Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1916-06-09

something he had suspected In the
hurry of getting the topsails on deck,
and that was in regard to the boxes in
which Hemenway had stored his bags
of stolen coin.
In getting out the sails Lent had not
seen the boxes in the place where he
and Hemenway had moved them from
the cabin. Now he carefully examined
the corner of the hold where they had
been placed.
This time there was no doubt Of IL.
The boxes were not there. Hemenway
had fooled him after all. Some time
after the arrival of the yacht at the
island the boxes had been removed.
OF course no one except Hemenway
could have done it. Lent puzzled his
brain in an effort to hit upon a time
when Hemenway could have taken
them away, but he could arrive at no
satisfactory conclusion.
Lent wondered how things were
going along outside. He popped his
head out of the hatch and hastily
ducked again, but in the brief second
he saw the launch plugging along iii
the wake of the schooner.
Apparently the motorboat was just
about holding her own; neither gain
ing or losing. Tyler had got the top.
sails on the schooner just in time. Tho
added canvas increased the speed OF
the schooner just enough to prevent
her being overhauled by the little
launch.
But who was steering the yacht, and
why didn't Hemenway shoot some
more? These were questions that puz-
zled Lent.
He took another quick peek. but
could not see the wheel on account OF
the foremost shutting out his view,
but he did see that Hemenway was
working off to leeward in order to
give him the advantage of the pitch In
the schooner's deck.
1t was Tyler who was steering the
yacht. When he had jumped in that
cockpit he had thrown himself flat on
deck and unccremoniously kicked
Hawkins out of his way.
Protected from Hemenway's bullets
by the coaming of the cockpit, he
turned OH his back and reaching for
the spo1es of the wheel from under
meath, quickly had the yacht on her
course again.
The whole thing was done so quick.
" that it seemed less than ten Sec
To- ylyi nc oh
that the vessel was again under con-
troll.
Tyler raised his head and glanced
about him. One of his own legs lay
across the grooming Hawkins. He de-
cided TO risk look at the launch.
Holding a spoke of the wheel with
one hand, he rolled over on his stom-
ach and placing the other on deck he
raised his head and lowered it again
in one movement.
Fleeing as was his glance 1t told
him all he wanted to know The
launch he judged, was fifty or sixty
yards distant 1t had gained a bit
since Hemenway winged Hawkins,
but Tyler figured the gain was made
during the huff of the schooner.
Just then Hawkins came to life.
Blood was flowing from wound in
his shoulder and the cockpit was
smeared with it.
"Elp me up, won't yer, Tvler?" he
groaned.
"You talk like fool" Tyler
growled at him. How can help you
with me lying on my back and steer
ing? Where's Bill? Bill" he yelled.
The following conversation took
place under difficulties, Tyler on his
back in the cockpit and Bill flat on his
stomach just forward of the main
mast.
"Aye, aye" answered Bill.
"Come aft and help Hawkins be-
low"
mot me; | stay right here.'
Tyler beloved an answer that can
not be printed. Hawkins made plea.
Hi say, Bill, give Teller lif',
won't yer?"
where was yer hit?" demanded
Bill.
"In the shoulder; it's broke"
"That don't stop yer goin' below,
does it? stay here"
Tyler bawled them both out for
towards and that ended the CONVERSE
ton.
The minutes went by. The wind
held steady. At intervals Tyler gave
a quick look over the cockpit coaming
to note the position of the launch. IL
was edgng over to leeward, but ne
could not see that it was gaining any.
The nearness of the launch prevent
ed those on board the schooner show
ing themselves. AS for Hemenway,
the fact that he was not dropping be-
hind doubtless made him hang on in
the hope that the wind would fall and
allow him to overhaul the yacht He
knew he had the sailors at his mercy
if he could only gain foothold among
them.
1t was most surprising thing that
Tyler and his crew had been enabled
20 get enough sail on the schooner to
keep her just clear of the launch.