The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-26

feet. he saw Dowsett clinging to the forestay. and helping an elderly woman | on to the boat Then suddenly the black
 cottage before him seemed to crumpie | up like house of cards. The lights went out. the walls caved in. and the | whole dwelling appeared to dissolve in Q white mist. For one moment a great
 piece of roof hung on the bowsprit of
 the smack. Then. the weight of the un- supported tile and timber snapped the | spar like twfg. and nothing was left of l Dowsstt's house but few black i specks, dancing and whirling in tor- l rent of foam.
 Near go" said Dowsett, catching his l wife by the waist and looking steadily I at the swirl of waters which marked | the site of his old home.
 | "Oh, them carpets and things. wall | cd the woman. ''oh Sam, 'tis cruel work.
 and we've saved so hard. we have. for them bits of stun"
 "Tush woman" said Dowsett sternly.
 Thank God for life. Who be your" and
 he turned to TankerIane with fierce l glare In his eyes.
 "The Hope and Glory" said Tanker | lane, from Gorehaven."
 'Yardleys smack. Where be Yard
 ley. and that limb of the devil. young
 Playle-"
 curtly. He was already learning to spare his words. following the example l of men of action.
 'Dead7" quivered Dowsett. And your | Who be youf"
 NO sailor, as you may guess"
 There's another man in the cabin. Mir John Shii. of Black Hall" "Mr Shil?" cried Mrs Dowsett. 'sThe Lord be praised, the Lord be praised. We thought him dead.v
 l You thought him dead" asked Tank force itself into his mind. Who are | you. then?"
 Sam Dowsett I be-"
 | And the lady you handed me just now, the lady who is ill?" | Friend of MT Ships-stayin' with us-mebbe you knows more'n we do. | if you be a friend of Mir ShiPs." Certainly I dn." replied Tankerlane. "She is Lady Tankerlane, and my wife," Dowsett did not answer. but lie look ed at his wife as though she might help him out of the intricacies of a difficult position. She did not offer to do so. however, and he sought refuge in mat l ters which required immediate atten- tion. "whers be MT shil, sirr' he asked. Down below. He is helpless. have | had to sail the boat by myself. We pick l ed him up on Black Spit Island; he's half dead and lost his sight. But I'm | not concerned with him. Whats the | matter with my wife. Lady Tanker iane?''
 Fever on the brain" said Mrs Dow sett. Poor lamb. She'd just passed the l worst; and now this has come. twin l kill her for sartin."
 GO and look after her at once," said | Tankerlane. I'll make good--every- | thing you've lost in the house, and re- l ward you handsomely-you must get MT Shil out of the cabin--and answer no questions. If my wife comes to her senses, she must not be told of my presence" "Shem asleep, poor dear. The doctors medicine as we gave her still holds" "well--when she wakes-she must be told nothing--to disturb her mind. | and your husband--will do all that can l be done-on deck. But you get below you
 He spoke in short. gasping sentences. l and Dowsett saw that his face was |
 white as . sheet. Then he stopped sud- 1 denly, and, staggering back a pace or two. clung to one of the stays for sup | port.
 "You be i'll, sir" said Dowsett.
 "Yes," Tankerlane muttered faintfy | "Tm done up. I've been sickal horribly | sick-and I've had to do so much; the strain has unnerved me-"
 You go below to the lass" said | Dowsett to his wife. "and tell Mr
 - A-. a
 NO" cried TsnkerIane.' 'don't you speak to him. He'll know your voice. I'll tell him." He let go the stay. and crawIed aft to the hatch. But before he reached 1t. the woodwork heaved up- | wards. and ShiIs head appeared.
 "water's coming in" cried the blind man. ''It's a foot deep on the floor. Whats happened? Why the devil don't you speak? Can't you understand what | silence means to a man who can't see? Where are we? What has happened?"
 Take my hand" said Tankerlane, land come up on deck"
 Shil groped for the outstretched hand, and Tankerlane exerted his strength to
 help him out of the hatchway. Then he led him for'ard.
 You just lie down here" he said land keep quiet. It's all right"
 Shil lay down on the wet deck. and clung to the pitts with his hands. Tank erlane beckoned to Dowsett and went aft to the cabin. And all the time the | Hope and Glory rose and fell on the waves and ground away the wall be- meath her keel with succession of shocks that must have started every timber in her hull
 The two men made their way into the cabin, and carried Laura through the door which led into the foc's1e. This end of the boat was high and dry on the wall, and 1t was the work of rew minutes to prePa.e watM anu comfortable portion of the food from the water which was steadily rising in the main cabin. and lit a small oil stove.
 "You go in the foc's'le," said Dowsett to his wife when he returned on deck. You'll be snug huff there with the lass" He spoke in a whisper, so that Shil sh ould not hear. He had no desire to serve Tankerlane in the matter, but he thought 1t best to keep Shil In ignor- ance till they were all out of danger.
 Mrs Dowsett disappeared down the foc's'le hatch, and her husband drew Tankerlane aside to the after part of the vessel.
 "Mebbe she'll hold.'' he said quietly, land mebbe she won't. I reckon her backs brok en, and she may fall In two, if the tide don't turn soon. Iris high now by rights. but mebbe the wind1l keep the water up a bit longer"