The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-10-22
Flames LIaked out All over tho
Schooner.

Flames LlSHeQ SuL ~ SkSt 6'i0
Schooner.
this reek of gasoline; but just for
moral effect. Phew-w! I'd give dol
lar for breath of clean air; I've in
hailed SO much gcs in the last few
hours I'm dry-cleaned down to my
silly old tocs!"
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 movcless in the waters, two
figures mystcriously busy in the cock
pit, the Seaveuture's dory trailing be.
hind it on 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 lie dropped the glasses and
jumped up. "Hear that!" he cried.
Now the hupning Of the motor was
again audible and growing louder with
every instant; and Alan, getting to his
feet in turn, infected with the excite
inent OF Barcus, could just make out
at some distance a dark shadow be-
meath the dim, spIuttering glimmer Of
light. that moved swiftly and steadily
toward the Seaventure.
What the devil!" he demanded,
puzzled.
You uttered mouthful when you
said dewitt" Barcus commented.
grasping his arm and hurrying him to
the landward side of the vessel.
"Quick-kick off your shoes-get set
for a mlle.long swim! DEVILS work,
all right" he painted, hastily divest-
ing himself OF shoes and outer gar.
nents. 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 eprung upon the rail, steadying
himself with stay. "Ready?" he
asked. Look sharp!"
BY way of answer, Alan Joined him;
the two had dived as one, entering the
water with single splash, and com.
Ing to tho surface good ten yards
from the Senyenture. For the next
several seconds they were swimming
frantically, and not until three hun.
bred feet or more separated them
from tho schooner did either dare
pause for breath or backward glance.
Then the impact OF the launch
C.-.:rst the Seaventure's side rang out
across ITO waters, and with a husky
roar the launch blew up, spewing sky.
wards widespread fan of flame. Over
the Seaventure, as this famed and
died, pale fire seemed to hover like
tremendous pail of phosphorescence, a
weird and CHASTITY glare that suddenly
descended to the decks. There fol.
lowed "a cracking noise, 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 timo Alan and BGfcus, swim:
ming steadily, had gained shoal
which permitted them footing in
walst.deep waters, the seaventure had
burned to the waters edge.