Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-06-26
Chapter XIII.-Continued.

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 The waterman scratched his head. "A ard job, sir. Not knowin' wot kind of Il boat she are mykes 1t 'arder." He waited hopefully. Ten shIIiings." volunteered Kirk wood prOmptly-"10 shIllings if you get me aboard her before she weighs anchor. l5 if I keep you out more than an hour ard still you put me aboard After that we'll make other terms"
 The man promptly turned his back to hail his mate. '.'Arf a quid, Bob. if we puts this gent aboard vessel rame O Aliytheer afore she syles at turn O tide"
 In the boat the man with the bailing can turned up an impassive counte- nance ''COom down." He clinched the bargain and set about shipping the sweeps.
 Bows swinging downstream, the boat shot cut from the shore.
 Flows the tide?" demanded Kirk wood his impatience growing.
 "On tn turn. sir" he was told
 For long moment broadside to the current. the boat responded to the sturdy pulling of the port sweeps. An other moment and 1t was Tn full swing. the watermen bending Justify to their task Ship after ship was passed. and in keen anxiety lest he should overlook the right one Kirk wood searched their bows and sterns for names. which In more than one case proved hardly lerible.
 The Alethea was not of their num- Der.
 In the course of some ten minutes the watermen drove the boat sharply inshcrc. bringing her up alongside an other floating stage. In the shadow of another tenement. both so like those from which they had embarked that Kirkwood would have been unable to distinguish one from another.
 In the bows old Bob lifted up sten- torian voice. summoning one William.
 In answer to the third ear racking hail man. clothed simply in dirty shirt and disreputable trousers, showed himself in the doorway above. rubbing the sleep out of n red. bloated counte- nance with mighty and grimy fist.
 "'Ello." he said surlily "Wot's tn row?'
 "'Co." interrogated old Bob, holding the boat sready by grasping the stage, twas tn party wot engaged yer larst night. Bill?"
 Party name O Allytheer," growled the drowsy one. wy"
 Party 'ere's lookin' fer i'm. Where will find this Allytheer?"
 Fest look sharp r yer won't find i'm retorted the one above. E was at anchor off Bow creek larst night"
 KirkwoCd's heart leaped in hope "What sCrt of vessel was sheT" he asked. half rising in his eagerness.
 "Brigantine. sir"
 And again the boat was flying down in midstream, the leaden water. shot with gold of the morning sun. parting sullenly beneath its bows. Plugging tho marshy shore. they rounded the Blackwall point. the bcatmen pulling hard. Young William looked to Kirk woct:. caught his eye and nodded.
 "Iiern?"
 Kirkwood rose. balancing himself against the leap ard sway of the boat.
 "Sumwhere's long O 'ere.'
 From right to left his eager glance swept the rivers widening reach. Yes scls were there in aburdance, but no brigantine, no sailing vessel of any type.
 The young mans lips checked cry that was half sob of bitter disap- pointment He sat down suddenly "She's gnner he cried in hollow gnsp.
 The tired boatmen eased upon their oars. and old Bob stood up in the bows. scanning the riverscape with keen eyes shielded by level pain. The boat drifted listlessly with the current
 old Bob panted. "nawn't-see-naw. thIn'-o' 'er." He resumed his seat.