The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-16

. there came a sharp report The flock arose, and although she fired several times in quick succession she was unable to score hit She turned to Carling. "rhe wretehed thing went off before was ready" she almost sobbed Never mind," he answered comfort ingly "theres one more happy goose in the world and we really did not need him." He started the engine and, turn ing the launch, they began to stem the i racing tide.
 Rather chilly facing the wind, is it l lnot-hello-what's struck the engne.
 cried Caring suddenly.
 An odd, choking rattle was proceeding
 from the laboring machinery. A series of quick gasps followed by a loud report en- 1 sued and the next instant the wheel had
 ceased to revolve.
 What has happened?" cried Miss Ghes- ter nervously as the bow of the launch began to swing off to the current.
 'I cant quite make out replied Carl ing in puzzled voice as he rapidly went over the different parts of the engine. | ''Sparker's all right-seems to be in the l feeder-and did you ever smell such a
 reek of gasoline? Well, upon my word | feeder must be choked-theres not drop
 of-no, pumps all right. I'd think she run out of gasoline if 1 hadn't filled the
  | He started rapidly forward and as Miss 1 Chester saw the expression on his fine ] features the blood left her checks
 What is it?" she asked sharply.
 He turned to her slowly and with an
 air of calm regret. His brief examina- tion had shown him that the stray bullet from the girls rifle had cut through the l side and bottom of the tank, allowing the last drop of fuel to escape.
 "fm awfully sorry" he began humbly,
 "but the tanks sprung a leak and there s not a drop of gasoline left. Pm afraid we'll have to anchor-if we can," he added
 under his breath.
 1 No gasolinel" she cried in horror. l "Why, how will we get back?'
 "Oh we'll drift back with the turn of the tide" he answered earelessly, and be- l gan to clear the anchor line Miss Ches- 1 ter watched him dumbly, marvellnG at his calm, for to her their situation seemed l desperate
 Even if we can't hang on here he
 said, the water shoals further out and
 we're bound to bring up there" He did not add that with the wind off shore and 1 freshening the turn of the tide would make bad weather across the shoal for
 broken down speed launches. "A vessel is sure to come up before i dark" he told her reassuringly. You
 know they are constantly going in and out" He had dropped the anchor over
 the bow and was cautiously stacking the | line When he had paid out about five | fathoms he felt the vibration caused by 1 the sliding of the anchor along the hard, f sandy bottom.
 Tt is not as deep as I had feared-' he ! began, when there came q sudden tug at 1 the line that almost hauled him over l board He barely saved himself by grip ping the painter, at the same time drop l ping the anchor line which ran out over ! the side like a snake. Recovering him i self, Carling threw it into the choek on l the bow, and picking up what slack was 1 left, caught quick turn on the bitts He
 had scarcely done so when the line sprang l taut, the trend being astern and under
 the boat He tried to slack out gradually 1 in order to give the launch time to swing 1 head-up. but he had not sufficient line | left The full force of the ebb tide caught I the long boat broadside on. heeling her until the gunwae was awash; the next instant the cable parted under the terrific
 strain, the launch righted quickly, and 1 went sweeping out to sea.
 l Mir Caring turned to his companion
 with an air of profound though calm re- | gret His arms felt as though stretched
 on, the rack and the palms of both hands | were raw
 What haprened?" asked Miss Chester wildly
 'g'm awfully sorry, hut we've lost our
 anchor. It suddenly held on something
 and wouldn't give an inch: must have | foued a piece of wreckage. as there are 1 no rocks hereabouts."
 But what can we do now" She gazed