The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-05-05

But there were two other hands,"
| answered. 1.-TWO small hands. and
don't say that was a phrase. also. of
your father"
She laughed and shook her head. and
held her hands up for inspection.
81 can never get them clean again."
she walled. nor soften the weather
beat"
"Then dirt and weather-beat shall
be your guerdon of honor" l said.
holding them in mine; and. in spite
of my resolutions, would have kissed
the two dear hands had she not swift
ly withdrawn them.
Our comradeship was becoming
tremulous. | had mastered my love
long and well, but now it was master
ing me. Willfully had it disc beyed and
won my eyes to speech, and now II
was winning my tongue-ay, and my
lips, for they were mad this moment
to kiss the two small hands which had
toiled so faithfully and hard. And ],
too, was mad. There was cry In
my being like bugles calling me to
her. And there was a wind blowing
upon me which | could not resist,
swaying the very body Of me till
leaned toward her, all unconscious
that leaned. And she knew 1t. She
could not but know 1t as she swiftly
drew away her hands. and yet could
not forbear one quick, searching look
before she turned away her eyes.
By means of deck-tackles had ar.
ranged to carry the halyards forward
to the windlass; and now I hoisted
the mainsail, peak and throat, at the
same time. 1t was a clumsy way, but
1t did not take long, and soon the fore
sail as well was up and iuttering.
1--WE can never get that anchor up
in this narrow place, once it has left
the bottom" / said. I'VE should be
on the rocks first"
What can you do?" she asked.
"Slip it." was my answer. And
when l do you must do your first
work on the windlass. ] shall have
to run at once to the wheel, and at
the same time you must be hosting
the jib."
This maneuver of getting under
way had studied and worked out a
score of times, and, with the jib-hal-
yard to the windlass, | knew Maud
was capable Of hosting that most
necessary sail. A brisk wind was
blowing into the cove, and though
the water was calm. rapid work was
required to get us safely out.
When l knocked the shackle-bolt
loose the chain roared out through
the hawse-hole and into the sea. [
raced aft, putting the wheel up. The
Ghost seemed to start into life as
she heeled to the first fill Of her sails.
The jib was rising. AS 1t filled the
Ghosts bow swung off and had to
put the wheel down few spokes and
steady her.
/ had devised an automatic jib-
sheet, which passed the jib across Of
itself, so there was no need for Maud
to attend to that; but she was still
hosting the jib when l put the
wheel hard down. 1t was a moment
of anxiety, for the Ghost was rush
ing directly upon the beach, stones
throw distant. But she swung ODE
diently on her heel into the wind
There was a great fluttering and flap
ping of canvas and reef-points, most
welcome to my ears, then she filled
away on the other tack.
Maud had finished her task and
come aft, where she stood beside
me, small cap perched on her wind
blown hair, her cheeks flushed from
exertion, her eyes wide and bright
with the excitement, her nostrils
quivering to the rush and bite of the
fresh salt air. Her brown eyes were
like startled deer's. There was a
wild, keen look in them I had never
seen before, and her lips parted and
her breath suspended as the Ghost.
charging upon the wall of rock at the
entrance to the inner cove, swept into
the wind and filled away into safe wa
ter.
My first mates berth on the sealing
grounds stood me In good stead, and
I cleared the inner cove and laid a
long tack along the shore OF the
outer cove. Once again about. and
the Ghost headed out to open sea. She
had now caught the bosom-breathing
of the ocean, and was herself a-breath
with the rhythm of It as she smooth
ly mounted and slipped down each
broad-backed wave. The day had
been dull and overcast, but the sun
now burst through the clouds, well
come omen, and shone upon the curv-
ing beach where together we had
dared the lords of the harem and
slain the holluschickie. All En-
deavor island frightened under the
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.
81 shall always think Of It 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." said quickly.