The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-10-21
CHAPTER x.
The Past a Blank.

The Past a Blank.
1t was perfectly true that Florence
had cast herself into the sea. 1t had
not been an act Of despair, however.
On the contrary, hope and courage had
prompted her to leap. The night was
clear, with only a moderate sea run
ming. At the time the great ship was
passing the banks, and almost within
hail she saw a fishing schooner riding
gracefully at anchor. She quite read
lily believed that If she remained on
board the George Washington she was
lost. She naturally forgot the marvel
Of wireless telegraphy. No longer may
a man hide at sea.
So, with that quick thought which
was a part Of her Inheritance, she
seized the life buoy, climbed the rail
and leaped far out. AS the great, dark,
tossing sea swooped up to meet her
she noted a block Of wood bobbing up
and down. She tried to avoid it, but
could not, and struck 1t head on: De-
spite the blow and the shock Of the
chill water she i%nstinctively chung to
the buoy. The wash from the mighty
propellers tossed her about, hither
and yon, from one swirl to another,
like a chip Of wood. Then everything
grew blank. :
Fortunately for her the master of
the fishing schooner was at the time
standing on his quarterback by the
wheel, squirting through his glass at
the liner and envying the ease and
comfort Of those on board her. The
mate, sitting on the steps and smok-
ing his turning-in pipe, saw the mas
ter lean forward suddenly, lower the
glass, then raise it again.
Lord almighty"
whats the matter, 'cap'n?"r
Jake, in Gods name, come ere an
take a peek through this glass. I'm
dreamin'!"
The mate jumped and took the
glass. Where away, sir?"
"A pint of tn sta'board bow. See
somethin' white bobbin' up?"
"Yessir! Looks like some one
dropped a bolster r a piller over
board. . Gods whiskers!" he
broke off.
Then 1 amt really SEEM things"
cried the master. Hi, y lubbers!" he
yelled to the crew; Flower tn dory:
They's a woman in tn water out there.
1 seen her leap tn rail. Look alive!
sharp's tn word! Mate, you go
long" d..
The crew dropped their tasks and
sprang for the davits, and the star
board dory was lowered in shipshape
style.
1t takes . good bit of seamanship
to haul a body out Of the sea, into
a dancing bobtailed dory, when one
moment it is climbing frantically heav-
onward and the next heading for the
bottomless pit. They were very ten
der with her. They laid her out In the
bottom of the boat, with the life buoy
as a pillow, and pulled theoretically
for the schooner. She was alive, be-
cause she breathed; but she did not stir
so much as an eyelid. 1t was a stiff
bit Of work, too, to land her aboard
without adding to her injuries. The
master ordered the men to put her In
his own bunk, where he nearly stran-
gled her by forcing raw brandy down
her throat.
well, she's alive, anyhow"
When Florence finally opened ther
eyes the gray>o of dawn lay on the sea,
dotted here and there by the schooners
Of the fleet, which seemed to be hang
ing in midair, as at the moment there
was visible to the eye no horizon.
Don't seem t. recognize nothin'."
"Mebbe she's got a fever" suggested
the mate, rubbing his bristly chin.
Fever nothin'! Not after bein' in
tn water half an hour. Mebbe she hit
one O. them wooden floats we left.
Them dinged liners keep on crowdin'
10, w DdlAOo, WILL q oAS
mans hate for the floating hotels.
went by without a toot. See 'er,
jes' like tn bankers wife goin' t
church on Sunday? A mile a minute;
fog or no fog, it's all the same t
them. They run us down an never
stop. What tn tarnation we goin'
to do? She'll half t. stay aboard till
tn run is over. I can't afford t. yank
up my mudhook this time O. day."
Guess she can stand three r four
days in our company, smellin' oil
cloths, fish, kerosene, an punk t'bac-
CO."
"If y don't like tn kind O. t'bacco
l buy buy your own. l amt objectin'
none"
The mate stepped over to the bunk
and gingerly ran his hand owe the
girls head. Gods whiskers, cap'n,
they's a bump as big's a cork on tn