The Tupelo journal., 1912-08-02
CHAPTER vi.

bows. Ready" he said.
There followed a splash al Apple
yard dropped the hook Of the mooring
at which the Echo had been riding
overnight.
In 6 long and graceful sweep the
Echo swung round and slipped briskly
down the harbor to the urge OF the
following wind.
Early In the afternoon the wind be-
gar t fail, its volume diminishing by
FITS and starts; heavy puffs a~lternated
with spells Of steady breezing u g
cessively more faint.
Over the bows the entrance to
Quick's Hole, the passage between
Pasque and Nashawena Islands, be-
came plainly visible.
Appleyard remarked the signs Of
change with a wrinkle of disQuiet BE-
tween his brows.
Going to have a shift Of wind, you
think?" Coast asked.
The little man nodded a%nxiously.
Its a cinch," he asserted. And
wher 1t loci 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? Ev : SO, It'll favor US up
the Sound, won't it? Besides. we've
got the motor. ~
''Thatn help a heap in case that fog
comes down on us. won't it," Apple
yard snorted in disgust, nodding to-
ward the bank Of tawny haze that dis
colored the horizon beyond the low
profles of Nashawena and C~uttyhunk.
over the starboard counter.
Hadn't thought of that"
tAnd yet you had the nerve to re-
sent my suggestion that you needed
a keeperi"
Well, then. it's up to US to make
that passage as soon as we can
what? Hadn't l better get the motor
going? Here, take the wheel, while
l."
Never m.7d," Appleyard returned.
that's my job. You stay put. That
Is, unless you prefer"
mo; I'm not crazy about 1t. Go
ahead and break your back turning up
a cold engine, If you want TO-"
Don't let that fret you any, Cap'n."
50. AppIeyard grunted, setting the bin
nacle aside and lifting the eng1ne-pit
hatch NE, l 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-on
switches, opened the globe-valve in
the feed pipe, made a slight adjust
ment of the ca%rbureter, and slowly
turned up the fy-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 a
smart upward pull. Instantly there
was a dull explosion in The cylinder.
and the wheel began to spin steadily
to the muf1ed drumming Of the ex-
haust,
Gathering way, the BOAT moved at
a more lively pace, with her sail flap
ping empty and ~listless and idly
swinging hoom.
By the time Coast, instructed by
his highly efficient crew, had piloted
the Echo safely through to the Sound,
e dead calm held.
A little later a chill breath of air
famed Coasts cheek, the first Whit
out of the southwest. The water
fawed and darkened with the flying
catspaws.
The fog swept in swiftly. Far across
the breadth of wind-dulled water
Coast could see it moving onward like
q wall, momentarily gaining In bulk.
Already 1t was lowering threateningly
over Gay Head, and while he looked a
thin, gray, spectral arm stole across
the low land at Menemsha Blight and
began to grope its blind way up the
Sound.
Coast steered with his gaze fixed
upon the compass on the engine-pit
hatch, now his sole guide. Insen-
sibly the fog grew more dense, so
that In time the mast was more or
less indistinct and only a yard or so
of pallid water was visible on either
hand.
Vineyard Haven tonight, by any
chance?" he asked suddenly.
Appleyard shook his head decidedly.
mot unless we get a breeze stih
enough to blow this on"
Then we'd better find an anchor
age for the night"
"Only thing to do. I'm willing to
risk my valuable rep. as a weather
prophet, that this won't lift before
morning"
"Tarpaulin Cover"
Appleyard pursed his thin lips and
rubbed his nose, considering. Good
enough anchorage" he admitted; but
for muh. ! amt strong for It. Menem-