The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-26
BY
Louis Joseph Vance
Author Of The Black Book and
The Brass Bowl"

came the final plunge that should drive
the sloop nose foremost 70 the Bottom.
And the storm continued with un-
abated rage. the wind Whined and whis-
tied through the scant rigging, and the
mast bent and groaned 10 its force. In
deed, the entire vessel heaved and shook
like a man in the throes of death by
strong poison, with an accompanying
grinding, moaning sound that was more
than unpleasantly like unto death rat
tie.
But while 1 strove against the ele-
ments To reach the stern the intermiS-
sion in the electrical display came 10 an
end, and by its renewed flare / mace
out, first, the figure Of Fdraday erect
by the helm, wrestling with the vince
nightly; and, second, a stretch OF some
forty yards of white trOthed water DC
tween as and the pier head
Another flash, / thought, revealed d
dark form standing on the pier lISelLi
bending TO the direction Of the Wlno' a.
a man WILL But of that 1 cannot DE-
sure 81.
The little vessel began TO ride BIT
more steadily under the guidance on
the helm although as yet with no sans
set, the rudder could hardly nave peeH
of much use as controller -.
When finally. after what seemed rev
years, reached Faraday's slde, ne
thrust the wheel inso my hands without
a word and worked his way forward 10
the uainmast. There he strOVe power
fully. because he was afraid TO ole ana
wanted 70 get back to his sweetheart
with ,he result that he managed 10 set
rThereu1an the sIoop. which with my
unskflled hand upon its helm had heeled
over, threatening mOmenlaTly 10 luI II
turtle, righted. and Faraday came back
Bv a miracle we were saved-for the
time being only
For the present we must put our trust
in Providence and scud before the gale
Ia In tFtFaFs
to attempt TO make a landing, or 10
reach a pier IN those boiling. waters
would be the rankest kind OF folly,
Afte- q while this gale and cyclone
and hurricane and typhOOn rolled into
one-as il seemed 10 me-let down
little on the agony, and settled 10
steady, resistless, relentless blow.
Faraday's ScamauSnlps mystery lHdl
Il was to me, kept the vessel on a keel
more or less even, and We slammed gid
Oily alOus SetWiXt walls OF DlackneSS
mat divided before US, 50 II appeared,
20 close behind Not thing could we
see beyond the phOsphOrescent glitter OF
the flying spume.
Mainly / loiterei about, hanging TO
the nearest object by the skin OF my
teeth, a babe in a. ms so far as being OF
assistance 10 Faraday was concerned
AS for him. he was cool enough, or
dertng me. when he saw ut, 20 do this
and that. which I did 10 the best Of
my poor ability FOR the most Of the
time no devoted himself 10 the man
ageraent of the helm, and comforted
himself with stream OF ceaseless,
pungeUt, melOdiOus curses.
once he ordered me below-mainly
by signs-tO the cabin. To Tummage it
for spirits; for by now the wind was
nlpping through our htmsy nannels
and insufficient macluntOshes, and
chilling US 20 the bone.
7 w.Lt willingly enough, and banged
around IN the pitch dark interior FOR
several minutes: but my search was
unTewaTded and we were forced 20
fight OCT the battle uncontrolled by
Dutch courage.
Thus we flew along for the better
part Of the morning. Dim light came
after while. paling and whitening the
wastes Of Wrathy waters. but what
with the driving rain and the flying
spray that soaked our clothing and
Caked our faces with salt. and OBJ
secured our vision by dashinE into our
/ eyes and making Them smart and burn
we might just as well have been
without the light for all that we could
| see ahead.
Ava thus came that which we had
/ bees expecting for some time-knoW-
/ ing as we did the numbers Of islands
! scattered promiscuOusly therea bouts
3 We struck ground heavily over 4
sand Bar or reef, and slid on with
I barely checked speed into an area Ct
wilder. shallOwer waters.
Then we struck again.
That time Il was for keeps. The
sloop came 20 sudden stop, and
[ Faradsy deserted the helm and I my
stanchiNu and went on without her
We landed I'm a raging sea that
mig ht very well have proved our
/ graves. For one. I fully expected 20
go down the conventional three times,
never TO go ghost hunting again in
/ the flesh
( As it was. I sank but a few feet
/ perhaps three-and then rose and pro-
I ceeded 10 walk ashore as cOmpOsedlv
as one may who is being slapped in
/ the face with waves and sJuug with
/ rain Faraday, 1 saw dimly, was fol-
| lowing my example.
I The Continuation of This story VIII
/ BE Found in TOmOrrOw'a
Issue of The Times.