Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-05-26
CHAPTER vliI.-continued.

N aNEN. MaN HMr.NAsl TN HEN- ~ Iii AEHL NaEi
Her training had not been manual,
but she was bright enough to supple
ment her lack of skill and after some
hours of hard work she actually got
one oar in an upright position and Sc
curely dashed. Out of the heavy cloak
more a huge circular than anything
else-she ~improvised a sail with the
other oar as a boom thrust across the
boat between the mast and the little
forward deck. The coat had been
heavily braided. She ripped the silk
braid from the edge, cut off the hood
of the cloak and managed a triangular
sail laced by the silk braid to mast
and boom.
The boom was immobile and the
only way she could sail was straight
before the wind. If the wind shifted,
she would shift with it. She had some
slight control over the vessel with the
helm, but that was all. 1t was moor
when she finished her labors, but she
was more than satisfied with what she
had accomplished, for the cloak was
big enough to give an appreciable
way to the boat. She guessed 1t might
DE three or four knots an hour. That
would be nearly 100 miles a day.
She could exc out her provisions and
water for five or six days longer and
she could go without for. two or three
days after the last drop and morsel
had vanished. Perhaps she might run
down a habitable island in that time.
Possibly, although this possibility was
more faint than the other, she might
be seen by some vessel and picked up.
At any rate, all she could do was done.
She felt better, too, because she had
made a human contribution to the de-
termination of her fate. She was no
longer absolutely at the play of
chance. For five days she sailed
steadily on, the breeze remaining ever
and holding unvaryingly true for that
period. She learned the trick Of lash
ing the wheel at night and so was
able to take as much rest as her tired,
worn and racked body permitted in
the confinement Of the little boat.
She had abundance of time fol-
thought. Time was when she had rev
'eled in such opportunities, but there
was less enjoyment in the chances af
forded her now. That she who had
lived in the high realm Of speculation
should suddenly become a Of
action, fighting for life, struck her as
a strange thing. ~Insensibly the condi
lions of her present existence modi
fled her philosophy. 1t seemed differ
'ent, a smaller thing. She was less
sure and confident of herself alone
in the great immensely than in the
crowded city. There were no applaud
ing thousands. She breathed no all
of adulation. She was alone with hel
soul. The man who is alone is always
face to face with God, though his eyes
may be hidden so that he cannot SCI
the Divine. 1t was SO with thil
woman.
Never had she SO craved othel
.companionship. She would have beel
happy if she could have believed tina
there was a Ged, for had there been
God she would not have felt so de
serted. So she fought on against he
soul and her circumstances losin,
battle.
The sixth day opened dark an,
gloomy. The wind had risen during
the night. The day broke heavil.
overcast. Even to her inexperienc'
she could realize that a storm was a
hand. She had seen nothing durinI
the period; that is, nothing of whicl
she could avail herself. Twice, ono
to starboard and another time to port
she had passed low lying islands, din
on the horizon. She had no way o
checking the boat or Of changing 1t
course to u down either of then
She had to go on just as she was. Sh
realized that she could never land III
less she were driven directly upo
some island that might lie in he
course. She knew, too, that tn
chances that might happen were yer
remote. She had daily diminishe
the portion of food and drink she a
1otted to herself. She had husbande
everything with the utmost care. o
the sixth day they were gone. Sh
awoke with a frightful craving whic
intensified as the day drew on.
she was thankful for one thing tha
the sun was yelled, although she hea
in the humid, heavy, overcast air wa
something almost unbearable. Unde
the ~freshening breeze the boat wen
much more swiftly than heretofore
She had that satisfaction, but sh
had the apprehension that II the win
grew any stronger her sail, service
able as 1t had proved and stout as
was, would be torn to pieces. Th
silk braid had done splendid service
but she marked that 1t was no
strained to the breaking point. Agai
the helplessness Of her position cam
upon her. She could not take dow
the sail. In the first place she wa
afraid to leave the helm and In th
second place she realized that IL 81
started to furl 1t she could only do
by cutting the lashing and at the fir
cut the whole thing would blow ava,
SO she held IN. There was nothin
else to do.
The night fell In . burst Of raj