The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-24

Now" said PlayIe aloud. as if efv- ing an order. Stand by.'s
 He loosed the tiIler, and spranR for the lib sheet. But the boat did not swing round Into the wind, and the next second there came a shock which sent him staggering to his knees.
 Yardley brushed Tankerlane aside, and sprang out of the hatchway.
 You cursed fool.v he cried. as he paid off the mainsheet. and the boom swung out with crash. Here, push her of at the bow with the sweeps. You, sir, get up and push .sor. by Hea- ven, we're here for six hourp." He ran for'ard, and held out the jib with both hands. in the hope that the wind might force the boats head off the bank.
 For two minutes there was scene of stupendous physical energy. Playle pushed at the sweep till the thick wood bent like a cane, and even Tankerlane worked as though his very life depend ed on the result Of his labor. And none of them paid any attention to the waves which poured over the black hull, breaking on 1t as though 1t were an immovable rock.
 But all their efforts were in vain. The Hope and Glory was hard and fast on the Black Spit Island, and the ebbing tide would leave her there till 1t re- turned again.
 CHAPTER xxxII.
 The Darkness.
 This be nice thing you'm at" cried Yardiey as he lowered the lp. "you ain'ts fit, to sail boat. you lub- ber."
 .Easy mate,- said Piayle. Hard words won't get us of, and hard words lead to hard blows betimes- Just stow your talk and lend a hand with main- sail :" He spoke quietly. but there was an unpledsant gieam in his dark eyes, which induced Yardley to refrain from WY further abuse. .
 Tn an hours time the water had left the Hope and Glory high and dry on sise sandbank. and Tankerlane. after a meal consisting of few biscuits and a glass of whisky and water, decided to go ashore and walk around the iit- tie island. The two sailors were mak- ing a splendid lunch off tongue, timed salmon, galantine of chicken. and pate de foie gras, but the very sight of these delieacies made him feel uncom- fortable. and he was anxious to feel dry land once more under his feet, He walked along the top of the wall. picking his way carefully over the large stones. until he reached the far side of the island. Here there was nothing to be seen but a wide vista of ridged sand, stretching to the misty outline of the land. It looked firm .enough--an ideal spot for children to play on-but Tankeriane remembered what Yardfey had told him, and he re- garded 1t with mixture of awe and reverence.
 "AftSr ail." he said to himself, it is very much like life. which looks smooth enough till one steps across it's surface"
 Then large dark object. entangied in the piles about hundred yards fur ther on, attracted his attention. He walked towards 1t along the bank. and scrambled over the slippery timbers till he reached 1t. Then he saw that it was part of a boat. terribly mangled by the force with which 1t had been cast up impa1ed on one of the piles.
 'Hm" he said to himself, that can't have been there long. or ttd have broken tp,"
 He examined the little wreck with interest, and then continued his walk along the bank. Before he had gone more than a hundred yards however, he heard a faint moan. It seemed to come from some tall reeds that fringed q small pool about fifty feet from the wall.
 He stopped down and made his way to the place. As he brushed the reeds, aside, he caught sight of the body of a man, lying face downwards. and with one hand in the water of the pool.
 He kneIt down. and lifting the body from the ground. looked at the face. The eyes bIinlxed and stared at him, but there was no sign of recognition in them, though it was the face of one who knew him well enough--the face of John Shil.
 Tankerlane looked for one moment into the face of his enemy, and then