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


useful, an we might tie her up to the
buoy on the off chance until the relief
comes or we signal a smack. But
what's the good O. talkin'? We've got
no boat, an nobody'd be such fool as
to swim to her."
''That is what 1 had in mind"
Jim lowered the glass.
"That's the fust time I've ever heard
you say such a silly thing, Stephen
Brand"
There was no wavering judgment in
his voice now. He was angry and
slightly alarmed.
'"Why is it so emphatically silly,
Jim?" was the smiling query.
How dye know what's aboard of
her? What's them fowl after? What's
under that sail? What's that lynn
crumpled UP forrard? Dead men,
mebbe. If they are, she's conveyed by
sharks"
Sharks! This it not the Red sea.
am not afraid of any odd prowler.
Once Anyhow, / am going to ask
Jones'"
"Jones won't hear of it,"
"That is precisely what he will do,
within the next minute. Now, don't
be vexed, Jim. Stand by and sing out
directions If needful when l am in the
water. Have no fear. / am more than
equal to Leander in sea like this"
Jim, who trusted to the head keep
er's veto-awed, too, by the reference
to Leander, whom he hazily associated
with Captain Webb-made no rejoinder.
He focused the telescope again, gave
a moments scrutiny to the steamer
and then re-examined the boat. The
stiffness of the morning was solemn.
Beyond the lazy splash of the sea
against the Gulf Rock itself and an Oc"
casional heavy surge as the swell re-
vealed and instantly smothered some
dark tooth Of the reef he heard no
sound save the ring of stephen Brands
boots on the iron stairs as he descend
ed through the oil ROOM the library and
Office to the first bedroom, in the low
er bunk of which lay Mr.. Jones, keeper
and chief, recovering from q sharp at
tack of sciatica.
During one fearful night in the
March equinox, when the fierce heat OF
the lamp within and the icy blast Of
the gale without had temporarily de-
ranged the occulting machinery, Jones
experienced an anxious watch. Not for
an instant could he forego attendance
on the lamp. Owing to the sleet it was
necessary to keep the light at full pres
sure. The surplus oil. driven up from
the tanks by weights weighing half a
ton, must flow copiously over the brass
shaft of the burner or the metal might
yield to the fervent power of the col
umn Of flame.
The occulting hood, too, must be help
cd when the warning click came or it
would jam ana fail to fall periodically,
thus changing the character of the
light, to the bewilderment and grave
peril of any unhappy vessel striving
against the exterior turmoil of wind
and wave.
SO Jones passed four hours with his
head and shoulders i'm the temperature
Of q Turkish bath and the lower part
Of his body chilled to the bone.
He thought nothing of it at the time.
This was duty. But at intervals
throughout the rest of his life the sci
attic nerve would remind him of that
lonely watch. This morning he was
convalescent after painful immobility
OF two days.
Watching the boat, Jim centered her
in the telescope field and looked anx-
iously for sharp arrow shaped ripple
on the surface of the sea. The breeze
which had vanquished the fog now
kissed the smiling water into dimples,
and his keen sight was perplexed by
the myriad wavelets.
Each minute the condition Of affairs
on board became more defined. Be
meath some oars ranged along the star
board side he could see several tins,
r. ~ -.sS.e,