The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-06-25
Chapter xvn.-Continued.

It will be admitted that this brace Of
sweethearts had not been very fortunate.
To be burnt out, open-boated, drugged,
kidnapped, shipwrecked on a derelict with
mailman, are experiences of a rather
emphatic sort. Hardys share had been
the share of a man, and bar the drug he
could have gone through twenty-fold
worse and emerged a sunburnt, smiling
sailor.
Fate for little while was now to mask
its grim features with a pleasant leer,
and for the next two days of the ships
adventure the weather was calm, the sea
smooth enough for a little yacht, the
heavens bright with a little shading here
and there of cloud and all went well with
the crew. On the morning of the third
day Hardy came out of his coop like a
snail from its she'll, only little faster.
Julia was at the wheel and the dog on
the forecastle keeping a lookout.
1--WE are in luck said Hardy, gazing
round him. Fancy only requiring to
trim sail five times in two days!"
How far off is the abandoned brig,
do you think?" asked the girl.
"All five hundred miles of salt water,
Julia, and salt mile is longer than
highway mile
They were used to the ship and the
ways and methods they had adopted.
Thanks to the blessed weather they had
by alienation secured the. rest that ma
ture demanded. There was plenty to eat
and they ate heartily. The dog was as
useful as midshipman; he understood
the meaning of the word slack, and held
on to it when required as though his
teeth were in the sleeve of a drowning
man. There was coal In the fore-peak
and Hardy had made the necessary
descent, and the stock in the galley was
always plentiful.
This morning they went about their
work as usual. Hardy steered, Julia
lighted the galley fire, and the dog came
aft to sit beside the wheel and wait for
| breakfast. How did Hardy look? How
did Julia look? Very we'll indeed, l can
assure you. When on board the abandon
ed brig the sailors beard grew, and he
| had returned somewhat bristling to the
York. But in this ship were his razor
lathering brush and a square of glass to
make faces in. He was therefore now a
| clean-shaven man, and l don't believe
! there is any girl living who would not
have fallen in love with him. He had
| choice of clothes, too, which put him
to windward of his sweetheart But the
eye Of love should never be affected by
| apparel, and when Julia clothed herself
for warmth and the night in the mad
mans cloak she was still an incompAr-
able figure and of romantic face Clothes
have very little to do with health; you
may sometimes peep at the goddess
through rent in the coat, and 1 have
met her in country lanes and crossing
| meadows in the picturesque garb of the
| scarecrow with such cheeks of scarlet
such eyes of light, such teeth of ivory as
might prove the envy and the despair
of her ladyship travelling, like the suds
Of washerwoman's tub, in carriage and
pair to a princely festival
In fact, Julia was sparkling to the
| caressing hand of this new life. The
health of the sea was hers, the love Of
the sailor was hers, content and hope
were hers. Do not these things wait
upon appetite and help digestion?
Do not they irradiate slumber
with entrancing visions? If the girl
soiled her hands by lighting the galley
fire she knew where to find the head
pump and the galley cIout or a towel
| from aft to dry her fingers.
Whilst they were eating their break
fast this morning the dog sprang on the
grating abaft the wheel and barked its
lookout to the sea to windwaTd, about
two points before the beam
Hold this wheel, Julia!" exclaimed
Hardy.
He sprang to the telescope and leveled
it, and the light sweep of the ships sum-
mer lurch darted a boat with a lugsail
into the lens. He viewed her intently in
silence, which Julia did not dare to break
into by needless, gfrlish cries of What
is it?" like the distracting marginal notes
Of the lady's pencil in the fearful, the
hysteric and the religious novel. How
far distant chat boat was off I do not
know, but she lay very clean and clear
IN the powerful tube which Hardy was
bringing to bear upon her. Her sail was
| like square of satin; the fabric was
painted black; as she rose to the fold
you saw the delicate gush OF foam at her
bow. Hardy counted eight nen In he"
and one figure that was in the bows con
tinuously waved some stream ing thing
white In his hands
My God!' cried Hardy, letting fa.i
the glass to his side. What misfor-
tunei'
"A boat full of shipwrecked men," he
replied, and his face grew grim as he said
it They may be dying of THIRST cd
famine, ard they mast, not come aboard =
oh, George: exclaimed Julia, gra ;p-
ing the thing in an instant
IF they came aboard" he continued,
'peaking swiftly and even fercoly, they
may seize the ship! in any case their salv
age claim would wreck our nopes. Put
the helm UP. BY Coo they shall not
board usi''
He sprang to the wheel and the ship
SIoped away 10 leeW3rd from her course,
and the bearings of the boat were then
abaft the beam. Julia picked UP the
glass and with an easy hand directed il.
''She is sailing as fast as We" she ex
claimed.
mo-? answered Hardy IN rage.
Must they be left to perish?" she cried.
twas an av full problem fer fate to sub
ndt to sail or's mind. The very thought
Of thirst, Of famine of suffering in the
miserable figures makes faint the heart of
the seaman, and sooner would he expire
than not fly to help. But how stood this
CHASTITY conlndrum with Hardy? First,
who were the men? They might be for
elgners-Greeks, Italians, Portuguese.
Sranards. They mad knives on their hips.
and their hearts would redde, with IT, ,
spirit of murder when, being Oil board.
they understood that the flag was the
red flag of England and that nothing
stood between them and the slin and a
fair-haired English girl of Incompatible
beauty, but one man, whose heart beat
within the reach of the shortest blade!
No! They must he helped, but not re-
ceived. And how was it to be done? And
| meanwhile grew this fear-if the wind
slackened, if calm FELL they would gain
the ship with their oars. Hardy was WITH
Tut revolver, Capt. Lavard had taken
i h. 4 L