The Comrade. (Winnfield, La.) 1890-1914, 1910-09-09
CHAPTER VIII.-Continued,

CHAPTER VIIi.-Continued
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 sail with the
other oar as 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 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. It was noon
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 appreciate
way to the boat. She guessed 1t might
be 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 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 even
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 for
thought. Time was when she had rev.
eled in such opportunities, but there
was less enjoyment in the chances at
forded her now. That she who had
lived in the high realm of speculation
should suddenly become a woman of
action. fighting for life, struck her as
strange thing. Insensibly Ahe condi-
lions Of her present existence modi-
fed 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 air
Of adulation. She was alone with her
soul. The man who is alone is always
face to face with God, though his eyes
may be hidden so that he cannot see
the Divine It was so with this
woman.
Never had she so craved other
companionship. She would have been
happy If she could have believed that
there was a God, for had there been
God she would not have felt SO de-
serted. So she fought on against her
soul and her circumstances-a losing
battle.
The sixth day opened dark and
gloomy. The wind had risen during
the night. The day broke heavily
overcast. Even to her inexperience
she could realize that storm was at
hand. She had seen nothing during
the period; that is, nothing Of which
she could avail herself. Twice, once
s to starboard and another time to port,
she had passed low lying islands, dim
on the horizon. y She shad no way OF
checking the boat or of changing its
course to run down either OF them.
She had to go on just as she was. She
realized that she could never land I'M
Jess she were driven directly upon
some island that might lie in her
course. She knew, too, that the
chances that might happen were very
remote. She had daily diminished
the portion of food and drink she al
lotted to herself. She had husbanded
everything with the utmost care. On
the sixth day they were gone. She
awoke with frightful craving which
intensified as the day drew on.
She was thankful for one thing that
the sun was yelled, although she heat
IN the humid, heavy, overcast air was
something almost unbearable. Under
the freshening breeze the boat went
much more swiftly than heretofore.
She had that satisfaction, but she
had the apprehension that II the wind
grew any stronger her sail, service.
! able as It had proved and stout as It