The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1907-02-07
Heard In the Fog
TCoDyrisht 1906 by Homer Spragu

copyright, 1906, by Homer Sprague.l
I had chosen Weymouth, on the
south coast of England, as the spot
where l was to "lay off" for a month
and recuperate. The three or four men
who had boats to hire soon had them
all out. I had planned to fish that
day, and as 1 took my boat out ]
passed at least a dozen others.
There was something of sea on,
and only one boat followed me out
It's occupants were a man and Wo-
man. The man had charge Of the sail,
and I soon had cause to wonder that
he had been permitted to take a sail
boat out. 1t was clear that he knew
precious little about the management
of such a craft, and after awhile !
brought my boat up into the wind and
waited for him to come up that l
might give him warning.
When he came along he was within
an ace Of cutting me down, and l cried
the craft I should like to see it bottom
side up and he hanging on for dear
life. He gave me some impudence in
reply, and the woman stood up and
held her arms out to me pleadingly.
It at first seemed to be case calling
for interference, but on second thought
changed my mind. The woman,
whom 1 took to be the mans wife, had
not demanded my aid except by signs.
The man had thus far escaped disas-
ter and might carry the boat back
He was sailing straight out into the
channel, but he might turn at any mo-
ment. To interfere was certain to
bring on a row, and even might be
landed in Jail over it.
I resumed my course, bearing away
from them, but as I watched the other
craft she suddenly vanished from sight
like the snap of your finger. A fog
rolling in had hidden her.
The other boat was half a mile away
when she was blOtted out. The tide
was setting in, and 1 knew that she
would drift back toward me as soon
quarter Of an hour before I heard
voices and ten minutes later before I
could make out words. They came
from the other boat, which was drifting
slowly in. The man was cursing and
threatening and the woman begging
and praying.
II will leave you, will 90 away, if
you will spare my life," pleaded the
woman.
you promised once before and then
lied to me-" came the voice Of the man.
But 1t will be murder, murder, mur-
der! Oh, Richard, you don't mean to
kin mev'
''But do. You have been in my
way for years. Curse you! Why did I
ever run across your face? You have
stood between me and happiness long
enough"
but I'll go this time. promise you
before God I'll go. Richard, have
been a good wife to you, but If you
have come to hate me I'll CO."
Hate you" he growled, like savage
animal. "Why, I hate you to the death.
I'd have murdered you dozen times
over In the last two years If I'd had a
fair show. You are going to die now"
"Oh, my God, don't do 1t, Richard!
OOu XIII me!
knew their boat was close to me
now, and I gently raised my anchor
50 as to drift in company with it. I
might have cried out, but I did not.
Had I struck my hand on the rail of
the boat they must have heard me. I
was silent, but why I cannot tell. I
heard the man move. heard him tug
Sinv hro = =
the woman up In his arms.
She whimpered and gasped and tried
to scream, but he gave her a fling
over the gunwale of the boat. She
tainted away, but did not go under the
surface. With the boat hook reached
as far out as could on the port side,
and presently 1 had her and was pull
Ing her in. The two craft were not
ten feet apart, and yet no human
sight could pierce the fog between.
held the woman's head out Of the
water for ten minutes. Then I some
how knew that the other boat had
drifted ahead Of me, and with the ut
most care hauled the unconscious wo-
man into the boat and laid her on
~>~S 1SISSAA. To1ICu SCfCu VI SlSul
minutes, and then out with the long
oar and by compass guided the boat to
reach the shore at Bridport, to the west
Of Weymouth.
Before We struck the beach l had
forced some brandy down her throat,
and she had regained consciousness,
but l did not explain matters to her
until we were on the sands and the
fog had rolled away. She had begged
for her life like weak woman. and I
expected to find her hysteric;il. She
heard me through without interruption,
and then her eyes snapped, and she
set her jaws. I got a farmer to drive
US over to Weymouth, and during the
journey she did not speak five words
Her husbands boat had not made har-
Dor yet. The fog had disappeared,
but the breeze was very weak. -. p.
We went to the house where the boat
had been hired and waited. When the
boat drew near the woman hid herself
Her husband came ashore with pale
face and bloodshot eyes. The boat
owner said nothing Of woman having
gone with him, and the man was about
turning away when the woman stepped
out and took him by the arm. He gave
one look and groaned out and sank
down, and when he opened his eyes
he began babbling.
The pair were at the hotel for long
weeks after I left, but so far as I could
keep track Of the case the man had
not recovered. He could walk around