The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-26

ing the boat on a straight course. He knew nothing of the~ coast, and, for aught he knew to the contrary. it might be surrounded with dangerous rocks. The sea roared past him in long steep breakers, and every now and then the smack. weighed down with the wreck of her mainsail, re- fused to rise to the wave, and tor rent of water swept her from her stern to her bowsprit.
 Then suddenly there came a jerk which sent his feet from under him, and he fell on the desk Before he could rise, big wave broke over the stern and washed him up to the mast.
 For a moment he chung to the thick wooden pole ina frenzy of despair and thought that his last hour had come. Then as the water drained away from the deck he rose to his feet and grip ped the jib halliard. As he did so. there was loud thud which vibrated through every timber of the vessel. and 1t was followed by another. Even Tankerlane ignorant as he was of things appertaining to the sea. real ized that the Hope and Glory was aground.
 Thank God" he said to himself. ''there'll be a little peace now" He did not realize that the tide was rising and would float him of again.
 He carefully crept along the deck. and. unfastened the hatch. made his an inch of water on the floor, but the hunks were dry and comfortable. He hunsz up the lantern on a hook, and splashed across the fioor-boards till he reached the whiskey. The bottle was empty and he had to open another. That empty bottle was the cause of 2 tragedy which had given two more fa Sa
 What's happenedY' asked Shil feeb- ly. as the boat crashed and bumped on the hard sand. and the noise of the Impact was like thunder in his ear. Where are you Yafdley?" Are you Yardley? If not, tell Yardley to come down at once"
 Tankerlane did not answer. but whisky and water and drained the glass to the limit He has resolved to put an end to the farce he had been acting, and let shii know exactly what had happened.
 Why can't you answer" said ShiI
 whats happened? Remember I am blind, and can't see thing. am helpless in your hands
 'Tis the judgment of God" said Tankerlane. speaking in his natural voice. Tt Is your own sin that has brought you to this, John Shil."
 Who are you?" cried Shil, trying to rise to his feet and falling back in his weakness What has happened? Where is YardIey? Who are you, damn you can't you speak? know your voice.
 Tt seems you do not" Tank erlane re- piled. But I will enlighten you. am William Tankerlane."
 "Tankerlane," he cried harshly. Here Playle! Yardley! Where are you? Why can't you answer? Why don't you come? Playle! Yardleyw
 ''It is no good calling to them," said Tankerlane quietly. 'They have been washed overheard. You and I are the only two men on the vessel"
 'Transom. where is he2 What has happened to him. ?"
 T am Transom," Tankerlane replied
 ''You?-oh, see: a very pretty little piece of acting. I congratulate you. Whats your game, Tankerlane?"
 'T chartered this boat to take me to Conasea Island. You are my guest my honoured, if unwelcome guest"
 ''T'm afraid I'm rather at your mercy" said Shil, "but don't imagine that shan't make a fight for it''
 My dear Shil," Tankerlane replied with a a laugh. 'T have no intention of coming to blows with you. You have been punished enough already. But perhaps you would like to know that you owe your life to me. I was alone on Black Spit Island when found you in the reeds. It would have been easy enough for me to have returned to the boat and said nothing about it. You would have been dead by now.
 Shil did not reply. He did not believe 'Tankerlane's statement; but even If he had done so, he felt but little gratitude to the man who had rescued him from death.
 I hope you realize" continued Tank erlane, that if had wished to get rid of you, could have done so by merely withholding my assistance. Once. if I remember right, a man called out to you to save him from death, and you withheld the hand that would have saved him. In my case there was not even a cry for help. had but to turn on my heel and walk away
 what do you want of me?" ask ed shil, who began to see that Tankerlane had some object in reminding him of this debt of gratitude.