The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-08-30

to gaze out to sea. Now and then from
the darkness, borne on the wind, came
anxious bits of speculation or inquiry.
Into Bernard's face flashed startled ill
teliiGence. and he whirled to the two
mea.
DO You mean that nObody's gone to
help:" he demanded.
There's nothin' but death out there
for helpers" was the quick answer.
NO man would risk life quicker than
we, but it's foolish TO throw it away
Good Lord, man. What are you DOM"
for Bernard had swung his scooter
back to the shore ice with a quick, al
most vicious thrust and was hosting
the sail.
"Where'd the distress signals seem"
he demanded as lie caught the rope
with a swift double hitch about a
cleat and grasped the scooter grip to
push off. "Runnin' out there with
nOthin' to go by would be like huntin'
white fish in school of hcrrin'.
Could We guess by the sound?"
''She struck somewhere in the east
shore rapids, an if anybody had time
to get off they must "a drifted down
toward the long rocks The water d
be more open there than here. But
don't We try it, Barney" warningly.
ITS sure death. an there's that house.
an Norah g0in' to be here in Z few
days. Think o. her, man"
Il do" sharply. "Norah d be the
first one to say for me to go. If she
was wrecked off somewhere TO sea
wouldn't l want any man in reach to
risk his life to save her-even to lose it
if there was need? The people out
yonder have somebody waitin for
EN-"
"Mebbe there amt any" shouted
one of the men as the scooter slipped
away into the darkness.
'MeGbe there is" came back grimly.
I'm goin' to see
Twenty yards from shore the scooter
dropped into open water, then plowed
its way across u broad space of broken
ice and slush, after which. with the
aid Of a few vigorous prods OF the iron
pointed scooter pole, its pumpkin seed
shaped hull rose gracefully upon an
other ice field and sped on with scarce
ly any checking Of its speed In the
water its shallow bottom skinned the
surface like a bird, the great width
alone keeping it from capsizlng. On
the ice the tiny runners made it IL sled.
or, rather, an ice yacht. which under
favorable circumstances the broad sail
swept on ut almost terrific speed.
But going out Bernard had to tack
against the wind, which made progress
slow and tempted him to many risks
for the sake Of speed. Once, while
crossing an open space. 4 swirlin-
blast lifted his boat clear and tire,
him into the water. but his hand was
gripped upon the rope with fingers Of
steel, and, though he was dragged
through the wafer AID across twenty
yards of ice beyond he held on and
finally drew himself on board and
righted the scooter without stopping.
but his hand was torn and his body
bruised, and before he had gone an
other hundred yards his wet clothing
had frozen into an almost intipXible
aTmor
In the darkness, with the wind and
the rain in his face. it was impossible
to Lit the right point even over ia
miliar course, and. though the long
rocks We're scarcely Il mile from shore,
it was an hour before his scooter
dropped into the head of the rapids q
half mile above them.
He did not hesitate, for time was Of
more value than safety Down the
boiling current bis craft tossed and
dipped at race horse speed and then
slid out upon the rough broken ice
near the long rocks. But he tackled
several times back and forth among
them before lie found the object of his
search group Of crouching figures al
most J.. arln's reach Of the scooter
whom he had already passed twice
without seeing
Two of We get i'll here" he shouted
hoarsely above the roar of the storm.