The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-02-02

nad IL silence and grim perpleXity. It
was too late to think of getting away
now that the rudder was disabled. Tie
Bertha Millner must bide where she
was.
"And little more of this dancing
exclaimed Moran, land we'll have the
planks springing off the sternpost."
Charlie nodded solemnly. He said
nothing his gravity had returned.
Now in the glare of the tropical day.
with the Bertha Millner sitting the sea
as placidly as brooding gull. be was
Talleyrand again.
II tinkum yas," he said vaguely.
"Well, I think we had better try and
fix the rudder and put back to Frisco"
said Moran. you're making no money
this way. There are no shark to be
caught. Something's wrong They're
gone away somewhere. The crew are
eating their heads off and not earning
enough money to pay for their keep.
What do you Thinks
Il tinkum yas.''
"Then We'll go home Is that it"'
Il tinkum yas-tomolla'
Tomorrow
"Yas.''
'"That's settled then,' persisted Mo-
ran, surprised at his ready acquies-
cence. 1--WE start home tomorrow ~
Charlie nodded.
"Tomolla,'' he said.
The rudder was not so badly dam
aged as they had at first supposed.
The break was easily mended, but it
was found necessary for one of the
men to so over the side.
"Get over the side here, Jim" COM
manded Moran. Charlie. tell him
what's wanted. We can't work the
pintle in from the Deck
But Charlie shook his head.
Him no likee go; him plenty much
faid''
Moran ripped out an oath.
What do l care if he's afraid!
want him to shove the pintle into the
lower gudgeon. What carbon she
exclaimed. I'D sooner work a boat
with she monkeys. Mr.. Wilbur, | shall
have to ask you to go over. l thought
was captain here, but it all depends
on whether these rats are afraid or
not"
"Plenty many shark" expostulated
Charlie. Him flaid shark come back.
catchum chop-chop''
"Stand by here with couple of cut
ting-in spades," cried Moran, "and
fend off if you see any shark. Now,
then, are you ready, mate?''
Wilbur took his determination in
both hands, threw off his coat and san
dals and went over the stern rail-
Put your ear to the water" called
Moran from above. sometimes you
can hear their flukes."
It took but a minute to adjust the
p1ntle, and Wilbur regained the deck
again, dripping and little pale. He
knew not what horrid form of death
might have been lurking for him down
below there underneath the kelp. AS
he started forward for dry clothes he
was surprised to observe that Moran
was smiling at him, holding out her
hand. - +
thank you. I've seen older sailor men
than you who wouldn't have taken the
risk" Never before had she appeared
more splendid in his eyes than at this
moment. After changing his clothes in
the fo'e'stle he sat for a long time,
his chin in his hands, very thoughtful
Then at length, as though voicing the
conclusion of his reflections. he said
aloud as he rose to his feet:
"But Of course that is out of the
question:
He remembered that they were going
home on the next day. Within a fort
night he would be in San Francisco
again, taxpayer, a police protected
citizen once more. It had been good
fun, after all, this three weeks life on
the Bertha Millner. a strange episode
cut out from the normal circle Of his
conventional life. He ran over the in
! cidents Of the cruise-Kitchell, the tur-
tie hunt, the finding of the derelict,
the dead captain, the squall and the
awful sight of the sinking bark, Moran