The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-11-27

Then Mr.. Barcus Strengthened up
from his assiduous attentions to the
motor. and observed:
you bear a charmed life. my ad.
venturous friend. I want to tell you
that when saw you 60 over that cliff
1 made up my mind your usefulness
would be at least permanently i'm
paired. Az It is. I don't mind telling
you that II ever get out of this affair
alive. I'm going to have a try at your
life myself. just once. for luck!"
CHAPTER XVIII.
Stranded.
Mr.. Thomas Barcus picked himself
up from the bottom OF the lifeboat,
where he had been violently precipi.
tated by the impact OF grounding,
blinked and wiped tears OF pain from
his eyes. solicitously tested hfs nose
and seemed to derive little II any COM
fort from the discovery that It was not
broken, opened his mouth and
remembered the presence Of q lady.
Poor Mr.. Barcus!" she said gently.
I'm SO sorry. Do forget I'm here
anu say IL out lOuQ.
Mr.. Barcus dropped his hands and
dropped his head at the same time.
1T can't be did," he complained in
embittered resignation; "the words
have never been invented :"
In the bows Mr.. Law (who had
barely saved himself headlong
plunge overheard when the shoal took
fast hold OF the keeD felt tenderly of
his excoriated shins. then. rising, COM
passed tho sea, sky and shore with an
anxious gaze.
In the ofnng there was nothing but
the nat, limitless expanee Of the night
bound tide. near at hand vaguely sill
vered with the moonlight. in tho dis
tances blending into shadows; never
q light or shadowy, stealing sail in
that quarter to indicate pursuit.
Where are we7" he wondered aloud.
Ask mo An easy one." Barcus re-
piled; somewhere on the south shore
Of tho cape-unless somebody's been
tamperinE with tho lay of this land.
That's . lighthouse over yonder"
Alan took soundings from the bows.
Barely two feet" he announced,
Withdrawing the oar from the water,
and eel-grass no end"
"Oh!" Barcus calculated with the
accent Of enlightenment; and leaving
the motor. turned to tho stern, over
which he draped himself in highly un-
decorative fashion while sropiAg un-
der water for the propeller.
That's the answer" he repeated;
there's . young bale Of the said eel
grass wrapped round the wheel.
Which. / suppose. means I've got to
90 overheard and clear 1t away"
Like Mr.. Law. he wore neither shoes
nor other garments that could be more
damaged by salt water than they had
been-but only shirt trousers and a
belt.
IF you've nothing better to do, my
critical friend" he observed a. he
stopped to hack and tear at the mass
Of weed embarrassing the propeller,
you might step out and give us
trial shove. Don't strain yourself
Just see II you can move her"
The boat budged not an inch-but
Mr.. Laws feet did. slipping on the
treacherous mud bottom with the up-
shot Of his DOWNFALL; with q mighty
splash he disappeared momentarily
beneath the surface-and left his tom
per behind him when he emerged
As for Mr.. Barcus. he suffered like
loss. within five minutes; when, with
much pains and patience having freed
tho wheel, he climbed aboard and
sought to restart the motor. After
few affecting coughs II reiapsed into
stubborn silence.
Studious examination at length
brought out the fact that the gasoline
tank was empty.
mot so much a. . smell left" Bar.
cus reported.
IT'S no use." he conceded at length.
Were here for keepe."
why not wade ashore?" Rose Trine
suggested mildly from the place she
had taken In the stern in order to
tighten the bows. 1T isn't far-and
what's one more wettingf"
That's the only sensible remark
that's been uttered by any party to
this lunatic enterprise since you hove
within earshot Of mo, Mr.. Law" said
Mr.. Barcus. Respectfully submitted"
The verdict Of the lower court
stands approyed." Alan roanondaA