Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-01
CHAPTER VI.

don, as they stood watching |
- the growing smoke column, |
sis a worse hotbed of rumors than Il
down east village. That's the third
sea gull we've had officially reported
since breakfast"
AS he said. three distinct times the
Wolverine had thrilled to an imminent
discovery, which upon nearer investi-
CATION had dwindled to nothing more
than a floating fowl. Upon the heels
Of Carriers complaint came another
hail.
Boat ahoy! Three points on the
starboard bow"
EFF that's another gull muttered Can
ter, I'm have something to say TO you.
my festive lookout"
The news ran electrically through
the cruiser and all eyes were strained
for a glimpse of the boat The ship
swung away to starboard.
Let Inc know as soon as you can
make her out" ordered Carter
AYE. aye, SIR
"There's certainly something there
said FOrsythe presently. Il can make
out Il speck rising on the waves"
| BIT o wreckage from Barnett's der
elicit muttered Trendon, scowling
through his glasses.
rides too high for a spar or any
thing of that Sort said the Junior
| lieutenant.
shes a small boat" came in the
clear tones of the lookout, ''driftin'
| down"
ANY one in herr" asked Carter.
Cant make out yet, sir No ones
in charge though, sir"
Captain Parkinson appeared. and
| Carter pointed out the speck to him.
Yes. Give her full speed" said the
captain, replying to question from
the officer of the deck.
Forward leaped the swift cruiser, all
too slow for the anxious hearts of
| those aboard. For there was not one
of the Wolverines who did not expect
from this aimless traveller of desert
seas at the least a leading clew to the
riddle that oppressed them.
''Aloft therer'
AYE, aye. Sir
"Can you make out her build?"
| Rides nlSu, ike Il cory, SIT.
Wasn't there Il dory on the Laugh
ing LaSs?' cried Forsythe.
"On her stern davits," answered
Trendon.
1T is hardly probable that unat
tached small boats should be drifting
about these seas said Captain Parkin-
son thoughtfully. eff she's n dory,
she's the Laughing Lass boat"
That's what she is" said Barnett
you can see her build plain enough
now"
Mr.. Barnett, will you go aloft anG
keep me posted?" said the captain.
The executive officer climbed to join
the lookout. As he assembled those be-
low saw the little craft rise high and
slow on broad swell.
Same dory," said Trendon. "Pd
swear to her In Constantinople'
"What else could she beg" muttered
Forsythe
"Somethin' that looks like man in
the bottom of her." sang out the crows
nest. 1.-TWO of 'em, l think
For five minutes there was stiffness
aboard, broken only by an occasional
low voiced conjecture. Then from
aloft:
Two men rollin' in the bottom"
Are they alive?'
''NO, sir Not that I can see."
The wind which had been extremely
variable since dawn, now whipped
around a couple of points, swinging
the boats stern to them. Barnett, put
ting aside his glass for moment, call
ed down:
Chats the one, SIR. can make
out the name"
Good" said the captain quietly. ''W'
should have news at least
lives or MCGUIRE" suggested For
: sythe in low tones
COR Billy Edwards" amended Car
ter.
Not Edwards said Trendon
How do you know" demanded For
sythe.
"Dory was aboard when we fount
| her the second time, after Edwards
had left"
Can you make out which of the mel
are in herr" hailed the captain
LON tulIih III > any OF our people,
came the astonishing reply from Bar
nett.
Are you sureT'
Il can see only one mans face, sir
1t isn't Ives or Mcguire. He's
, stranger to me-
1T must be one of the crew, then"
NO, sir, beg your parding," callet
the lookout. Nothin' like that in on
crew, SIR
The boat came down upon then
swiftly. Soon the quarter deck wa
looking into her. She was of a typ
; common enough on the high seas, ex
: cept that step for mast shove,
: that she had presumably been used TO
skimming about open shores. OF he
passengers one lay forward, prone an,
quiet. A length of sailcloth sprea,
over him made it impossible. to see hi