The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-07-23

DsTd"e sla5c'seG tonight to boot!'
'0'''' replied that
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 a
life at stake. and we've got to beat
that fog" He dashed into the wheel
house and glanced at the chronometer.
"Blazes!" 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 a white cap, white coat. a
collar, cuffs, necBtie 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 shovel.
The increased feeding of the frebox
had a telling effect. The boilers warm
ed up, the steam gauge recorded high
er pressure, and the Wolverine cleaved
the sullen, heavy waters with a deeper
swathe, cutting q wave that spread
undulatingly and majestically a 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
1t would seem as though there was
nothing to check or TO retard the mag
nihcent 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. and 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 a 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 liftw 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 skimming speed the sig.
nal rang to slow down-to reduce to
the minimum-and simultaneously the
Wolverines foghorn walled out a help
less. protesting blast.
Durant threw down his shovel and
"NahAN hSaAhoA IL Hllldls Ilt
stared hopelessly at the engineer.
"Well, it sounds as though we're in
for it," broke out the engineer in petu-
l9nt resignation.
Then Durant climbed to the deck
and CROPPED his way forward to where
he found Larned getting into an oil
cloth slicker. The disappointment of
both men was keen. Their manner
fully attested II.
did you finally make out what IL
WASP Durant asked. stretching wea-
rily TO relieve his tired muscles.
zone of those good for nothing house
boats that hang along the inlets n
must have got loose somehow. There /
was a woman aboard-a girl" replied |
Larned. I'VE got TO within a quarter |
Of a 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
Il covered us. I suppose. sir. we might |
rs well turn about and feel our way |
up to GrayesendT
with a helpless girl smothered In
the fog out herer' Durant snorted /
with a good deal Of contempt Not on
your life, Wen lay to and keep with
the tide II we stay here six weeks
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
he anguish Of her friends back on the
Ihore. Every little while be swore be-
,ause Of the loss Of the last quarter
nile.
For Eve hours they drifted. and dur
ne all that time az intervals Of only a
minute or two the hoarse fogborn Of
he yacht beloved out its cries Ike
'ome dying demon. to be answered By
,ther befogged. noundering water
raft equally a. desOlate- occaslonally
he warning notes Of q bell buoy rang