Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-05-12

q sick man, q very sick man."
Maud looked at me inquiringly as
I emerged. shook my head, saying:
Something has happened to him.
What, I don't know. He is helpless.
and frightened. I imagine. for the first
time In his life. II must have occurred
before he received the knife-thrust.
which made only a superficial wound.
You must have seen what happened"
She shook her head. 81 saw moth
ing. 1t is just as mysterious to me.
He suddenly released me and stag
gered away. But what shall we do?
What shall l do?"
III you will wait. please, until come
back" answered.
/ went on deck. Louis was at the
wheel.
you may go for'ard and turn In"
/ said, taking 1t from him.
He was quick to obey, and found
myself alone on the deck of the Ghost.
As quietly as was possible, clewed up
the topsails. lowered the flying lib and
staysail. backed the jib over, and fiat
tened the mainsail. Then l went be-
low to Maud. l placed my finger on
my lips for silence, and entered Wolf
Larsen's room. He was in the same
position in which l had left him. and
his head was rocking-almost writh-
ing-from side to side.
Anything l can do for your" 1
asked.
He made no reply at first, but on my
repeating the question he answered.
mo, no; I'm all right. Leave me alone
till morning."
But as turned to go noted that his
head had resumed its rocking motion.
Maud was waiting patiently for me.
and l took notice, with a thrill of Joy.
of the queenly poise of her head and
her glorious. calm eyes. Calm and
sure they were as her spirit ITSELF
"Will you trust yourself to me for
a journey of six hundred miles or so?"
l asked.
you mean-?" she asked. and I
knew she had guessed Alright.
Eyes. I mean just that" replied
There is nothing left for us but the
open boat"
For me. you mean" she said You
are certainly as safe here as you have
been"
mo. there is nothing left for us but
the open boat" iterated stoutly.
will you please dress as warmlygas
you can. at once, and make into a
bundle whatever you wish to bring
with your"
And make all haste" added. as
she turned toward her stateroom.
The lazaretto was directly beneath
the cabin. and. opening the trapdoor
in the floor and carrying a candle with
me. dropped down and began over
hauling the ships stores. selected
mainly from the canned goods. and by
the time l was ready. willing hands
were extended from above to receive
what passed up.
We worked in silence. I helped my.
self also to blankets. mittens. oilskins.
caps. and such things. from the slop-
chest. 1t was no light adventure. this
| trusting ourselves In a small boat to
SO raw and stormy a sea, and 1t was
imperative that we should guard our
selves against cold and wet.
We worked feverishly at carrying
our plumber on deck and depositing it
amidships, SO feverishly that Maud.
whose strength was hardly a positive
quantity. had to give over. exhausted.
and sit on the steps at the break of the
poop. This did not serve to recover
her, and she lay on her back, on the
hard deck. arms stretched out and
! whole body relaxed. It was a trick I
remembered Of my sister, and / knew
she would soon be herself again.
knew. also. that weapons would not
come amiss, and re-entered Wolf Lar
sens stateroom to get his rife and
shotgun. I spoke to him, but he made
no answer, though his head was still
rocking from side to side and he was
not asleep.
"Good-hy, Lucifer," l whispered to
myself as I softly closed the door.
Next to obtain was a stock of am
munition-an easy matter. though
had to enter the steerage companion
way to do it. Here the hunters stored
the ammunition boxes they carried in
the boats, and here, but a few feet
from their noisy revels. took posses
sion of two boxes.
Next, to lower q boat. Not 30
simple a task for one man. Having
cast OF the lashings, hoisted first on
the forward tackle, then on the aft.
till the boat cleared the rail. when l
lowered away. one tackle and then the
other, for a couple of feet, till 1t hung
snugly, above the water, against the
schooner's side. I made certain that
it contained the proper equipment of
oars, rowlocks and sail. Water was
q consideration, and robbed every
boat aboard of its breaker. AS there
were nine boats all told. 1t meant that
we should have plenty of water. and
ballast as well, though there was the
chance that the boat would be over.
loaded. what of the generous supply of
other things was taking.
A few minutes suflced to finish the
loading, and l lowered the boat into
the water. As I helped Maud over the
rail and felt her form close to mine.
1t was all I could do to keep from cry
a