The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-10-19
(CopyZisnt. 1910. By Louis Joseph Vaace)
CHAPTER vi.
All ready"

CHAPTER vi.
All ready"
Coast, at the wheel, nodded to Ap-
pleyard, who was crouching IL the
bows. Ready" he said.
There followed a splash as Apple
yard dropped the hook Of the mooring
at which the Echo had been riding
overnight
In a long and graceful sweep the
Echo swung round and slipped briskiy
down the harbor to the urge Of the
following wind.
Early IN the afternoon the wind be-
gan to fail, its volume diminishing by
fits and starts; heavy puffs alternated
with spells Of steady breezing sue
cessiyely more faint.
Over the bows the entrance to-
Quicks Hole, the passage between
Pasque and Nashawena Islands, be-
came plainly visible
Appleyard remarked the signs of
change with wrinkle Of disquiet be-
tween his brows
Going to have a shift Of wind, you
Think Coast asked
The little man nodded anxiously.
It's cinch," he asserted. And
when 1t does swing the chances are
ten to one it'll come in from the SOU
west. That's the prevailing wind
round here at this season, you know"
We'll? Even so. it'll favor us up
the Sound. won't 1t? Besides, we've
got the motor. -
"That'n help heap in case that fog
comes down on us, won't tt?' Apple
yard snorted in disgust, nodding to-
ward the bank Of tawny haze that dis
colored the horizon beyond the low
profiles Of Nashawena and Cuttyhunk
over the starboard counter.
Hadn't thought Of that"
And yet you had the nerve to re-
sent my suggestion that you needed
a keeper"
Well, then, it's up to us to make
| that passage as soon as we can
what? Hadn't I better get the motor
going? Here, take the wheel, while
+"
Never mind" Appleyard returned.
That's my Job. You stay put. That
Is, unless you prefer"
mo; I'm not crazy about it. Go
ahead and break your back turning up
cold engine, If you want to-"
Don't let that fret you any, Cap'n."
Appleyard grunted, setting the bin
nacle aside and lifting the engine-p pit
hatch. Me, I was born and brought
up with marine motors; they used to
/ fill my nursing bottle with a mixture
of gasoline and Vacuum A. Pipe your
uncle"
He dropped lightly into the pit,
threw In both the main and shut-off
switches. opened the globe-valve in
the feed pipe, made a slight adjust
ment of the carbureter, and slowly
turned up the fiy-wheel An angry
buzzing broke out IN the spark-coil.
You see," he said with elaborate
nonchalance. They're all alike-any
one of 'em will feed right out of my
hand"
He rocked the fy-wheel to and fro
half a dozen times, then gave 1t 9
smart upward pull. Instantly there
was a dull explosion in the cylinder
and the wheel began to spin steadily
to the muffied drumming Of the ex
haust.
Gathering way, the boat moved al
a more lively pace, with her sail flap
ping empty and listless and idly
swinging boom.
BY the time Coast, instructed BY
his highly efficient crew, had pilotet
the Echo safely through to the Sound
a dead calm held.
A little later chill breath of all
famed Coasts cheek, the first Whit
out Of the southwest. The watel
| fawed and darkened with the fyin,
catspaws.
The fog swept In swiftly. Fer across
the breadth of wind-dulleo watel
Coast could see it moving onward like
wall, momentarily gaining IN bulk
Already it was lowering threateningl,
over lay Head, and while he looked {
thin, gray, spectral arm stole acros
the low land at Menemsha Blight ans
began to grope It's blind way up thu
Sound
Coast steered with his gaze fixet
upon the compass on the engine-pf
hatch, now his sole guide. Insen
sibly the fog grew more dense, s
that in time the mast was more 0
less indistinct and only a yard or s.
CT pallid water was visible on eithe
hand
Vineyard Haven tonight, by an
| chance?" he asked suddenly.
Appleyard shook his head decidedly
Not unless We get q breeze stit
enough to blow this Off
Then we'd better find an ancho,
age for the night?"
Only thing to do. I'm willing t
risk my valuable rep. as weathe
l prophet, that this won't lift befor
morning"
"Tarpaulin Cover"
Appleyard pursed his thin lips an
rubbed his nose. considering Goo
enough anchorage" he admitted 'bu
for muh. | amt strong for It. Menen
sha Blight would do Us more con
\ fortably-across the Sound. you know
a bit east OF Gay Head"
, Why Menemsha Bight?"
Because there's an able-bodied an
energetic fog bell at Tarpaulin. TAX
my advice. There1l be nothing bu
dead silence at the Blight, and 1t ism
r.