The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-11-04
CHAPTER XIV
(Continued.)

Sewer and Carlton, by your descrip-
ton, and they were trying to hire
some sort of craft and crew. Ships
happened, luckily, to be scarce at
Zanzibar just then. and they hadn't
made any Roadway when | came
here to superintend things. Sulh-
van had chartered this boat already
and | picked up Hawke at Mozam-
bique as 4 came down. They cant
| have much the start of us"
And what then. demanded
/ Bennett.
] why, We QUILTED this dhOw
and no joke it was. We were lucky
in picking up full diving outfit.
It's badly battered. but we got it
cheap and it'll serve We hired a
| Berber Arab with it, who used to
work on the sponge boats in the
Levant and understands it. Then
We had to rig rough derrick APP
paratus to hoist heavy weights
aboard by man power. We had to
get a crew, and provision and
arms-no end of things. 1t was like
stocking shop. We finished the
job five days ago, and we've been
waiting ever since for message
from you.
WED have murdered you if we
could have caught you. We were
about ready to go Oh our heads,
Hawke supplemented.
The dhow was clearing the riv'
er mouth and the Arab skipper
hauled her course to the north
ward. The breeze was fresher out
side, and she rapidly increased her
speed, rolling heavily under the
seas. for she was in light ballast
We've arranged to take turns
standing watches" said Henninger.
"One of must must always be on
guard till we get back. I'll take
the first watch, from o'clock till
midnight, and then Hawke and
then Sullivan, three hours apiece.
Elliott and Bennett will take their
turns the next night, and this ar
rangement give stwO men a full
sleep every night.
'I'll take my turn" interposed
Margaret.
No" said Henninger, in tone
that closed the question. The rest
of us sleep on blankets spread on
the deck because it's so hot, Miss
Laurie, but you can have the
cabin, or we'll swing you ham
mock amidships. But you'd suffo-
cate in the cabin I'm afraid. You
said you didn' twant any favors,
and we can't give you any"
Margaret chose the hammock,
which an Arab seaman was order
ed to sling for her. But no one
turned in for two more hours /,
there was too much excitement in
the actual, long delayed start. But
the cool sea wind brought quiet,
and excitement gave place to last
to intense WEAKNESS.
Elliott spread his blanket beside
the rail only couple of yards
from Margaret's hammock.
eff anything should brighten you
in the night, just speak to me and
I'll hear you instantly" he re-
marked, as he lay down.
"All right" she replied; but he
felt more than certain that what
ever the alarm, she would sooner
have bitten off the end of her
tongue than have appealed to him
for help.
Elliott awoke several times dur
ing the night. Margaret's ham,
mock was swaying heavily in the
roll, but she appeared to be asleep
and all was quiet on deck.
At last he awoke with start. tc
find it broad day. He arose and
walked aft, feeling a trifle cramp
ed and stiff, to where Sullivan. was
lounging out the last hour Of his
duty. Margaret still slept pro
foundly in her hammock.
What do you think of our clip
per? | picked her out" said Sulli
van, walking for to meet him.
The dhow was about 80 feet Ions
and rather broad in the beam, will
two masts stepped with an extrav
agant rake forward each bearing {
great lateen sail.
"She seems to be able to sail,
replied Elliott, glancing at the rae
ing water alongside.
That's no lie. The skipper say:
she can do Ia knots with the right
kind of wind. Her names the
Omeyyah or words to that effect
She'd make a sensation in the New
York Yacht club, Wouldn't she?'
whats your crew like? Are
they really the tough gang thai
| caid 1p
"Oh, fancy he was piling it or
| to brighten that girl. She's deac
game, isn't she. No. the men are
all coast Arabs-pretty peaceabl'
lot, | recken. You see. they're al
of the same tribe as the reis ant
he's guaranteed good behavior from
them. Besides, we're armed. Their
r is a big revolver apiece and ;
! dozen Mauser rifles down below
/ with a thousand cartridges. Second
! hand military rifles can be bough
J at bargain prices in Lorenzo Mar
. quez just now"
= Henninger came aft at that me
1 ment, looked earnestly at the Sc
a and sky. and drew bucket of wa
1 ter from over the side for his al
D buttons. Elliott and sullivan fo
r lowed his example; and when MAJ
+ garet appeared a few minutes late
iron behind the mizzen sail, she