Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-04-15

turned boat. dashed and buffeted by
bilnding waves, n stung by the cut
ting rain. The sea roared and churned
beneath them. the skies ehundered and
crashed above, and there was no one
near to help them, no one near enough
ever 10 see them in their plight.
When the boat yer over, loan was
hurled far out from it's side. Eric was
after her in a flash. clasping her in his
arms as she came to the surface,
courageous swimmer. Crying out TO
her 10 be brave and calm, he struck
out 10 overtake the black, slim bottom
of the boat, which was dancing away
from them on the waves. 1t was u
hard, almost hopeless task, but he
near enough To grasp the rudder with
ms free hand. After a while he was
able to draw her up to the center
board. There she chung with desperate
strength, while he set about the haz-
ardous undertaking of retrieving the
long spare end of a rope which.
whipped about in the sea. He re-
leased it from its fastening with his
pocketknife. II then then proceeded
TO lash it across the keel of the boat,
looping it first over one oar lock and
then the other, all the while climbing
b"Nh anu lOItl ONeI lle upper sur
face with the agility and sureness of 8
monkey
The girl was in this manner ashed
quite firmly to the boat, and there was
little or no likelihood of her slipping
OIL into the water if a faintness seized
her. After making her secure. he
stayed himself in a somewhat similar
fashion just opposite her. close enough
to support her in case she grew weak
with despair and fear.
All This time they had been crying
out words of cheer to each other.
Neither was of ain heart, for they
Were young n full of the right to live,
but they were full of fear and dread.
They were going out to sea.
Someone will see u.s." he cried. when
he could get his breath. It's only a
little blow. These storms don't last
long. The sun viii be out in a few
minutes. Don't worry, Joan. Mary
knows We're out here. and so do lots
of people. They'll have boats out in
less than no time"
But the storm ragged with great
tierceness for an hour before breaking,
and they were driven swiftly, resist
lessly out to sea, where the waves were
running high. Time and again they
Were almost completely submerged.
bow and stern of the boat kept it
atioat They were In no danger of go
olng to the bottom as long as they
were not torn bodily from their fasten-
ings. Each time they We're swept un-
der by a great wave, his hand clasped
her arm in a grip Of iron; each time
that they came through, half choked,
they looked wildly at each other to be
sure that n had not been swept
away, and each time a dismal smile
fitted across their faces.
ERIC turned his anxious gaze toward
\ n Gf1t rr, 49,. -
high on a wave and each time he
searched in vain for a rescuing craft.
The town was now so far away tina It
was impossible to make out the build
ings along the shore. The hills were
dim and indistinct, even in the bright
sunlight that was following the storm.
His face grew haggard with worry, his
eyes wide with despair.
What can be the matter with every
body" he groaned. Mary must have
given the alarm
They'll come. Erie" she cried back
TREMENDOUSLY. "They will come soon.
won't they?"
Yes" he answered, touching her
cheek with his hand. They're sure
to come"
1T would be awful to go away out to
sea like this" she whimpered.
It's my fault-its all my fault,
JOAN he cried, in anguish. IF any
thing should happen, it's my fault. I
am a murderer-that's all i am"
You must not say that"
They said I'd be a murderer"
Ssh. Eric! You couldn't help this.
| don't care what they say. You are
brave and good and true
Have they said 1t to you?" he de-
manded. turning his red. water-stung
eyes upon her white face.
Mo n but C%hetwynd. / hate him"
II SAY" he shouted. suddenly cram
ing his neck to look far ahead. q thrill
shooting through his icy body. We're
going straight toward Eddy's islands.
God may be good to us, Joan, We may
be driven ashore by one of them. IL
thought we We're going due east. I can
see the stands away off there-miles
and miles. oh, if we only keep straight
for them!"
Eddy's islands were two small reefs.
70 miles off the coast. barren, Ugly
things thai rose high in the air. On
one of them was a lighthouse. A space
Of two miles or more separated the
reefs. with a strong current driving be-
tween them. Big Eddy had the light
house. Little Eddy was without sign OF
life or vegetation; just q low, forbid
ding, sea washed plane of rock, full OF
W and ~crevasses. There was no
beach on either of the islands, of course,
but the rocky formation sloped into the
water SO gradually that it was danger
Gus for even small craft to approach
close to them.
(C~ontinued next week