What are we to do?"
Msyre shouted hoarsely:
Feat off and come about. and down
upon it. full tiltls
This they tried. There was no other
thing to do. Again they came upon the
ugly, open blaekness. Again the good
boat took the breach, and three hearts
beat the lighter.
Here's a tale, If we ever get out of
thisl" cried the colonel"
II was scared to death" cried Dorey.
"rm half frozen" said Mayne. what
blizzard. The shore line is blotted
out!"
The driving sleet shut out the whole
horizon. Peg Woffiington sped like a
spriie. The plank stood in the air.
Ease her Off. Make for the gym.
That will loom up through the snow"
a new danger threatened.
'The ice felds!" shouted Colonel"
They must lie right on our course!"
They're fenced" Mayne shouted.
I'VE can see the fencel Watch out to
starboard and ahead"
I'VE can't see it, citherl We can
never see IT. 1t is partly down on this
side."
"My Godl Dood,' come about and
up the bay!"
We're running to the gym" cried
Mayne. I'VE are not near the fields"
'Mayne. The fcncei" Whites voice
was hoarse with terror "Come about"
lie cried. "The fence Is on our left,
We are on the field"
Port your helm!"
Too latel In her blind fight the
boat had struck the dangerous field
whose western limits the ice cutters
bad left unguarded. Mayne put the
helm hard to port The Peg. quick
to respond, trembled and careened in
the blast as she came about. She
slowed, lurched, toppled over and
crashed through the thin lee and into
the black waters. Dorey pitched head.
long into the lake, half under the sail
and boom. White was thrown upon
him, but caught the sheet as he fell
Mayne, though plunged TO the neck il
tie icy flood, hung to the helm, scram-
bled TO the edge Of the eapsized boat
and turned to reach for White.
With the energy Of terror and despair
Dorey struggled to free himself from
the stiifening sail and the ropes that
held his feet. lie clung to White with
the grip Of drowning man. The two
neither realizing what he was about
fought for a foothold on the boat, each
unwittingly plunging the other back
into the numbing water. defeating
struggles that grew more frantic and
less availing with each recurrence.
"Courage!" cried Mayne. "stor
that, you foolsl Give me your hand;
YOU. Dorey. Nowl"