The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-16

certain awe III MS voice as llleN SllOt
past a black and white mid-channel
buoy. THE tide must run four knots!
Do you think it well to start on this
wild-goose chase with this tide to buck
on the way back"
I'm going to get a shot if | have to
chase them outside the capeS," she an
swered stubbornly. They dashed on I'M
til almost abreast of the outer entrance
and could soon distinguish the big birds
quite plainly.
Now stop and let her drift" whis-
pered Miss Chester. CARING obedient-
ly turned the switch and the drive in
the cylinders ceased.
All at once Miss Chester raised her
weapon, but before she had time to aim
there came n sharp report. The flock
arose, and although she fired several
times in quick succession she was I'M
able to score hit She turned to Car
ling. "A
THE wretched thing went off before
was ready" she almost sobbed.
Never mind he answered comfort
ingly, there's 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 20 stem the
facing tide.
Rather chilly facing the wind. is it
Observation-Disclosures struck the engine!"
cried CARING suddenly.
An odd, choking rattle was proceed
ing from the laboring machinery. A
series of quick gasps followed by loud
report ensued. and the next intastnt
the wheels had ceased to revolve.
What has happened?' cried Miss
Chester nervously, as the bow OF the
launch began to swing off to the cur
rent.
Il can't quite make out" replied
CARING in a puzzled voice as he rapid
| ly went over the different parts of the
engine. "Sparker's all riCht-seems to
be in the feeder-and did you ever smell
such Teek of gasoline? Well, upon my
WOrd-fceder must be choked-there's
rot drop f-nO.pump's all right. I'd
| think she'd run out of gasoline if |
hadn't filled the tank myself this morn
/ ing. BY Jove-" He started rapidly
| forward. and as Miss Chester saw the
expression on his fine features the blood
/ left her cheeks.
| what is it, she asked sharply.
! He turned on her slowly and with az,
air of calm regret. His brief .examina-
ton had shown him that the stray bull
let from the girls rifle had cut through
the side and bottom of the tank. allow
ing the last drop of fuel to escape
I'm awfully sorry" he began hum
there's not drop of gasoline left. I'm
afraid we'll have to anchOr-if we can, -
he added under his breath.
! mo gasolinel" she cried in horror
why, how will We get back?''
'Oh. wen drift back with the turn
of the tide" he answered carelessly
and began to clear the anchor line
Miss Chester watched him dumbIy
marveling at his calm, for to her Their
situation seemed 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 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
dark" he told her TeasSuringly. you
know they are constantly going in and
out" He had dropped the anchor
over the bow and was cautiously slack.
ing the line. When he had paid out
about five fathoms he felt the vibra tioi
caused by the sliding of the anchor
along the hard, sandy bottom.
1T is not as deep as 1 had feared
he began. when there came a sudder
tug at the line that almost hauled hin
overheard He barely saved himself
by gripping the painter, at the sam,
time dropping the anchor line which
ran out over the side like snake. Re
covering himself, CARING threw II int
the chock on the bow, and picking III
what slack was left, caught a ouicl
turn on the bits. He had scarcely don,
so when the line sprang taut, the trenc
being astern and under the boat. II,
tried to slack out gradually in order t,
give the launch time to swing head-up
but he had not sufficient line left. Til
full force of the ebb tide caught tn,
long boat broadside on, heeling her un
til the gunwale was awash: the mex
instant the cable parted under the ter
rife strain, the launch righted quickl.
and went sweeping out to sea.
Mr.. CARING turned to his companion
with an air of profound though cain
regreat. His. arms felt as though
stretched on the rack and the palms O
both hands were raw
What happened?" asked Miss Ches
, ter wildly.
I'm awfully sorry, but we've lost gu
anchor. 1t suddenly held on something
and wouldn't give an inch; must hav
fouled piece of wreckage, as Their
are no rocks hereabouts.
But what can we do now?" sh
: eazed back in hopeless horror at tn
dwmdling shore.
. well soon be picked up-don't wor
ry." he answered. comfortingly. a
: think that the joke is on the rest of tn
, people"-he waved his hand at the piI
Of provisions-"here we are sailing on
. to sea with all of the eateables an
: drinkables that make Christmas din
q ner worth the effort. Are you warn
{ e1ough?"
Il am more frightened than cold,
: she admitted family, her self -assertio
al. swept away by surrounding Dan
a gers. She found herself looking to hir