The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-28

out MS mast and nearly capsized his
dory. When she righted, the steam.
er's lights were, fading into the fog
again. his boat was half full o. water
and his oars were washed awey. Well.
sir. to make long story short, he
must have caught current that car.
ried him we'll out beyond Cape Cod.
and then slowed him around the
southermost end Of Nantucket island.
I questioned him about lights and fog
signals, and making due allowance for
his condition. his yarn works out pret.
ty straight. He'd been drifting about
for three days when We picked him
up and was half dead Of thirst and
hunger. But he's come around better
than might be expected, and"
And then I interrupted him.
Three days without water!" ques
toned.
ard without food Yes, STR"
When did he tell you this story r"
About six o'clock. sir."
Gould . starving naA recover that
quicklyi"
He might SIR" Mcleod answered.
The average healthy man can 90 ten
days without food or drink"
What have you done with him?"
Hes In the ssaman's quarters, FOR
ard. SIR"
"ess that he's kept there, Mr.. Mao
Lsod." ! told him. "Td feel better II
you put . watch on him tonight. To
morrow well run In TO Gloucester and
look mp his people and friends."
VERY good. SIR"
Thank you"
thought Of having . look 1t Peter
johnson. myself, for ! was somewhat
curious to study that face again when
Il was ssntient, and had eyes open.
but on second thought I decided to
wait until morning. II seemed silly
to suspect this seemingly HONEST but
unfortunate fisherman.
We had not been speeding % well
during the afternoon: there was some
trouble reported from the engine
room. snd II was q question whether
w had made over fifteen knots nm
hour since two O'Clock. know that
at Yen o'clock that night. when tho
moon went down, We were somewhere
east Of Nantucket. and directly in the
path Of the transatlantic liners.
The night was balmy as night in
springtime. and Cameron and In
light overcoats sat on the after.deck.
watching the moon slide slowly below
the dark horizon line. Our chairs were
close together. facing the lee rail; his
the farther astern. We talked Of
many things. I remember. He was al.
ways interested In my work, and es-
pecially in ray ambitions to make The
Week power for national good; and
l remember that we discussed several
projects I then had in mind for bring
Ing about reform in high places. But
the subject which then interested me
most. and regarding which l still ex.
perienced q vague, unreasoning uneas-
iness. he had avoided throughout the
day and evening. with what seemed
to me studied intent.
The sudden cessation Of hostilities
on the part Of those whom he had
been given every reason to look upon
as his implacable enemies, was GER
tainly strange enough to have invited
endless debate; and l marveled that,
after having accepted my falsehood
az truth. he had not chosen to go over
with me the whole marvelously per.
picking business.
His mind. ! knew, was relieved by
what l had made him believe, or he
would not now be the man he was:
but despite that. II appeared to me.
II would b most natural for him, on
this day Of all days-the twenty.frst
OF the month--to question. at least,
my previously emphatically stated
conclusions.
There had been q moment OF silence
between us. and these reflections were
dominant with me, as six bells, ring.
Ing out musicallS. announced that
midnight WAS but an hour distant. At
that instant, while in time to the
bells strokes. there echoed in my
brain the words: "Know then, that be-
fore the morning Of the eighth day
hence" Cameron, lowering his ri.
gar. turned to me with:
clyde. I wonder II you hare for
gotten what day this is!"
] don't know why. coming at Just
that particular juncture. the question
shouls b moro upsettins than II It
bad come at some other time Of day.
but know II seemed 90 to me.
For little space my tongue refused
its ONCE. There was a lump In my
throat which demanded to be swal
lowed, and I made q pretence OF
coughing TO hide my plight. At length
answered, . bit lamely:
mo. haven't forgotten. It's
WAAnAaAaU Nh>