The Washington herald., 1914-08-30


pounding aft
The figures Of the boarding party were already
taking shape through the fog as Alan sprang
toward the companionway to fetch the rife. And
in this action, his feet slipped planks greasy
with moisture deposited by the surcharged atmos-
phere. He went down with stunning thump, and
an instant later two men fell bodily upon him
active, strong fellows in the dress Of fishermen.
He was suffered to rise only prisoner, helpless
in the grasp Of two pair of powerful hands.
He saw Barcus, rudeIy reused and still dumb
with sleepy confusion, in better case-ierked
to his feet and held captive by two more fisher
men. fifth had taken charge OF Rose. clampng
her wrists In the wise Of big hand
The sixth and sole other member Of the board
ing party likewise in the roughandready garb Of
fisherman. was Judith Urine
Down the side heavy Iifeboat ground its way
astern. the loose end Of its painter slipping over
the rail even Alan caught sight Of it. $50 It
seemed Barcus had guessed shrewdlyD
Observing this Of the men in charge of
Alan made as II to leave him to the other ad-
dressing Judith for permission to prevent the loss
of the lfe-boat. She stopped him with a peremp-
tory gesture.
"No-let It go. We're better of without IT,
Hold that man fast till fetch rope. Well make
sure Of them both, this time!"
Straining forward in the grasp Of her guard
Rose implored her sister: Judith, in PHYS name
think what you DOING"
Hold your tongue!" Judith snapped viciously.
Another whimper out of you, and I'll have YOU
gagged"
The balance Of her threat though accompanied
by the exhibition Of automatic pistol was
drowned out by the sudden roar Of a steamship
fog-signal. so close aboard that it seemed almos:
to emanate from the forepart Of the schooner her
self
AS 1t was answered by shrill and hoarse cries,
Of terror and Of warning. from a dozen throats
Alan found himself released his captors Ieaping
for their lives TO the tafrail
He caught an instantaneous glimpse of the knife
like bow Of a great steamer towering above the
two-master-sweepng toward it at a speed which
raised smart Jet Of white under the cutwater
Someone aboard the schooner, with the voice
Of a stentor. beloved terrified appeal:
"stoP your engines! Shut off your propeller!
Stop your"
Then, like the wrath Of God the steamship over.
whemed the lesser ship: its bow seemed to slice
through the schooner a knife through cheese
And the two halves were fairly driven under water
by the frightful force Of the blow
Thunders deafenng him, Alan was hurled bodily
through the air fully twenty feet.
When he came up he struck out at random
blindly tormented by the vision OF Rose caught in
the suck Of that gigantic wheel. drawn under
crushed and manged by the propeller OF the vast
black hulk whose flank was sliding past. like the
face Of a cliff, ten yards behind his shoulders
Aware of several dark objects dotting the sur
face within a radius Of several yards he swan
for the nearest: the head was woman's the face
turned toward him the face Of Rose.
He gasped wildly: keep COOL Don't struggled
Put one hand my shoulder and"
What happened then was never quite clear to
him: he only knew that he was forced to fight for
his very life-that the woman. as soon as he
came within reach flung herself upon him like
some maddened animal clutching his throat wind
ing her limbs round his, dragging him down and
down.
T-;,,
bered later, most vaguely, the elimination of that
duel beneath the waters-remembered freeing an
arm. drawing It back. delivering blow from his
shoulder. with all his strength, finding himself
free. struggling back to the air
Then boathook caught the back of his shirt
and dragged him for distance, until two
strong hands caught him beneath the armpits and
held his head above the water.
He looked up witlessly into the face Of Barcus
and still bewildered struggled feebly.
The others voice brought him back to his
senses: Easy. old top, Take it easy! You're
all right now-rest minute, then help me get you
aboard"
He obeyed, controlling his panic as best he
might and presently. with considerable assistance
from Barcus, contrived to scramble in over the
gunwales of boat which proved to be the stolen
lifeboat
Aside from Barcus and himself It held one other
person only-the woman he loved. crumpled up
and unconscious In the bow
He strove to rise and go to her. to make sure
that still she lived Barcus restrained and quieted
him.
There! Easy. say! She's all right-fainted
that's all! She and took the water in prac-
tically the same spot and luck threw this blessed
boat my way within half dozen strokes No
trouble at all-in a manner Of speaking"
But the steamer"
Why fret about her? At the pace she was
making she couldn't have stopped within half
mile. Wen be all right now-with power to fetch
US to land"
But the others-Judith" Alan sat up and
leaned over the gunwalae, searching an oily
leaden expanse spotted only with few splinters
and bits Of wreckage. II left her out there-un-
conscious-shen drown, tell you"
And IN tell you something" said Mr. Barcus
severely. You'll lie quiet and shut up or I'll dent
your dome with the shaft of an oar Let her
drown-and a good job. l say! Don't you know
the meaning Of enough? Mercful heavens man.
you're the most Unsuitable glutton for punishment
ever!"
But Alan wasn't listening His face was as
lghtless the waters that swan beneath his
lackluster gaze. There horror in his heart
that numbed even the sense Of relief, Of deliver
ance, that penetrated his being like a shock of