The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-01-09


The second passed likewise, ANA the
third dawned In the same glow OF am
Der haze and ruddy sun.
ut looks very much ns though we
would have TO return without those
promised ducks for Thanksgiving
day" observed Jack restlessy Ms he
took the wheel after breakfast
III Il would blow up Bit colder We
might bag few today, II my pro
phetic instinct serves me right those
clouds yonder look like wind and
rain" Bob Hayden puffed out cloud
of smoke and leaned luzily over tina
rail,
81 hope II doesn't storm, II we don't
hurry we won't get back 10 Cromore In
time for dinner tomorrow" said his
wife.
"What's the matter with Thanksgv-
ing dinner aboard the Nautilusy' asked
her owner.
ut would be perfectly lovely, of
course, only you know II couldn't seem
like Il real Thanksgiving feast Every
thing Is timed or bottled. All the
Thanksgivings ever remember are
accompanied by the aroma Of delicious
goodies cooking IN the kitchen"
Enough said" returned Jack grim
ly. "You spurn my invitation TO din
ner; therefore II Is up TO me to turn
and beat il for Cromore. We will
have barely time TO make 1t before
nightfall."
They might have done so easily had
not those threatening clouds gradually
massed toward the zenith and slowly
covered the rest of the blue sky. Then
came n thick blanketing fog that blot
ted out the world and left them iso-
lated in a dense white world Of drip
ping moisture.
There was CONSERVATION aboard the
Nautilus after that. Those November
fogs were very deceiving and it might
be many hours. perhaps days before
the mist lifted. If they could keep In
the winding channel among the Islands
they would he all right. but II they
missed their way and nosed around
outside in the track of the big steam
ers there was no knowing what would
be The fate Of the little craft and her
passengers.
They anchored for awhile, and then,
impatient Of the delay that would pre-
vent them from arriving home In time
for Thanksgiving dinner. they started
out again. feeling their way. lack
Henshaw at the wheel and Frank
Carew blowing the siren at intervals.
Bob Hayden and the three women re.
mained in the cabin and played bridge
by the light of the lamp. 1t was very
cheerful in there, away from the fog
Jack Henshaw stared at the lighted
windows of the cabin and thought
rather ruefully that his task would be
more attractive if Phyllis Hayden
would come out ard share his turn at
the wheel.
The little Nautilus felt her way
among the hidden rocks in the chan
mel that snaked among the little islands.
and it seemed that hours passed be-
fore the fog thinued sufficiently for
them to glimpse the dark bulk Of an
island near ut hand.
With the lifting of the fog which
was driven before Il nasty eaSterly
wind. the chlnnel became uupeasantly
choppy. changing to dashing waves as
the wind increased.
While they debated whether to go on
or to make an anchorage among the
islands their fate was decided for
them. a big wave rushed along the
narrow channel, lifted the Nautilus
upon its crest and sent her crashing
upon the rocks Of the nearest island,
where she wedged tightly between two
powders
1t all came so suddenly that the
duck hunters hardly realized what had
happened before Jack Henshaw hustled
them ashore with their belongings.
She's sprung leak, a big hole in
her port bow. We can't do thing
except to carry a couple Of lines ashore
and fasten them to some Of those large
cedars'
He was hurrying them ashore with
their burdens of hastily snatched
clothing and bedding He followed
with all the provisions he could gather
and later sent the small oil stove from
the galley. BY scrambling over the
slippery rocks they could reach the
firm white beach where ancient cedars
fringed the foot of the sand bluffs
Here the women waited while the
three men made the Nautilus fast in
her cradle among the rocks in the
manner suggested by Jack. When all
was completed the six pleasure seek
ers gathered ruefuIly about their pos
sessions
"Goodby. THANKSGIVING dinner" said
Carpw in q hollow tone.
"And nobody knows how soon we
may get to Cromore for any meals"
added Mrs. Carew mournfully.
Phyllis Hayden and lack Henshaw
exchanged glances of amusement. TO
them the adventure Sayored of rO-
nance. To be cast away upon Il des-
ert island was novel experience
enough. but to he cast away to-
gether. these two who were in love
with each other, made that island a
paradise.
"Ah, you're IA cheerful lot Of Robin
son Crusoes." chided Jack at last You
may never have the chance to be cast
ashore again. and you sit here bpmoun-
ing because You cant Su"ul Thanks
~