Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-30

my Godr' he exclaimed. THE ten
der's engine is broken down.
why don't the fools use the oarsT'
They can't move her against this
windr'
"win they go to sea?" Bivens asked,
with some anxiety.
"No: they'll bring up somewhere on
q mud fat or marsh in the bay on this
low water. but God help them II they
can't fight their way back before food
tide
"WhyT Bivens asked incredulously.
They'd freeze to death in an open
boat tonight"
Norwegian sailors? Bosh. Not on
your life! They were born on ice
bergs'
Stuart rose and looked anxiously at
the receding tide. He determined to
try to reach the yacht at once. He put
the guns into their cases, snapped the
lids Of the ammunition boxes. slowed
the ducks he had killed under the stern
Of the boat and stepped out into the
shallow. swiftly moving water. He de-
cided to ignore Bivens and regard him
as so much junk. He pulled the boat
out of the blind. showed 1t among the
decoys and took them up quickly.
The snow had ceased to fall. and the
cold was increasing every moment.
Stuart scanned the horizon anxiously.
but could see no sign OF the disabled
| tender.
He had gone perhaps 200 yards when
the boat grounded on the fats. He
saw at once that 1t was impossible TO
make the yacht until food tide. The
safest thing to do was to get out and
| push to the island marsh. 200 or 800
| yards away. There they could take
exercise enough to keep warm until the
| tide came in again. 1t would be a
wait OF two hours in bitter cold and
pitch darkness.
Bivens sat up and growled.
whats the matter? Can't you hur-
ry up? I'm freezing to deathr'
I'VE can't make 1t on this tide. We
will have to go to the marsh
Cant we walk over the fats and let
the boat COZ
81 could walk 1t, but you couldn't"
"Why not?" Bivens asked angrily.
Because you haven't the strength"
Nothing of the Sort" Bivens pro
tested viciousIy.
He stepped out Of the boat and start
ed wadlng through the mud. He had
made about ten steps when his boot
stuck fast and he reeled and fell.
Stuart picked him up without COM
ment and led him back to the boat
Bivens was about to climb In when
the lawyer spoke quickly:
You can't sit down now. You've got
to keep your body in motion or you'll
freeze. Take hold of the stern of the
boat and shove her"
Muttering incoherent curses, the little
man obeyed while his friend walked in
front. pulling on the bow line.
In fifteen minutes they reached the
marsh and began the dreary tramp of
two hours until the tide should rise
high enough to float their boat again.
why can't we walk along this marsh
all the way to where the yacht lies?"
Bivens asked fretfully. I'VE can Gre
a gun, and the doctor can help us os
board"
I'VE can't go without the boat The
marsh is string of islands cut by
three creeks. The doctor has no way
to get to US. Both tenders are gone"
Stuart kept Bivens moving Just fast
enough to maintain the warmth Of bis
body without dangerous eIha ustion.
The wait was shorter than expected.
The tide suddenly ceased to run ebb
and began to come in. The reason was
an ominous one The wind had hauled
squarely into the north and increased
its velocity to forty miles an hour, and
each moment the cold grew more ter
rfble. Stuart found the little boat
anoat on the food tide. jumped in
without delay and began his desperate
battle against wind and tide
1t was absolutely necessary for Biy.
ems to keep his body in motion. so
Stuart gave him an oar and ordered
him to get on his knees and help shove
her ahead He knew it WIS impossible
for him to keep his feet.
Bivens tried to do as be was told
and made a mess of 1t. He merely sue.
ceeded in showing the boat around
Stuart saw they could never make
Roadway by that method. turned and
shot back into the marsh.
Get outr' he shouted sternly. ''You
can walk along the edge I can shove
her alone"
Biyens grumbled. but did as he was
ordered
Don't you leave the edge Of that
marsh ten feet"' Stuart shouted cheer
fully. Il think well make 1t now"
II was a question whether one man
had the strength to shove the little
boat through the icy. roaring waters
and keep her OF the shore. He did II