The Sentinel=record., 1914-09-27
Copyright, 1914. by Louis Joseph Vance

Barcus returned in\a tone as bgusque.
"Oh, you did-eh n
"Yes, / did--eh! n happen to be
bossing this end of vthe boat and to
have sense enough DO realize there's
no sense at all In our wasting fuel the
way we are-cruising nowhere!" i.
Well" Law commended, struck by
the fairness of this argument, bu1 I'M
able to calm his uneasiness-~ju the
same. we might"
"Yes5 of course, weAmight." Barcus
snapped 1--WE might a'whole lot We
might, FOR instance, be heading for
Spain, for all you or l know to tns
contrary. And in such case. for one
respectfully prefer to have gas enough
to take un home again If ever this
da--blessed fog liffs!"
And for several seconds longer the
stiffness strAngled THERE spirits in its
ruthless grasp.
| Then of sudden al cry shrilled
| through the fog, sosnearfat hand that
it seemed scarcely smorel distant than
over the side:
|
So insistent, so urgent was its ac-
cent that, coupled with the surprise,
1t brought the three as one to their
feet, all a-trembe, their eyes seeking
one another's faces, then shifting un-
easily away.
What can 1t be?" Rose whispered,
aghast, shrinking into Ahn's ready
arm.
"A woman" Barcus put In harshly.
Judith" the girl moaned.
Alan shook himself together. I'm
possiblel" he contended. Il saw cher
go down
THAT doesn't prove she didn't come
up" Barcus commented acidly.
Alloy! Motorboat aho-o-oy! Help"
"And that" Barcus pursued sadly,
"iust proves she did come up-blame
the luck Alive she is, and kicking
stand clear. An able-bodied pair of
lungs was back of that hail, my friend;
and you needn't tell me l don't know
the dulcet accents of that angelic con-
tralto!"
without needing him, Alan cupped
hands to mouth and sent an answer
ing cry ringing through the murk:
"Ahoy Where are you? Where
away?"
thereon the acknowledgements
perlshlng with chill"
How does my voice bear?" Alan
called back.
what the dickens do you carer"
Barcus interpolated suspiciuosly.
ITO port" the response rang through
the fog. "Starboard your helm and
come in slowly"
+ "Right-o! Half minute!" Alan re-
piled reassuringly.
Like hell" Mr.. Barcus muttered in
his throat as he jumped down into the
engine pit and bent over the fly-wheel
Leaping on the forward thwart and
balancing himself perilously near the
gunwale. Alan strained his vision
vainly against the opacity of the fog
Cant make out anything" he
! grumbled. looking back. start her
| up-but slows the woodland ware
| reef"
| Nothing doing" Barcus retorted
| curtly. 1.-THE motto Is now Full speed
astern!' as you must know"
! 20 come! We can't leave a woman
/ out therein fix like that"
| Cant we? You watch!" Barcus
| grunted malevolently, rocking the
| heavy flywheel with all his might; for
the motor had turned suddenly stub
born.
"Alan." Rose pleaded, laying a hand
upon his sleeve. Think what II
means! | know 1t sounds heartless Of
me-and it's my own sister. But you
know how mad she is-wild with ha-
tired and jealousy. If you take her into
this boat, it's your life or hers!"
"If we leave her out there" Alan
retorted. shaking his arm impatiently
free, "its her life on our heads!"
At this juncture the motor took
charge of the argument, ending 1t in
summary fashion. With a smart ex-
plosion in the cylinder, 1t started up
unexpectedly, at one and the same
time almost dislocating the arm Of
Mr.. Barcus and precipitating Alan
overheard.
1t was not given him to know what
was happening until he found himself
In the water: he struggled to the sur
face Just in time to see the bows of
the lifeboat back away and vanish into
the mist.
yss CHAPTER XVI.