The Red Cloud chief., 1906-07-20

(CONTtNUED.)

cloud mounting high in the north.
There was an ominous drop in the
temperature too. The rain he antici-
pated might turn TO snow, and snow is
brother to fog at sea, though both
are generally absent from the Cornish
littoral in winter.
Ben cried Enid, breaking off Il
vivid If merciless description of Il new
disciple who had Joined the artistic
coterle at Newlyn, "what are you look
ing at?"
He scratched his head and gazed
fixedly at the white battalions sweep
Ing in aerial conquest over the land.
she do look like snaw," he admitted.
well, what does that matterT"
Without waiting for orders Con
stanc had eased the helm a trile. The
Daisy was now fairly headed for the
rock. With this breeze she would be
there in less than an hour.
1T be Il bit risky" %grumbled Ben.
1--WE will he alongside the lighthouse
before there can be any serious down
fall" said practical Constance. Sure
ly we can make the land again no mat
ter how thick the weather may be-"
Ben allowed himself to be persuaded.
In after life he would never admit
that they were free agents at that
moment.
ut had to be- he would say. at
wur in me mind to argy wi she, but l
just couldn't. An how often do us zee
shaw in Carnwall? Not once in a blue
moon" And who would dispute him?
No west country man, certainly.
AT q distance of five miles one small
fishing craft is as like another as two
|lilliputians to the eye of CULVER. In
n word, 1t needs acquaintance and
nearness to distinguish them.
AS it happened, Stephen Brand did
happen to note the Daisy and the
course she was shaping. But. during
the short interval when his telescope
might have revealed to him the iden-
1ity of her occupants, he was suddenly
called by telephone from the oil room
to the kitchen. When next he ran aloft
in a wild hurry to signal for assistance,
he found, to his despair, that the
Lands End was already blotted out in
n swirling snowstorm, II the great
plain of blue sea had shrunk to a lead
en- patch whose visible limits made the
reef look large by comparison.
With the mechanical precision of
habit he set the big bell in motion. Its
heavy boom came fitfully through the
pelting snowfiakes to the ears of the
two girls and old Ben. The latter, mas
ter of the situation now, announced his
intention to bout ship and make for
Mounts bay.
ZEE doan' ketch me tryin' to sail
close to Gulf Rock when zee can't zee Il
boats length ahead" he said emphatic
ally. II be sorry, ladies both, but zee
knaw how the tide runs over the reef,
an ties easy to drive to the wrong side
of the light. We'm try again tomor-
row. On'y the flowers III spile. All the
rest
Crash! A loud explosion burst forth
from the dense heights of the storm.
The Daisy, sturdy as she was, seemed
to SILVER. The very air trembled with
the din. Pollard had his hand on the
sail to swing 1t TO starboard when Con-
stance put the tiller over to bring the
boats head up against he wind. For
an instant he hesltated. Even he, vers-
ed in the ways of the sea, was startled.
Both girls positively jumped, the sud
den bang Of the rocket was so unex-
pected.
"Mr. Brand must ha' iced u.s." pro-
nounced Ben. "That's a warnin' to W.
to go back"
The words had scarce left his lips
when another report smote the great
silence, otherwise unbroken save by
the quiet plash of the sea against the
bows and the faint reverberations of
the distant bell.
''That Is too urgent to be intended
for u.s." said Constance. "We were
just halfway when the snow com,
menced."
~ did not notice any vessel near the
rock cried Enid TREMENDOUSLY. Did
you, Benz
Pollard's slow utterance was not
quick enough. Before he could an
swer a third rocket Numbered it's over
towering summons.
That Is the help wanted signal"
cried Constance. ben, there Is no
question now Of going back. We must
keep u present course for twenty
minutes at least and then take to the
oars. The bell will guide u.s."
"Oh, yes, Ben" agreed Enid. Some
thing has gone wrong on the rock itself.
] am quite sure there was no ship near
enough to be in trouble already"
by gum, we'm zee what's the mat
ter" growled Ben. STEADY 1t is. Miss