The weekly true Democrat., 1909-10-01

copYTi6ht. 1905. ~ fias Bobbs-FfsrriIi @.

contempt for danger tFanscsnded an
that had gone before.
Holding the eatbOat on for q time.
be brought her about handsomely q
little way beyond the brienntIne's
course and hung IN the eye Of the
wind, the leach 1apping and tighten.
ing with reports Ike rife shots and
the water eloshing about bis calves
balling dish now altogether out of
mind-Whlle be watched the OBcOming
vessel. bis eyes gIistenlng With antlcl
patton.
She was footing II amaFtiy. the brig.
antine. lying down to II and snoring
into the wind. Beneath ber stem
waves broke IN snow white showers.
whittier than the canvas Of her bulging
jib-broke and. gnashinR their teeth IN
lmpotent fury swirled and eddied
down her sleek dark hanka Bobbing.
cOuFtesying. she plunged onward.
shortening the interval with mighty,
Ieaplng bounds. On her bows with
each instant the golden letters Of her
name grew larger and more legible
until-Alethea-he could read II plain
beyond dispute.
Joy welled IN bis heart He forgot
all that he had undergone IN the pros
Dect of what he proposed stlll 20 do I'm
the name Of the only woman the world
held for him. Unquestlonlng he had
come thus far IN her service; unques-
tioning, by her side, be was prepared
10 go stlll further. though all human
lty should single her out with accus-
ing fingers.
They were watching him aboard the
brlgantine. lie could see a line Of
heads above her windward rain. Ter.
haps she was Of their number. Hc
waved an audaclous hand. Some one
replied. a great shout shattering itself
uninielllgibly against tho gale. He nei
ther understood nor attempted to reply.
His every faculty was concentrated on
the supreme moment now at hand.
Calculating the instant 10 q nicely,
he paid on the sheet and pulled up the
tllier. The catboat pivoted on her heel
With n crack her sail tapped full and
rigid; then. with the untempeTed
might of the wind behind her. she shot
like an arrow under the brlgnntlne's
bows, 80 close that the bowsprlt Of the
lattcr first threatened 10 lmpale the
snll next. the bows plunglar. crashed
down bnrc two feet hc'lnd the cai.
lrai's stern
Vorl;lug IN frenzy ~ haste. Kirk
weed damned The tlller hard nlee
bringing the cat about. ard. trimming
the nilushpcl ns best he might found
himself racing under the brlgnntlne's
lceward quarter. Euter pouring IN gen.
orously over the cats.
Luhing. he edged nearer. handling
bis craft NJ though intending 10 ram
the larger vessel, foot by foot short.
ening the little interval when II was
four feet he would risk the jump. lie
crawled out on the Cverhang. crouch
ing on bis toes. one hand light upon
the tiller. the other touching the deck
ready y-ready.
Abruptly the Alethea shut on the
wind; the sail aattened and the cot
dropped back. In a second the dis
lance had doubled. In anguish Kirk.
wood uttered an exceeding bitter cry.
Already be was falling far on her
counter
A shout reached him. He was dlmly
conscious OF dark object hurtllng
through the air. Into the cockpit,
splashlng. something dropped-a coll
OF rope. lie fell forward upon II into
water eighteen inches deep and for
the lrst time realized that but for that
line be had gune to his drowning IN an.
other mlnpte The cat was sinking.
As he scrambled TO his feet clutch-
Ing the lie llne. a heavy wave washed
over the waterlogged craft and left Il
all but submerged, and a smart tug on
the rope added point 90 the advice,
which. reaching his ears IN below
like a bulls. penetrated the panic Of
hlh wits.
yumpl jump. you fooly'
IN on instant OF conference he saw
that the brlgantlne was uflng. None
che less much Of the line bad already
been paid out. and there was no reck.
onlng when the end would be reached.
without time 20 make Il fast be hitch.
Cd Il twice round hla waist and chest,
once round en- arm. and, graaplng u
above hls head 20 ease its construction
when the tug should come. leaped on
the Comblng ana overheard A green
F0arlua avalanche srenf down unon