The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-11-16
A NANCE OF THE
By CUTCLIFFE HYNE

lnat ITluse savage coast.
"Ah," said Mr.. Kettle. Il don't wish
TO speak disrespectfully about any
gentleman that was a cousin OF yours,
sir, but are you sure, sir. that this
one wasn't seeing the visions and the
geography or New Jerusalem before
he finally pegged out?"
"Of course, there is that reading,
But at any rate. his yarn is circum.
stantial. Listen, and tell me IL there 3
any bad technical breaks. He says
that when they put off there was a
very heavy sea running, and the boat,
which had been badly stove in the
lowering soon swamped. The air
chambers kept her afioat, but before
daybreak the sharks and the seas
had eased her OF half her people
Sometimes she foated right way up
ward. sometimes wrong, and on the
whole they had the says) roughish
trip of il. The amazing part OF 1t
was that in the morning there was
the steamer, righted. and apparently
little the worse for her bucketing, and
only mile away from them; and
beyond again was the shore Of Az
RIGA, with fine line of noisy spouting
reefs guarding il
THE steamer and the swamped
boat were in tow of good brisk cur
rent. but the steamer was highest out
of the water, and, when the wind got
her, drirted fastest. She got nearer
and nearer to the reefs, and at last
among them, and my poor old cousin
watched to see her strike and go
smash. But in some way she nav
igated clear OF the rocks, though he
said there was a regular graveyard
of them, and he clearly saw her afioat
on the smooth water inside.
Then after that the tide changed,
or the current changed-you know
what twiddly thing currents are, Cap
tain-and the swamped life-boat got
drawn out seward again. and poor
Fred seems to have had pretty haZy
notion OF what happened between then
and the time when the beef boat
picked him up. 1t was all middle
Of sun. and birds, and thirst. and fell
lows dying, and more birds trying TO
pick his eyes out, and trouble about
some lady patients coming to see him
in his consulting room in Harley
Street at home.
And when at last he was hauled
in out of the wet he'd dose OF
angina pectoris, which as he said gave
him due warning, and he'd just time
to write this letter | told you OF be-
fore another attack came along and
las the Captain of the Argentine
wrote TO mel finished him of. SO
there's the tale, and ] want TO know
what you think OF II"
IL don't ask you to tell me more
than you wish sir, but the first thing
want to point out is that there is a
lot OF coast.line to Africa. Did he
mark of likely bit?"
He did"
And is it likely to be disturbed?
You said. IL you remember, II was
savage"
81 should say that local effort has
looted anything II fancied off the der
elict. but II you come to add that
up IL probably won't amount TO more
than a few hundred pounds worth.
Tramp steamers OF the, brand that
are chartered TO carry ore are not
usually fitted out with guns and
swords and other tackle that would
attract the savage eye. AS Tor the
copper matte, can imagine their
cursing when they got the matches OF
and went down to have look at 1t"
and what about any other boat
running in there, and sighting her.
and towing her off, and claiming sal
wage, so that when you got there
you would find the harbor bare"
IF she had been found. Lloyd 3
would have been notified. They
haven't, and, as a matter OF fact, |
have bought up all claims. IL ! told
you the spot you would recognize at
once that 1t is clear OF all steam
lanes, and there isn't the smallest
possibility of any craft laundering
into that part OF the coast and finding
her"
Then. sir, 1t seems to me you've
got a cinch, and il you'll employ me
as master OF your salvage steamer
I'd be proud to undertake the bust
ness for you"
Sir George pulled rather rueful
face. DO you believe In luck, Cap
tain?"
If believe that every man makes
for himself the luck he deserves.
That makes 1t rather worse, be
cause am free 10 own up 10 you that
luck at present seems to have desert
ed we entirely. and as I'm going
with this expedition myself for--well,
for reasons should say the odds are
| shall act as Jonah and wrecN IL
Sir" said Captain Kettle warmly.
don't YOU believe II for one instant.
II YOU guarantee that the steamer
there and afoat. I'll guarantee 10
YOU. given A modest equipment, that
I'll find her and bring her home. Yes,
SIR. the fact Of your luck being down.
and the trifle that half the tribes in
Africa are showing their teeth and
trying 10 keep her as their private
yacht, won't stop me. OF course. this
is always supposing you give me the
job"
The big mans tired face lighted up
with a smile He had very taking
smile. After the enthusiasm you
have shown / don't see that | have
any choice So IL in the teeth OF all
I've told you, you'll be good enough
TO accept the billet. it's yours to have
AS regards pay, | don't know much
about these matters, and I can't at
ford to lie extravagant. but I'll give
YOU the standard rate OF salary IL YOU
will let me know what that Is, and
I'll also arrange for you 10 have Z
slice OF the plumber II We manage tC
DO our sstSttes44HTfss- sleeaSStrlly mus
20 now. but II you'll meet me a; th'
station at 9:l5 tomorrow well rui