The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-10-26


bows puzzled him. 1t was partly COW
cred with broken planks from the dam
aged portion Of the upper works, and
1t might be a jib sail fallen there when
the mast broke. The birds were busy
and excited. He did not like that.
Nearly half an hour passed. The
Princes Royal, fine vessel of yacht
like proportions, sprinting for the aft
ernoon train, was about eight miles
away, sou'west by west. According to
present indications, steamer and dere-
lict would be abreast of the Gulf Rock
light simultaneously, but the big ship.
of course, would give wide berth to
a rock strewn shoal.
At last the lighthouse keeper heard
ascending footsteps. This was not
Stephen Brand, but Jones. Jim, whose
rare irritated moods found safety In
stolid silence, neither spoke nor looked
around when his chief joined him, bin
oculars in hand.
Jones, man of whitewash, polish
and rigid adherence to framed rules.
found the boat instantly and recapitu-
lated Jim's inventory, eliciting grunts
of agreement as each item was licked
Off.
A clang Of metal beneath caught their
ears-the opening Of the stout doors,
forty feet above high water mark, from
which series of iron rungs sunk In
the granite wall led to the rocky base
Brands goin' to swim out. It's
hardly worth while signalin' to the
Lands End" commented Jones.
No answer. Jim leaned well over
and saw their associate, stripped to
his underclothing, with a leather belt
supporting a sheath knife slung across
his shoulders, climbing down the lad
der.
This taciturnity surprised Jones, for
Jim was the cheeriest nurse who ever
brought sufferer a plate of soup.
"It's nothing for good swimmer, is
it| was the anxious question.
"No. It's no distance to speak Of"
"An' the seas like mill pond?"
"Aye, it's smooth enough"
Don't you think he ought to try It?
Every fine mornin' he has dip off the
rock"
"Well, if it's all right for him an
you it's all right for me-"
Jim had urged his plea to the man
whom it chiefly concerned. He was
far too sporting a character to obtain
the interference of authority, and
Jones, whose maritime experiences
were confined to the hauling in or pay
ing out Of lightship's cable, had not
the slightest suspicion Of lurking dan
ger in the blue depths.
A light splash came to them, and,
few seconds later, Brands head and
shoulders swung into view. After
dozen vigorous breast strokes he rolled
over on to his side and waved his left
hand to the two men high above him.
With sweeping side stroke he made
rapid progress. Jones, unincumbered
by knowledge, blew through his lips.
Hes a wonderful chap, is Brand"
he said contentedly. ut licks me
what man like him wants messin'
about In the service for. He's edd;-
Gated up to the top notch, an he has
money too. His lodgin's cost the whole
of his pay, the missus says, an that
kid of his has hospital nuss, if you
please"
Jones was grateful to his mates for
their recent attentions. He was in
clined to genial gossip, but Jim was
watching the boat curving toward the
lighthouse. The high spring tide was
at the full. So he only growled:
"You can see with half an eye he has
taken on this job for a change. / wish
he was in that blessed boat"
Jones was quite certain now that his
subordinate harbored some secret fear
of danger.
whats up?' he cried. Hell board |
her in two ticks"
On no account would the sailor men, |
ton sharks. He might be mistaken, |
and Jones would guffaw at his deep |
sea" fancies. Anyhow, 1t was Brands |
affair. A friend might advise; he |
would never tattle.
The head keeper, vaguely excited, |
peered through his glass. Both boat |
and swimmer were in the annular field. |
Brand had resumed the breast stroke. |
The swing of the tide carried the |
broken bow toward him. He was not |
more than the boats length distant |
when he dived suddenly and the cor
tapped aloft. A black fin |
darted into sight, leaving a sharply di- |
vided trail in the smooth patch of |
water created by the turning of the |
derelict.
Jones was genuinely startled now.
"My God" he cried. "What is it,"
"a shark" yelled Jim. 81 knew it
warned him. Eth, but he's game, is |
the cap'n.'
''Why didn't you tell me?" roared |
Jones. Under reversed conditions he
would have behaved exactly as jim
did.
But it was no time for words. The
men peered ut the sudden tragedy with
an intensity which left them gasping
for breath. More than 200 yards away
in reality, theN magnlfying glasses
brought this horror so close that they
could see-they almost thought they
could hear-its tensely dramatic ac-
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