Tensas gazette., 1916-06-23

sun. Even the grim southwestern
promontory showed less grim. and
here and there. where the sea-spray
wet its surface. high lights flashed
and dazzled IN the sun.
Il shall always think of II with
PRIDE. said to Maud.
She threw her head back in a
queenly way, but said. Dear. dear
Endeavor island! shall always love
it."
"And l." I said quickly.
1t seemed our eyes must meet in a
great understanding. and yet. loath.
they struggled away and did not
meet.
There was a silence I might almost
call awkward, till broke. it. say
ing:
See those black clouds to- wind
ward. You remember, told you last
night the barometer was falling"
And the sup is gone," she said.
her eyes still fixed upon our island.
where we had proved our mastery
over matter and attained to the tru-
est comradeship that may fall to man
and woman.
And it's slack OF the sheets for
Japan!" cried gayly. "A fair wind
and flowing sheet, you know, or
however 1t goes"
Lashing the wheel, I ran forward.
eased the fore and main sheets. took
in on the boom-tackles, and trimmed
everything for the quartering breeze
| which was ours. It was fresh
breeze, very fresh. but l resolved to
run as long as dared. Unfortunate
ly, when running free, it is impos-
sible to lash the wheel, so I. faced
an allnight watch. Maud insisted on
relieving me. but proved that she
had not the strength to steer in
heavy sea. even II she could have
| gained the wisdom on such short no
tice. She appeared quite heart
broken over the discovery, but recov-
cred her spirits by coiling down
tackles and halyards and all stray
ropes. Then there were meals to be
cooked in the galley, beds to make.
Wolf Larsen to be attended upon. and
she finished the day with a grand
housekeeping attack upon the cabin
and steerage.
| All night / steered. without relief,
the wind slowly and steadily increas-
ing and the sea rising. At five in
the morning Maud brought me hot
! coffee and biscuit she had baked.
and at seven a substantial and piping
hot breakfast put new life into me.
Throughout the day, and as slowly
and steadily as ever, the wind in
creased. 1t impressed one with its
blow harder, and keep on blowing
And still the Ghost foamed along.
racing off the miles till L was certain
she was making at least eleven knots.
1t was too good to lose, but by night
fall | was exhausted. Though in
splendid physical trim, thirty-six-
hour trick at the wheel was the limit
Of my endurance. Besides. Maud
begged me to heave to, and l knew.
If the wind and sea increased at the
same rate during the night that 1t
would soon be impossible to heave
to. So. as twilight deepened, gladly
and at the same time reluctantly, !
brought the Ghost up on the wind.
But l had not reckoned upon the
colossal task the reefing Of three
sails meant for one man. While run
ming away from the wind l had not
| &c hut
ceased to run l learned to my sor-
row, and well-nigh to my despair.
how fiercely it was really blowing.
The wind baked my every effort, rip
ping the canvas out of my hands, and
in an instant undoing what | had
gained by ten minutes Of severest
struggle. At eight o'clock l had sue
ceeded only in putting the second
reef into the foresail. At eleven
o'clock l was no farther along. Blood
dripped from every finger end, while
the nails were broken to the quick.
From pain and sheer exhaustion |
wept in the darkness, secretly, so
that Maud should not know.
Then, in desperation, I abandoned
the attempt to reef the mainsail and
resolved to try the experiment of
heaving to under the close-reefed
foresail. Three hours more were re-
quired to gasket the mainsail and lib.
and at two in the morning, nearly
dead, the life almost buffeted and
worked out of me, / had barely suff1-
cient consciousness to know the ex.
pertinent was a success. The close
reefed foresail worked. The Ghost
clung on close to the wind and be-
trayed no inclination to fall OF
broadside to the trough.
/ was famished, but Maud tried
vainly to get me to eat. l dozed with
my mouth full of food. / would fall
asleep in the act of carrying food
to my mouth and waken in torment
to find the act yet uncompleted. So
sleepily helpless was l that she was
compelled to hold me in my chair to
prevent my being flung to the floor by
the violent pitching of the schooner
OF the passage from the galley to
the cabin I knew nothing. 1t was
a sleep-walker Maud guided and
supported. In fact, l was aware Of
nothing till / awoke. how long after
could not imagine. in my bunk with
my boots Off 1t was dark. was
stiff and lame. and cried out with
| pain when the bedclOthes touched nv