The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-11-06


power horn of catboat crying the !,
warning back to the deep-throated |
whistle OF coastwise steamship and |
the impairment drumming OF a motor
boats exhaust with the muller cut |
out.
This last boxed the compass, sound
ing now near. now far. though the COM
plants of other shipping diminished
in volume and died away In the dis
lance, giving place to others still, the
plutter-plutter of that motor was never
altogether lost; II at times 1t faded,
1t seemed certain always to return In
even louder volume.
Vainly straining his vision against
the blank pallor OF the encompassing
fog, Alan wondered. worried. dreaded!
At irregular intervals, starting
from preoccupation. he would manipu-
late the brass pull on the wheel-box,
provoking the horns suffering blasts
OF protest. But the need for unremit-
ting vigilance and exercise of the fog
signal failed none the less to reconcile
Alan to that blatant clamor which SO
widely and 80 hideously advertised
their whereabouts.
II there were anything still to be
feared from Judith and her crew-if,
for instance. as Barcus had suggested,
they had sought out one of the life
saving stations on Nauset beach, APP
propriated it's power-driven lifeboat
and renewed the pursuit, If ever they
heard that horn there would beyond
question be the devil to pay!
The loneliness Of his vigil was even
tually relieved by the appearance on
deck of the woman Alan loved.
The tableau that greeted her vision as
she emerged from the companionway,
of the haggard, unshaven wretch at
the wheel and the other who lay at his
feet, where he had fallen, In stupor
of fatigue. instantly wrung from Rose
a little cry OF solicitude And she was
quick to do what little she could to
alleviate their discomfort. For Barcus
she fetched pillow and blanket from
the cabin, and this one suffered her
ministrations without once rousing
from his slumbers. Then Fastening
forward, she got the galley fire going
and prepared a makeshift breakfast
for her half-famished lover.
Warm food and hot coffee-such as
they were-lending a little tone TO
Alan's spirits, he was presently able
to discuss their situation with some
optimism. Yet nothing could gloss
the fact that the problem confronting
them was one whose solution baffled
their utmost ingenuity-one the simple
contemplation of which taxed their
courage and intelligence to the ex-
IRENE.
He summed up: Il can't see any
thing for it but father and Judith are
determined to have my scalp, and I'm
hanged If can see how to protect my
self without taking a leaf out of their
books. What I'm most afraid of Is
that some time / may forget it's 9
woman I'm defending myself against
When fellows fighting for his very
life he can't always stop to calculate
the weight Of his blows"
The young man sighed, shook his
head, laughed uncertainty, and held
: her closer to him. Don't fear; III
find some way out without injurini
either of them. promise you that!
He sealed the pledge upon her lips
And in that moment of their obliv
! ion to the world from some point for
ward a muffied crash sounded stimuli
taneously with the dull shock OF
! collision with smaller vessel, and
, strange voice cried out with an &C
cent Of high exultation.
Before either Alan or the girl coui
disengage the decks rang loud with
rush Of booted feet pounding aft.
The figures of the boarding part
p we're already taking shape through tn
a fog as Alan sprang toward the con
panionway to fetch the rife. And /
, this action his feet slipped on plank
greasy with moisture deposited by tn
/ with stumbling thump, and an IL
/ slant later two men fell bodily upo
i him-active, strong fellows in tn
1 dress of fishermen. He was suffere
to rise only as prisoner. helpless |
the grasp Of two pairs of powerfl
4 hands.
He saw Barcus, rudely reused an
i still dumb with sleepy confusion,
no better case-jerked to his feet an
held captive by two more fishermen
i A fifth had taken charge Of Ros
i clamping her wrists in the wise
i one big hand.
4 The sixth and sole other member ,
Il the boarding party, likewise in ii
rough-and-ready garb of a fishermai
was Judith Urine.
A Down the side a heavy life-bo,
ground its way astern. the loose On
4 of its painter slipping over the ra
4 even as Alan caught sight OF it. Is
d it seemed Barcus had guessed shrew
ly!)
a Observing this, one of the men
Il charge of Alan made as If to leas
him to the other. addressing Judi
10 for permission to prevent the loss
the lifeboat She stopped him wit