The Washington times., 1913-03-07

THE ANGEL ~ LOUIS 49, 81 vance
CHAPTER xIII.-(continued.)

CHAPTER XIII-(Continued.)
a BANDONING the forward wheel
~ in favor of that at the side.
near the cngine-pit. for time
he divided his attention be-
tween holding the course mapped out
for him and tinkering with the motor,
with the result that the Trouble began
presently to develop greater speed.
til, with Robins Island abeanl-though
he knew 1t not by name-the distance
between them had been abridged by
half. But more than that she seemed
unable to accomplish. He surmised
serving his gain, had met 1t with an
equalizing demand upon their motor
that both boats were now running at
the extreme of their power. The Trou-
bic. at least, could do no better. To
Empty Of all other craft. weird and
desolate in moonlight, the Little Pc
comic waters wtdened and then narrow
ed about the flying vessels. Shore
light. watched them. now dim and far.
Island sound received them, slapped
their tanks encouragingly with its rae
ing waves, sped them with an ebbing
tide that tore eeaward between con-
stricted shores. carried them past high.
past simple cottage and pretentious
country home, past bobbing buoys-nun
and can and spar-and moored fotillas
Of small pleasure craft. past Sag Harbor
them at length into the lonelier wastes
Of Gardeners bay. their relative posi-
tions unchanged; still the Trouble re-
tanned her hard-won advantage.
But 1t was little comfort that Whit
aker derived from contemplation Of that
Ia Ffrf 10 Snl
perplexed and distressed. He had no
watch wit hhfm. no means of ascer-
tanning the time even roughly. But. un-
questionabiys they had been upward Of
braving wilder waters-and still he saw
no sign Of anything resembling q ter
mjnation Of the adventure. In fact,
they were leaving behind them every
likely landing place.
are they making for-Boston?'
Near the forward wheel. a miniature
binnaole housing a compass with phos-
phorescent card advised him from time
to time Of the lay Of their course. They
were Just then plowing, almost due
northeast. over a broad expanse, beck
oned on by the flicker of a distant gas
buoy.
But the information was less than
worthless and every reasonable guess
he might have made as to their next
move would have been proved even
futile than merely idle, for when they
had rounded the buoy. instead OF stand
ing, as any sane being might have been
expected to, on to Fishers island or
ticut littoral, they swung of some-
thing south Of east-a course that could
lead them nowhere but to the immen-
stiles Of the sea itsalf.
Whitaker's breath caught in his
throat as he examined this startling
nfi
a tride bigger than he had bargained
for. To dare Its temper, with South
wester brewing (by every weather sign
he knew In what was to all intents
an open boat, since he would never be
able to leave the cockpit for an in
stant's shelter in the cabin in any sort
He shook a dubious, vastly troubled
head, and held on grimly In the face OF
dire forebodings.
ners island. a heavier run Of waves
beset them abeam. Fortunately, q sea
Of long, smooth, slow-shouldering roll
ers, as vet not angry. Now and again,
for all that one would catch the Trou-
ble q Quartefing slap that sent a shower
aker and wash noisily round the cock
pit, ere the self-baling channels con-
triyed to carry 1t of.
He was soon wet to the skin and
sEivering.
The houT was past midnight, and the
strong air whipping in from the open
sea had q bitter edge. His only con-
ISOLATION inhered In the reflection that
he Lad companions in his misery. Those
who drove the leading boat could hard
he hoped and believed that the woman
cabin.
But over the dark waste to starboard
a white light lifted. flashing. For
while a red eye showed beneath II. star
ing unwinkingiy with a steadfast and
sardonic glare, then disappeared COM
pletely: leaving only the blinking white.
+ er ahead another light, fixed white,
hung steadily over the port counter,
and SO remained for over an hour.
Then, most gradually, the latter wore
round upon the beam and dropped be-
meath Whitaker guessed at random
out none the less rightly, that they
were weathertrg Block Islands south
srly APPROACH, with several miles leeway.
he hollow of its tremendous hand.
The slow, eternal, deep-sea swell was
most perceptfble; a ceaseless impulse of |
infinite power running through the pet
ier. II more threatening. drive of waves
Kicked up by the wind. Fortunately, |
he course. shifting to northeast by |
east, presently took them out of the !
swinging trough of the sea. The rollers |
low ned before them, an endless herd, |
me after another falling sullenly be |
lind as the two boats shot down into |
heir shallow intervals and began to |
'reep slowly up over the backs Of those |
hat ran before.
II was after in the morning. and
hough Whitaker had no means OF |
moving II. they were on the last and |
ongest leg Of the cruise. They still had |
moonlight. but II was more wan and |
;hastly. and threatened presently to fail |
hem altogether, blotted out by the !
weather. The wind was |
,Iowing with an insistcnt, unintcrmit- |
ent force II had not before developed.
A haze. vaguely opslescent, incircled |
he horizon like a ghost of absinthe
rhe cold, formless. wavering dusk of /
lawn in time lent II a sickiy hue of |
ray. together with seeming more