Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-04

warmth that did not hint of sudden |
change in the weather. There were six |
In the party-Frank Carew and his
wife. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hayden and |
pretty Phyllis Hayden and Jack Hen
shaw. The three women occupied the
cabin of the launch. and the men made
themselves comfortable with blankets
and sailcloth on deck.
The first day had passed unevent-
fully, without even shot at duck
The second passed likewise. and the
third dawned in the same glow of am
Der haze and rudy sun.
at looks very much as though we
would have TO return without those
promised ducks for Thanksgiving
day." observed Jack restlessly as he
took the wheel after breakfast.
If it would blow up u bit colder we
might bag few today. II my pro-
phetic instinct serves me right those
clouds yonder look like wind and
rain" Bob Hayden pulled cut cloud
of smoke and leaned laziiy over the
rail.
Il hope it doesn't storm. II we don't
hurry we won't get back TO Cromore in
time for dinner tomorrow" said his
wife.
What's the matter with Thanksgiv-
ing dinner aboard the Nautilus?" asked
her owner
1T would be perfectly lovely, of
course, only you know it couldn't seem
like real Thanksgiving feast. Every
thing is timed or bottled. All the
Thanksgivings l ever remember are
accompanied by the aroma of delicious
goodies cooking in the Kitchen
Enough said" returned Jack grim
~. You spurn my invitation to din
ner: therefore it is up to me to turn
and beat it for Cromore. We will
have barely time to make it before
nightfall.''
They might have done so easily had
not those threatening clouds gradually
massed toward the zenith and slowly
covered the rest of the blue sky. Then
came a thick blanketing fog that blot
ted out the world and left them iso-
lated in a dense white world Of drip
ping moisture.
There was CONSERVATION aboard the
Nautilus after that. Those November
fogs were very deceiving. and it might
be many hours. perhaps days. before
the mist lifted. If they could keep in
| the winding channel among the islands
they would be all right. but II they
! 0nicood THAR xx-ou ond M
outside in the track of the big steam
| ers there was no knowing what would
| be the fate of the little craft and her
! passengers.
They anchored for awhile. and then,
impatient OF the delay that would pre-
vent them from arriving home in time
for Thanksgiving dinner. they started
out again. feeling their way. Jack
Henshaw at the wheel and Frank
Carew blowing the siren at intervals.
Bob Hayden and the three women re-
manned in the cabin and played bridge
by the light of the lamp. 1t was very
cheerful in there, away from the fog.
Jack Henshaw stared at the lighted
windows of the cabin and thought
rather ruefully that his task would be
more attractive IL Phyllis Hayden
the wheel.
The little Nautilus felt her way
among the hidden rocks in the chan.
mel that snaked among the little islands
and it seemed that hours passed be-
fore the fog thinned sufficiently for
them to glimpse the dark bulk of an
island near at hand
With the lifting of the fog. which
was driven before a nasty easterly
wind, the channel became unpleasantly
choppy. changing to dashing waves as
the wind increased.
While they debated whether to go on
or to make an anchorage among the
islands their fate was decided for
them. A big wave rushed along the
narrow channel. lifted the Nautilus
upon its crest and sent her crashing
upon the rocks of the nearest island
where she wedged tightly between two
powders.
Ii all came so suddenly that the
duck hunters hardly realized what had
happened before Jack Henshaw hustled
them ashore with their belongings.
shes sprung leak. a big hole in
her port bow. We can't do a thing
except to carry a couple OF lines ashore
and fasten them to some of those large
cedars"
He was hurrying them ashore with
their burdens OF hastily snatched
clothing and bedding. he followed
with all the provisions he could gather
and later sent the small oil stove from
the galley. By scrambling over the
slippery rocks they could reach the
firm white beach where ancient cedars
fringed the foot OF the sand bluffs.
Here the women waited while tht
three men made the Nautilus fast II
her cradle among the rocks IN thu
manner suggested by Jack. When al
was completed the six pleasure seek
ers gathered ruefully about their pos
sessions.
"Goodby. Thanksgiving dinner" salt
Carew In a hollow tone.
"And nobody knows how soon WI
may get 10 Cromore for any meals,
added Mrs. Carew mournfully