Gloucester County Democrat., 1908-04-09


The Kansas trembled and listed sud
denly. Isobel screamed shrilly and
burst into a storm Of dry eyed sobs.
Her mood changed instantly into one
of abject submission She sprang to-
ward Elsie with hands outstretched
"Oh. save me, save me,' she walled.
"God knows, l am not fit to der
There are some noble natures which
find strength in the need to comfort
the weakness OF others. Elsie drew
the distracted girl close to her and
placed an arm around her neck.
It was thus that Courtenay found
them when he appeared at the door
after a lapse of time which none of
them could measure.
ssNow, Miss Maxwell, you first" he
said, with an air of authority which
betokened some new move of utmost
importance.
'sFEst-for what" she managed to
ask.
.You are going off in a boat. 1t is
your best chance. Please be quick"
'sNo, Miss Barring goes before me,
then the others. shall come last"
sHaYe it as you will. addressed
you because you were nearest the door.
Come along, Miss Barring"
He waited for no further words. He
grasped Isobel's arm and led her out
into the darkness. It seemed to be
very long time before he returned.
ssNoW, Mrs. Somerville," he said, but
lid nd
that he had to carry her.
ssCan you manage to bring the
maid?" he asked over his shoulder to1
Elsie She stopped over the maid, but
the girl wrestled and fought with her
in frantic dread of the passage along
the deck and Of facing that bowling
sea in a small boat.
Elsie herself was almost worn out
when Courtenay came back. He took
in the situation at a glance. He picked
up the shrieking maid in his strong
arms.
s'You won't mind waiting for me-"
he said to Elsie. Don't attempt to
come alone. You are too exhausted
It was fine thing to do, but she
still repay his confidence.
q shall wait" she said simply.
SO she was left there all alone again
without even the dog to bear her COM
pany
CHArTEs. VI.
~ HIS Gnal waiting FOR the chanceI
IS Of snecor seemed TO be theI
8 hafGest trial os all The door
had 5een hooked back to keepI
it wide open5 50 wind and sea invaded
the trim privacy of the cabin. Spray
leaped over the ship in such dense
sheets that a considerable quantity of
water quickly lodged on the port side,
where Courtenay's bunk was fixed.
There were no means of escape for it
in that quarter, and the angle at which
the Kansas lay would permit a depth
of at least two feet to accumulate ere
the water began to flow out through
the door to the starboard
At the great crises Of existence the
stream Of thought is apt to form
strange eddies. Courtenay when the
ship strickland it was possible that
each second might register his last
conscious impression-found himself
coolly reviewing various explanations
Of the existence of an uncharted shoal
in locality situate many miles from
the known danger zone. Elsie, strung
half consciously to the highest tension
by the affrighting probability Of being
set adrift in small boat at the mercy
Of the sea roaring without sea
which pounded the steel hull Of the
Kansas with such force that the
great ship seemed to finch from each
blow Ike a creature in pain-Elsie,
then, faced by such an intolerable
prospect, was prey to real anxiety
because the wearing apparel scattered
BY Courtenay on the floor was becom-
Ing soaked in brine.
She actually stopped to rescue a coat
which was not yet saturated beyond
redemption. AS she lifted the gar
ment packet of letters tied with a
tape fell from its folds. She placed
the coat on the writing table and en-
deaVored to stuff the letters into a
pigeonhole. They were too bulky, so
she laid them on the coat. In doing
this she could not avoid seeing the
words. Your loving sister, Madge,'
written on the outer fold Of the last
letter In the bundle.
And that brought memory of her
previous visit to the captains state
room. She was incapable Of reasoned
reflection. She felt that If she were
fated to live to ripe old age she
would never forget a single detail of
the furniture and decorations of the
room. She would hear forever the do
lorous bowling of the gale, the thump-
ing Of the waves against the quivering
plates, the rapid, methodic thud Of the
donkey engine, which, long since de-
serted by its cowardly attendant, was
faithfully doing fits work and flooding
&ho shin with n1nrfrfo Tfo1lf