, 1909-07-01

yaTcs anead. or ten yards ehind
During all that tim, l scarcely left
the deck. although De Nova served his
watch on the bridge In the flying spray.
Dade fed me as best he could. and
what brief snatches of sleep l caught
we're on the divan in the cabin. my lev
clotLes drying on my body. saw
nothing OF h women; there was no
time. no opportunity. I doubt IL eth
er could have kept upright amid the
awful pitching of the yacht, for | was
Obliged myself to creep from one
hand-grasp to another. So I saw moth.
Ing OF the ladies'. but Dade succeeded
In taking them food-cold %provender,
for the galley was wave.lasSed. the
rock driven below-although how the
lad ever managed II is a mystery, and
he r. ported that Celeste chung to her
bunk. sick and frightened, but that
Lady Darlington a about and
dressed whenever he went in.
Some time during the third day the
wind had blown itself out, or else we
had been driven beyond the sweep of
II Anyhow, 1t died down into faint
purs. but the sea remained heavy, the
fog thickening as the gale ceased.
This curtain, coupled with the sparse
light there was. left the decks so
dark that we attempted little clearing
up, merely pointing the yachts nose
more directly northward at half-speed,
trusting the Almighty to furnish us
with clear water. Indeed. there was
nothing else to do with that ice-pack
back of us, and the fierce seas pound
ing nnr nnnn naetlA, 4 L.l -,- 80
the END Of my endurance, and when
DE Nova came limping forward, hang
ing to the lifeline, to taxi his watch,
| crept below more dead thar alive.
and clawed my way across the cabin.
Lady Darlington stood braced in her
doorway, yet for the life Of me l
could not speak. although | tried-my
a nodded on my shoulders, and I
fell forward across my bunk, asleep
before l even struck the mattress.
Dade said she made him pull off my
boots and loosen my muller. stand
ing over him until 1t was done.
1t was not sleep-it was more like
death, for l never stirred or knew
anything. I lay exactly as | fell. utter
ly ~insensible to either noise or motion.
1t was Dade's vigorous shaking that
finally aroused me, nor did he desist
my eyes wide open.
What time is 1t. Dade?"
Two o'clock. sir"
Morning."
mo. sir, afternoon; but the fog is
that thick outside you can't see your
own nose"
Then I've bee asleep for six hours.
Why didn't you call me earlier?"
M De Nova told me to let you lie.
sir; guess the lady asked him to
do it."
had pulled on my boots, and was
standing up, gazing out through the
door into the cabin, where Dade still
remained. watching to see that | did
not go back to sleep again. Suddenly
there came a tremendous shock which
sent me sprawlins forward, and flung
Dade headlong against the wall. AS
1 struck the deck a thunderors crash
and oar sounded forward; the stern
of the vessel seemed to spring upward
into the air. sliding us both down
against the front of the cabin. In
stantly there followed two mufiied re
ports. accompanied by a further un
fitting of the stern. Everything loose
came tumbling down upon us, and. As
pulled myself to my knees, l found
the deck slanting upward like the
steep side Of a hill.
oh. Lord. sir, what's been done?"
We've hit something hard; ice
likely. Jump. now. and help me gel
out the women"
The awful, sickening poise of the
stricken boat. swinging stern-up to the
motion of the waves, was enough to
shatter the courage of any man. and
l could read speechless terror in
Dade's face. Yet the lad stayed
with me, and together We clambered
up the incline of the deck. gripping al
the table to help US. The door of the
aftercabin was either locked or had
become stuck; l did not wait to learn
which, but burst 1t open with a swift
heavy kick. The light streamed in
upon a scene of chaos-overturned
furniture and broken glass. Celeste
lay in one corner screaming hysteric
ally; Lady Darlington was upon hei
knees, holding herself partially erect
by clasping the brass rail OF he bed
"Quick!" l cried, before either could
speak. Gather up all the warm cloth
@|WN2I