Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1914-08-28
Putting aside the megaphone, he sat
down again. mot that I'd dare fire
this blunderbuss," he conhded, with

schooner.
this reek of gasoline; but just for
moral effect. Phew-w! I'd give a dol
lar for breath Of clean air; I've in
hailed 30 much gas In the last few
hours I'm dry-cleaned down to my
silly old toes!"
Gaining no response from Alan, he
observed critically: "Chatty little GUS
toner, your are" and resumed the
binoculars.
For thirty minutes nothing hap
pened, other than that the sound Of
the fisherman's launch was stilled. 1t
rested moveless in the waters, two
figures mysterlously busy In the cock
pit, the Seaventure's dory trailing be-
hind 1t on a long painter
Gradually these details became
blurred, and were blotted out by the
closing shadows. The afterglow in
the west grew cool and faint. The
crimson waters darkened, to mauve,
to violet, to translucent green, to
blackness. Far up the coast two
white eyes, peering over the horizon,
stared steadfastly through the dark.
Chatham lights" Barcus said they
were.
Abruptly he dropped the glasses and
jumped up. Hear that" he cried.
Now the humming OF the motor was
again audible and growing louder with
every instant; and Alan, getting to his
feet In turn, infected with the excite
ment Of Barcus, could just make out
at some distance dark shadow be-
meath the dim, spluttering glimmer of
light, that moved swiftly and steadily
toward the Seaventure.
What the DEVIL" he demanded,
puzzled
You uttered a mouthful when you
said devil" Barcus commented.
grasping his arm and hurrying him to
the landward side of the vessel.
"Quick-kick off your shoes-get set
for a mile-long swim! Devils work,
all right" he painted, hastily divest-
ing himself Of shoes and outer gar
ments. Il couldn't made out what
they were up to till saw them lash
the wheel, light the fuse, start the
motor, and take to the dory They've
made on grand little torpedo boat out
Of that tender"
He sprang upon the rail, steadying
himself with a stay. Ready" he
asked Look sharp!"
BY way of answer, Alan Joined him:
the two had Owed as one, entering the
water with single splash, and COM
Ing to the surface good ten yards
from the Seaventure. For the next
several seconds they were swimming
frantically, and not until three hun
dred feet or more separated them
from the schooner did either dare
pause for breath or backward glance.
Then the impact of the launch
against the Seaventure's side rang out
t'eiooo thO Wdl0lbi anu WItH u HUSKY
roar the launch blew up, spewing sky
wards widespread fan of flame Over
the Seayenture, as this famed and
died. pale fire seemed to hover like
tremendous pail of phosphorescence
weird and CHASTITY glare that suddenly
descended to the decks. There fol-
lowed a cracking noise, a sound as
Of the labored breathing of a giant:
and bright flames, orange, crimson,
violet and gold, licked out all over the
schooner from stem to stern, from
deck to topmasts
1t seemed several minutes that she
burned In this wise--it was probably
not SO long-before her decks blew
up and the flames swept roaring to
the sky.
By the time Alan and Barcus, swim
ming steadily, had gained shoal
which permitted them footing in
waistdeep waters. the Seaventure had
burned to the waters edge.