Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-08-06


DWant sndtched a tonight to boot"
0'o''' replied t b a t
weather oracle. Its the kind that
rolls in fast
''Then, for heavens sake, let the
yacht outlet her out! Put her up to
her limit" cried Durant. There's
life at stake, and we've got to beat
that fogv He dashed into the wheel
house and glanced at the chronometer.
"Blazesr he yelled. "She isn't even
up to her average! WHAT'S the matter
down in the engine room?"
"Only one stoker, sir" answered
Larned. considerably Disconnected.
"Kline's off sick today"
THE devil you sayr' Durant blurted.
Then he commenced to shed clothing
like a lightning change artist. In less
than a minute there lay scattered
around white cap, a white coat, a
collar, cuffs, necktie and various pieces
Of expensive jewelry. and Durant, get
ting the sinews of his arms into play
as he ran. descended into the coal pits
and snatched q shovel.
The increased feeding Of the firebox
had telling effect. The boilers warm
ed up, the steam gauge recorded high
er pressure, and the Wolverine cleaved
the sulen, heavy waters with deeper
swathe, cutting a wave that spread
undulatingly and majestically broad
distance on either side of her.
There wasn't anything to interfere
with the yachts course-no other craft
in her way, no waves to dodge or buff
fet, no shoals to avoid and no channels
to keep to. All was clear sailing, and
it would seem as though there was
nothing to check or to retard the mag
nificent floating palace from winning
in her race with the bank of fog which
appeared indefinite leagues beyond.
But the Wolverine had never before
raced with death, ard fog is treacher-
Gus and has hidden ways Of its own.
The stokers fed the furnaces as fast
and as vigorously as human beings
could work, Durant's blood fairly leap
ing with an appreciation of the terri
flying need for effort. The engineer,
almost motionless at his vigil at the
steam gauge. watched for the ounces
Of steam and used them as they accu-
mulated Those above were getting
the launch ready to lower, preparing
life lines and belts and hauling out
thick hawsers-stOut hawsers they
were, for the object being pursued was
now plainly visible. and houseboat
isn't the easiest thing in the world to
capture and take into tow.
Cant you let her out more?" Larned
shouted down through the telephone.
There was note of desperation in his
voice.
"She's away up, sir. but I'll try to
give her another lift" called back the
engineer. And the stokers. realizing
the demands, redoubled their efforts at
the coal bins.
Right in the midst of the high pres
sure and the Swimming speed the Sig
nal rang to slow dOwn-tO reduce to
the minimum-and simultaneously the
Wolverines foghorn walled out help
less, protesting blast.
Durant threw down his shovel and
leaned weakly against pillar. He
stared hopelessly at the engineer.
"Well, II sounds as though were IN
for it," broke out the engineer in petu-
liant resignation.
Then Durant climbed to the deck
and CROPPED his way forward to where
he found I.arned getting into an oil
cloth slicker The disappointment of
both men was keen. Their manner
fully attested it.
odd you finally make out what it
was?" Durant asked, stretching wea-
tily to relieve his tired muscles.
zone Of those good for nothing house
boats that hang along the inlets. 1t
must have got loose somehow. There
was a woman aboard-a girl" replied
Larned. I'VE got to within a quarter
Of mile, almost within hailing dis
lance. She was waving something at /
US and was signaling her when the
fog ate her up and in another minute !
1t covered us. l suppose, sir, we might
as well turn about and feel our way
up to Gravesend?'
with a helpless girl smothered In
the fog out herew Durant snorted
with good deal of contempt "NOt on
your life! Well lay to and keep with
the tide if we stay here six weeksw !
A sense of immense desolation set
tied over the Wolverine. Supper was
eaten dispiritedly, and the crew idled
around in no mood for talking. Durant
who was again clean and clothed,
smoked and paced and fumed from
one end Of the yacht to the other,
thinking of the distress of the girl and
the anguish Of her friends back on the
shore. Every little while he swOre be-
cause of the loss of the last quarter
mile.
For five hours they drifted and dur
ing all that time at intervals of only a
minute or two the hoarse foghorn of
the yacht beloved out it's cries like
some dying demon, to be answered by
other befogged, floundering water
craft equally as desolate. Occasionally
the warning notes Of bell buoy rang