The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-09-13

Captain Reed called another meeting
/ 10 consider the question OF changini
the yachts course. MIR. Boggles Is now
incapacitated." he exclaimed. "and Of
course no one else Is familiar with thl'
coast"
That's So" retorted Mr. Pierce. with
sudden enlightenment. Then we mus
retprn-at once"
A malevolent light Of Joy illuminet
his features.
Exactly" replied the captain. 81
shall order the course changed"
Not today, captain" interrupted An
nette sweetly. 1T seems like--like sac
rilege to turn around and run home st
soon after Mr.. Bogglcs Is laid up. IL
think we should keep on day or two
There Is some hope, DR.. Langdon. isn't
! therey"
I The doctor shook his head. "I'n
sorry TO disappoint you, Annette. but
there's none. Boggles Is blind-totally
blind. He may In six months or yeai
recover some OF his sight but II Is q
forlorn hope"
Annette's face darkened. Mr.. Pierce
thought she was about to cry, and he
hastily said:
Eve might keep on the same course
for a day or two, captain. out OF re-
spect for Boggles. and
"Yes. yes, certainly"
| Annette gave them both grateful
smile, and the conference was ended
Boggles absorbed more attention now
than before the accident. Every Que
paid him Difference, but that was partly
because all, from the humblest to the
highest, knew that the trip was to be
abandoned in day or two. But Bog
giles didn't know, and he kept moaning
'I'll never see the Straddle rocks
ag'in. If / could see EN- I'd die In
peace. All, there they are. Are you
here, ma'ami Look at 'em! See the
sun on 'em! There's where was
born-twenty. thirty, forty, fifty years
ago, ma'amr
"Oh, Bogglesw moaned Annette In
--4-----. .'s"Lss Hs Ali- L~esaaT,
Now, the meeting Of the cold breath
from the north coast and the warm
wind Of the southern summer plays
havoc with the sea at many points
between Newfoundland and Labrador.
Fierce elemental struggles Of the at
mosphere shake the sea and earth, and
for days and nights no ship Is safe In
those far regions.
The Grayling was stanch yacht,
but rather undersized for cruise so
far from port. When the wind struck
her she danced lightly In the choppy
seas, but as the storm developed she
grew troubled and frightened.
Boggles had recovered from bis
feverIsh delrium and was rational.
He heard the storm and found an
atom OF consolation in It. II relieved
his mind Of the weight pressing upon
IL.
For n night and day the yacht drift
ed. Then In the blackness Of the sec
ond night the vortex Of the frightful
storm was reached, with the craft III
prepared to meet 1t.
The forward watch reported break
ers ahead, and the jagged outline OF
rocks was seen In the distant back
ground. The Grayling was drifting
steadily toward them. II was mat
ter OF an hour before she would strike.
Annette heard the summons to pre-
pare for the worst. The two boats
which were left would hold the crew
and passengers, and there was no al.
tentative but to trust their lives to
the tender mercies Of the breakers In
them.
.'Boggles, you must rise and 90 with
me-" Annette said. "Ill lead you.
| We're drifting on the rocks"
what rocks -Straddie rocksY'
II don't know" laughed Annette hys.
tericaliy. -'Tt would be funny II they
were."
mo, ma am, It wouldn't, for they're
dangerous us--very dangerous in a storm
like this."
"oh. II you could only see, Mr.. Bog.
giles. you would save psg'
yes, I'd save you. know the
coast"
He pressed hand to his throbbins
/ head
What rocks did you say they weref"
he queried again. How do they look
tall. ragged an straddling. as II they
wanted to block up the entrance 10 the
cover That's them. Yes, know
I them"
II didn't say, Mr.. BogEies. what
they booked
Eyes, | know that sound" interrupt
/ ed the man suddenly. THAT'S on the
Saddles hump. It's three miles to tho
west OF the entrance. know my reck
oning now. I'll take the yacht"
Mr.. Boggles, IL is Annette start
cd TO interpose, but the old pilot was
/ ut the door OF his staieroom.
There, take those things away he
said impatiently, stripping the band
ages from his forehead II can't sec
/ with them on"
Annette mechanically picked up tbs
discarded strips Of fine linen and fol
lowed her erstwhile patient through
the door. Boggies was on deck before
her. All was confusion and blackness
there, but the pilot wended bis way
through the obstructions TO the pilot
house
I'm take her, captain. now he an
nounced gently. I've 20, my bear
ings. That's the Saddles hump, an
over there's straddle rocks. Its nasty
weather In here"
Captain Reed stared at the vision
bui II was too dark 10 see clearly. His
own nerves were Considerably ratified
by the recent series OF events, and be
stspped lack In something Ike super
Million. -