Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-08-31

latter first threatened to impale the
sail: next the bows plunging, crashed
down bare two feet behind the cat
J boats stern.
Working In frenzy Of haste, Kirk
wood damned the tiller hard alec.
bringing the cat about, and, trimming
the mainsheet as best he might, found
himself racing under the brigantine's
leeward quarter. water pouring in gen
erously over the cats.
Luffing, he edged nearer, handling
his craft as though intending to ram
the larger vessel, foot by foot short.
rning the little interval. When it was
four feet he would risk the jump. He
crawled out on the overhang, crouch
ing on his toes. one hand light upon
the tiller the other touching the deck,
ready-ready.
Abruptly the Alethea shut off the
wind; the sail fattened ana the cat
dropped back. In second the dis
lance had doubled. In anguish Kirk
wood uttered an exceeding bitter cry.
Already he was falling far off her
counter
A shout reached him. He was tlimly
conscious Of a dark object HURTING
through the air. Into the cockpit,
splashing, something dropped-a coil
Of rope. He fell forward upon it into
water eighteen inches deep and for
the first time realized that but for that
line he had gone to his drowning in an
other minute. The cat was sinking.
AS he scrambled to his feet, clutch
Ing the life line, a heavy wave washed
over the waterlogged craft and left 1t
all but submerged, and smart tug on
the rope added point to the advice
which, reaching his ears in a below
like bulls. penetrated the panic of
his wits.
Jump! Jump, you fool"
In an instant of conference he saw
that the brigantine was luffing. None
the less much of the line had already
been paid out, and there was no reck-
oning when the end would be reached
Without time to make it fast he hitch
ed 1t twice round his waist and chest,
once round an arm, and, grasping it
above his head to ease it's construction
when the tug should come, leaped on
the combing and overheard. green
roaring avalanche swept down upon
him and the luckless catboat, over
whelming both simultaneously.
The agony that was his during the
next few minutes can by no means be
exaggerated. His senses were blotted
out in blacliness. Then he was breath
tIr, III.
bling his lungs, the while he swan I'M
supported in an ethereal void Of bril-
lance. His mouth was full of some
thing that burned, a liquid hot, acrid
and singing. He gulped, swallowed,
Slabbered, choked, coughed, attempted
to sit up, was aware that he was the
focal center of a ring of garing, burn
ing eyes. like eyes of ravening beasts.
and tainted
His next conscious impression was
OF standing up, supported by friendly
arms on either side, while somebody
was asking him if he could walk
step or two
He was partly seated, partly held up.
on the edge of the cabin skylight. an
object of interest to some half dozen
men, seafaring fellows all, by their
habit. clustered round between him
and the windward rail OF their num-
Der one stood directly before him,
dWarfing his companions as much by
his air of command as by his uncom-
men height-tall, thin faced and sal
low, with hollow, weatherworn cheeks,
a m@uth like crooked cash from ear
TO ear and eyes like dying Goals, with
which he Looked the rescued ND and
4 down in one grim, semi-humorous.
scMl-speculative glance. In hands both
huge and red he fondled tenderly a
squat brandy flask whose contents had
apparently been employed as first
aid to the drowning.
AS kirkWood'S gaze encountered his
the man smiled sourly. jerking his
head TO one side with singularly de-
risve air
Hi, matey!" he clustered. low
goes it now? Feelin' 'appier, eigh?'
Some, thank You more like
drowned rat" Kirkwood eyed him
shcepishly. II suppose you're the man
who threw me that line? I'll have to
wait till my head clears up before l
can thank you properly"
Don't mention it." He Of the Ian
tern jaws slowed the bottle away with
4 jealous care in one of his immense
coat pockets and seized Kirkwood's
hand in 4 grasp that made the young
man vince. YOU'RE syfe enough now
My nyme's Stryker, Capt'n Wilyum
Stryker. Wot's the row? Lookin' for
a friend?' he demanded suddenly as
Kirkwood's attention wandered
yes; your passengers. l presume
they're below
Passengers"
a hush fell upon the group, during
which Kirkwood sought STRIKERS eye
in pitiful pleading, and Stryker looked
round him blankly.
where's Miss Calendar?' the young
man demanded sharply. Il must see
her ut opce"
The keen and deep set eyes Of the
skipper clouded as they returned to
Kirkwoods perturbed couItenance
"Wotre you talkin' about?" he de
manded brusquely.
II must see Miss Calendar or Calen-
dar himself or Mulready." Kirkwood
paused and. getting no reply. grew
FESTIVE under STRIKERS inscrutable re
gard. That's why came aboard" he
amended blind to the absurdity Of the
statement, ITO see-er-Calendar."
''Well, I'm d|lt'