The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1910-05-24

suddenly the sheet of the Iifeboat
went out, and the little sail fluttered
like a mad thing, while the men beat
with might and main over their ash
handles in the endeavor to obey the
commands Of the chief mate in the
stern. But despite skill and strength
she was not easy to steer. Once she
nearly capsized; then eager hands
reached over the side. The convict
held up the child a voice, the police
agents. called out that they had her,
and then the mate broke in with
harsh, warning yels.
Pull port, quick. or we're over"
And at once the outreaching arms re-
turned quickly to their task. AS the
child was drawn in oars dragged and
tugged. The lifeboat came slowly
about, shipping several barrels Of
water. At the same time some one
made the loosened sheet taut. the can
vas caught the gust. and the craft
gained sufficient headway to enable
her to run over and not be run down
By the seas. AS she careened and
plunged, racing down frothing dark
billow. the convict relieved of his
burden, clung to the lower gunwale.
By desperate effort he drew him
self up. when face vaguely remem-
bered as part of a bad dream looked
into his with a flash of surprise.
"Eh? Gimme hand"
The asked for hand swept suddenly
under the one grasping the side of the
boat and shot up sharply. In the
darkness and confusion no one saw the
act. The convict disappeared, but his
half articulate curses followed.
"The fellows let CO." muttered Lord
Ronsdale. with a shiyer.
At the steering oar the chief mate,
hearing the cries of the man, cast
swift glance over his shoulder and hes
itated TO bring the boat, half filed
with water, around now meant inevi
table disaster. One experiment of the
sert had well nigh ended In their all
being drowned He knew he was per-
sonally responsible for the lives in his
'aslarsvs aaa With buf an snsfsnt In
the risk.
Hes probably gone by this time,
anyhow" he told himself and drove on.
Hes done me-done mev' the con-
vtct repeated to himself. And ain't
never goin' to git chance to fix him."
he thought and looked despairingly at
the sky. "Ain't never. The slob"
And with a flood Of almost sobbing
invective he let himself go.
But as the waters closed over him
and he sank his hand, reaching blindly
out to grip In imagination the foe,
touched something round, like SER
pent OF an eel. His fingers closed
about 1t. 1t proved to be a line. He
drew himself along, and to his sur
prise found himself again on the sur
face and near great fragment of
wreckage. This he might have discov-
cred earlier but for the anger and
hatred that had blinded him to all
save the realization Of his inability to
wreak vengeance Now, though he
managed to reach the edge Of the
swayfng mass from which the line
dangled, he was too weak to draw
himself up on the floating timbers.
But he did pass a loop beneath his
arms, and thus sustained he waited
for his strength to return. Finally, his
mind in daze, the convict clambered.
after repeated efforts, upon the wreck
age, fastened the line about him again,
and, falling into q saucer-like hollow,
he sank into unconsciousness.
The night wore on. He did not move.
The sea began to subside. Still he lay
as If dead. Dawn's rosy lips kissed
away the black shadows. touched ten
derly the waves tops, and at length
the man stirred He tried to sit up,
but at first could not Finally he rais-
ed himself and looked about him.
No other sign Of the vessel than that
part Of 1t which had served him so
we'll could he see. This fragment
seemed rent from the bow. Yes. there
was the yellow wooden mermaid bob
bing to the waves. but not rs Of old
Poor castout trollop! Now the seas
made sport Of her who once had held
her head so high!
The convict continued to gaze out
over the ocean. Far away a dark
fringe broke the sea line-a suggestion
of foliage-an island or mirage!
Tantalizing, It lay like a shadow, tllu-
sive, unattainable as the forgotten
isles" The aan staggered to his feet.
His garments were torn. His hair
hung over his brow. He shook his
arms at the tsland-this phantasy, this
vain, empty vision He regarded It
now as some savage creature might a
bone just out of its reach. From his
lips vile words fell-to be suddenly
hushed. Between him and what he
Gazed at along the range of vision an
object on one of the projecting timbers
caught his eye. 1t was very small, but
it cleaned like a spark sprung from
the embers Of the dawn.
'"The dicky bird" His dried lips
tried to laugh. EFF 1t amt the dicky