The Red Cloud chief., 1905-01-27
WHEN THE FOG
I VT DOW N

to bob about in lively fashion that Me
Cuskcr would admit to himself the
truth of the suspicion which for the
past half hour had been ~momcntarily
growing upon him. Yet he dared not
stop rowing lest the girl should sus-
pect the truth. lie shut his teeth hard
Is lie bent over the oars.
The gray, drcaiy mist which had
shut down like Il pail seemed growing
more dense. and 10y this he knew that
darkness was coming on. Somehow in
the fog he had missed the yachts at
the mornings, ana o the motion of
the tender rs she slid ~ the long in
coming swells told him they were well
out in the bay.
1t was Il serious predicamcnt. The
fog gave no sign of lifting, and, with
darkness coming on, the chances of
spending Il night in the open boat were
somewhat more than McCusker cared
to contemplate.
"Sorry, Miss Carey, but we've over
shot the mark and pulled past the
yachts in the fog. Hard a port, please.
Well make them in Il trice."
The girl smiled as she brought the
bont about.
II wonder you can get your bearings
at all in this wretched fog" she said.
Something in her tone made McCus-
ker look up quickly.
"And l have my OWL suspicious as
to our present plight. Honestly, now,
do you know where we are?'
"Oh, there's not the slightest dan
ger" McCusker began reassuringly.
$50 we are not lost, then" she said
lightly. "This is great fun"
McCusker looked at her with undis-
guised admiration.
"Yes." said he; "we're really lost.
And, by George, it makes It II lot cas-
Ter to have some one along you can
tell the truth to without sending her
into Mysteries"
"INhe w%orst-tell it all!' the girl de.
manded.
"Well," said he, "we're out i'm the
bay somewhere, that's evident. and
heaven only knows where we can find
the yachts. We may drift round all
night, but not II I can help it," he end
ed, with determination.
He put his hands to his mouth and
shouted again and again at the top of
his voice, but got no answer
"Humph!" he commented. Just rs
I thought. Nothing to do but pull for
II. It's rather uncertain, but it's better
than drifting anyway"
He took up the oars, and the tender
shot ahead under his powerful strokes.
There was nc sound save the creaking
Of the oars in their oarlocks and the
wash of the boat as she rode over the
swells.
Darkness was fast coming on. The
mist walls which hemmed them in
changed from CHASTITY white to dull
gray. McCusker could scarcely make
out the face Of the girl in the stern
sheets. Then slowly the gray deep
ened into black. and night was upon
them. Every few minutes the man
ceased rowing and shouted through
the mist, but the sound Of his voice
seemed to die out In hollow emptiness
Here's a fxw he said at length
"We don't to be getting any
where. Are you cOldT"
mot a bit" she said cheerfully
"You'd best stop rowing and trust tC
the tide. 1t must be making In now
You're firing yourself out and all to nc
purpose"
"LOok here" said he, 1--WE simply
must find the yachts"
"Impossibilities admit of no 'musts,''
she observed philosophically.
II know" he said, "but the whole
future hangs on 1t. II we drift rount
all night-you see-that Isl
"Oh." she said quickly, you'd better
row, l think"
There was a hint of GOODNESS In he
voice. McCusker dug the oars savage
" into the water.
'l'm afraid you don't understand.
b said finally.
The girl said nothing.
"It's this way" he said desperately
'1f-if we drift round all night you'll
think when I ask you to marry me, ii
I've been trying to get up the cOurag'
to do for weeks, that I'm prompted Il
do 70 by a Of obligation. II vii
be no such thing, but you'n think SO
Just the same. Therefore I want Il
make the yachts and prove to you
would have asked you anyway"
The girl was silent. McCusker fan
cied he heard a low chuckle from tn
vicinity Of the stern sheets. but pro
tracted listening on his part failed Il
verify this.