The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-04-15

turned boat, dashed and buffeted by
binding waves, and stung by the cut
ting rain. The sea roared and churned
beneath them. the skies Numbered and
crashed above, and there was no n
near to help them, no one near enough
even to see them in their plight.
When the boat went over, Joan was
hurled far out from it's side. Eric a
after her in a fash, clasping her In his
arms as she came to the surface,
gasping n choking. He was a strong,
courageous swimmer. Crying out to
her to be brave and calm, he struck
out to overtake the black, slim bottom
Of the boat, which was dancing away
from them on h waves. 1t was a
hard, almost hopeless task, but he
struggled manfully. finally coming
near enough to grasp the rudder with
his 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 1t from its fastening with his
/ p~ocketknife, and then then proceeded
to las II across the keel OF the boat,
looping 1t first over n oar lock and
then the other, all the while climbing
DdCk anu IOEIn over the sur
face with the agility and ren of q
monkey.
The girl was In this manner dashed
quite firmly to the boat, and there was
little or no likelihood Of her slipping
off into the water IL 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 a she grew weak
| with despair and fear,
All this time they had been crying
out words Of cheer to each other.
Neither was Of faint heart, for they
! were young and full OF the right to live,
but they were full of fear and dread.
They were going out to sea.
he could get his breath. It's only a
little blow. These storms don't last
long. The sun will be out In a few
minutes. Don't worry, Joan. Mary
knows we're out here, and 80 do lots
Of people. They'll hav boats out in
less than no time" r.-
But the storm ragged with great
fierceness 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.
The water-tight compartments in the
bow and stern of the boat kept It
lC "SkS III hO W VI "
ding to the bottom as long as they
were not torn bodily from their fasten-
ings. Each time they were swept I'M
der by a great wave, his hand clasped
her arm in a grip Of iron; ach time
that they came through. half choked,
they looked wildly at each other to be
sure that one a not been swept
away and each time a dismal smile
fitted across their faces.
Eric turned his anxious gaze toward
the distant town whenever they rode
high on a wave, and each time no
searched In vain for a rescuing craft.
The town was now so far away that 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 car be the matter with every
body" he groaned. Mary must have
given the alarm
They'll come, Eric" 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.
Its my fault--it's all my fault,
JOAN" he cried, in anguish. IF any
thing should happen, it's my fault. I
am a murderer-that's all l am"
You must not say that"
They said I'd be a murderer"
Ssh! Eric! You couldn't help this.
1 don't care what they say. You are
brave and good and true"
Have they said 1t to your" he de-
manded, turning his red, water stung
eyes upon her white face.
mo n but Chetwynd. I hate him"
II say" he shouted. suddenly cram
ing his neck to look far ahead, a 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. II
thought we were going due last. I can
see the Islands away off there-miles
n miles. Oh, II we only keep straight
for them!"
Eddy's islands were two small reefs,
20 miles off the coast, barren, ugly
things that 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 a low, forbid
ding, sea washed plane of rock, full OF
and There was no
beach on either OF the islands, Of course,
but the rocky formation sloped into the
water SO gradually that 1t was danger
u for even small craft to approach