The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-23

nip and tuck as to whether he
should be able to get her nose
around i'm time.
Highest footing I ever saw, I"
he muttered. and making three
jumps OF IL to the wheel. threw
her helm hard over.
The bow began to Creep over
slowly to the port. At the same
time the point of the island came
nearer and nearer. The COM
panionwsy hatch opened, and a
wet, disheveied figures emerged.
He might have seen concern and
amazement tn her face, but he did
not even look al her.
Hold that wheel over hard, -
he shouted, and made a dash for
the center-board halyards. Down
went the board with a thud, but IL
was too late. The yawl slid past
the point of the island, and they
were in the open sea.
The situation was serious. De
termined, however, to show a
cheerful front Brooke went to-
ward the stern where she sat.
For the first time he saw her
| face.
In sheer amazement he stopped
still in his tracks, for facing him
was not Mrs. Brooke, but Miss
Greyi
She smiled at him with a
frightened attempt at good hu-
NOR, and relinquished her place
at the wheel TO him.
What are you going to do?''
she demanded as he brought the
yawl around into the wind.
am going to try to beat back
| to the island"
The instant he brought the
boat around from her course
straight before the wind, the gale
and the seas descended upon her
with all their force. The craft
careened until the whole lee gun
vale was awash.
"Afraid?" he demanded.
Not yet" she replied, and be-
gan to bail.
When they got the bow headed
toward land again, the full power
of the gale fell upon the yawl. A
great wave hit her bows with the
| force of a trip-hammer and she
stopped as if she had run into a
| wall. Had they been at anchor
they could not have been more
stationary, except for the dizzy
careen of the yawI.
| I'm willing to give ii up, II
you are" he said at length, as a
wave came down the full sweep
of the deck and drenched them
from head to foot.
| PLEASE do" she gasped.
He let the bow swing around,
and again they ran before the
wind.
While they we're running be-
fore the wind they were safe.
They shipped but little water and
the boat stood upright as she tore
along. They might have been
| considerably disturbed had they
attempted to estimate how much
distance they were putting be-
tween them and Lugger island.
But the present five minutes was
their only concern.
The rain continued until about
half-past five by Brooke's watch,
and then began to abate with all
the suddenness of it's coming. The
, wind died down and they lay roll
| ing on the breast of the ocean,
with sea to the four sides of them
and the setting sun shining on
their dripping decks.
Worn out by exertion and
worry, they stretched out on the
boards. and let the little craft bob
her own way about amidst the
waves.
81 don't like to seem dictate
rial" he said presently, but
hadn't you better change your
wet clothes?"
She debated for moment.
Then she went below.
She reappeared presently clad
in her bathing-suit, which she had
kept aboard the sailboat, so that
she might swim in the channel.
She Informed him that there was
duck sailor suit below, which
he might wear. He retired to try
the experiment of putting this
costume on.
When he returned, they turned
their attention to that important
item-the food supply. They
found there was plenty of water.
They found. too. that the larder
had bee nsufficiently well stocked
by the providential Mrs. Brooke