Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-04
CHAPTER XVII.
Accused.

Then began his supreme struggle
with death.
Thick fog above and around, the
distant, the boat gone! He was a good
swimmer, but how long could he float
in that icy water? After a few mo-
ments more Of weary effort, he felt that
he must sink to his fate. AS he reach
ed this conclusion he was aware of a
slight pressure against his benumbed
body. 1t was one of the lost oars, for
which he had searched in vain while
hope remained, and which the tide, now
that hoped was dead, threw mockingly
into his grasp. The instinct of self
preservation revived. He caught hold
of the wood-clung to it in desperation
"a frail support, indeed, yet 1t served
him for a moment
Rose! Rose" he gathered voice to
call once more.
This time there was no answer. The
outgoing tide had swept the boat be-
yond the bubble of sound which his
exhausted voice made.
Darker and deeper grew the drifts of
fog. Strange mirases gathered before
his sight. He was losing consciousness
he was sinking. His stiffened fingers
relaxed their hold on the oar, the salt
water closed over his lips. Good-by,
world! And after that all was blank.
When Hume opened his eyes, a full
hour later, he was lying, not with the
mermaids in the coral caves of ocean,
but prone on the hard plank of floor.
with hot blankets wrapped about his
body, and a good deal of hustle and
confusion going on around him.
Didn't l tell ye he wasn't dead?'
said the voice of Caleb Hillyer. i've
brought many a drowned man to life
again in my day. There! he's coming
round all right. Give him something
hot, Bess."
Lo! the familiar appointments or the
Hillyer living room dawned on Humes
vision! He was stretched before the
driftwood fire, and over him bent old
Caleb. the sailor girl, and that griZzled
cape fisherman, Hiram Duff.
by the great horn spoon! that ere
was a close squeak" cried the last
named person, as he met Hume's be-
lwildered gaze You were a-sinking
for good when I grabbed ye. l wouldn't
ha' given a scudpin fer your life as
hauled We into my catboat. How came
We overheard at that distance from
land, with an oar a-drifting alongside
but not a keel anywhere nigh?"
Nigel Hume tried to answer, but nc
words came Bess Hillyer leaned above
him, her face full of anxiety.
"Oh, Mr.. Hume, where is Rose? You
went out in a boat with Rose-l saw
YOU from the cottage"
Then he remembered. A sharp cry
escaped him-he tried to rise.
For Gods sake. go in search OF
her." he gasped. "She is drifting Out
to sea alone. in an oarless boat! why
didn't you look for her, and let me
drown? Hurry-hurry, or you will be
| 100 ldIe. DON lOSc SiI lllSISi'' ''
go with you"
He was too weak to be coherent, bu
he told the story as best he could. The
| faces of his hearers blanched Visibly
| Duff and old Caleb made simultane'
Gus rush for the door Hume woult
fain have followed. but deadly faint
ness seized him-he fell back on thu
floor.
Bess ran to his aid, poured some
strengthening mixture between hi
lips. thrust cushion under his head
and said:
you are too weak to rise-I mus
leave you now. l am going with TIT
men to look for Rose. Several boat
will be needed, and l can manage on
as we'll as Uncle Caleb"
|. She snatched a mantle from peg
and before he could utter word rush
ed out of the cottage.