The Spectator., 1916-04-28
CHAPTER <.
The Past a Blank.

It was perfectly true that Florence had cast herself into the sea. It had not been an act of despair, however On the contrary, hope and courage had l prompted her to leap. The night was clear, with only a moderate sea run ming At the time the great ship was passing the banks, and almost within | hail she saw a fishing schooner riding | gracefully at anchor. She quite read 1 ily believed that if she remained on | board the George Washington she was lost. She naturally forgot the marvel of wireless telegraphy. No longer may | a man hide at sea.
 | So, with that quick thought which was part of her inheritance, she 1 seized the life buoy. climbed the rail and leaped far out. As the great, dark, tossing sea swooped up to meet her l she noted a block of wood bobbing up and down. She tried to avoid it, but could not, and struck it head on. De- spite the blow and the shock of the chill water she instinctvely clung to the buoy. The wash from the mighty propellers tossed her about. hither and yon, from one swirl to another, like chip of wood Then everything grew blank.
 Fortunately for her the master of the fishing schooner was at the time standing on his quarterback by the wheel. squinting through his glass at the liner and envying the ease and comfort of those on board her. The mate. sitting on the steps and smok- ing his turning-in pipe, saw the mas ter lean forward suddenly, lower the glass, then raise it again.
 Lord amighty!"
 Whats the matter. cap'n?"
 Jake, in Gods name, come ere an take a peek through this glass. I'm dreamin'i"
 The mate jumped and took the glass. Where away, sir?"
 "A pint off tn sta board bow. See somethin' white bobbin up?"
 "Yessir, Looks like some one dropped a bolster r a piller over board Gods whskers!" he broke of.
 Then I aint really seein' things" cried the master. Hi, V lubbers!" he yelled to the crew; lower tn dory. Theys a woman in tn water out there. seen her leap tn rail Look alive! Sharp's tn word! Mate, you go long"
 The crew dropped their tasks and sprang for the davits, and the star board dory was lowered in shipshape style.
 It takes a good bit of seamanship to haul a body out of the sea. into a dancing bobtailed dory, when one moment it is climbing frantically heav- enward and the next heading for the bottomless pit. They were very ten der with her. They laid her out in the bottom of the boat, with the life buoy as pillow, and pulled energetically for the schooner She was alive, be- cause she breathed; but she did not stir so much as an eyelid. It was a stiff bit of work, too, to land her aboard without adding to her injuries. The master ordered the men to put her in his own bunk, where he nearly stran- gled her by forcing raw brandy down her throat
 Well, she's alive, anyhow"
 When Florence finally opened her eyes the gray of dawn lay on the sea, dotted here and there by the schooners of the fleet, which seemed to be hang ing in midair, as at the moment there was visible to the eye no horizon. sNbt
 "Mebbe she's got fever," suggested the mate, rubbing his bristly chin.
 Fever nothin'! Not after bein' in tn water half an hour. Mebbe she hit one O them wooden floats we left. Them dinged liners keep on crowdin' us." growled Barnes, with a fisher mans hate for the floating hotels Went by without a toot. See 'er, jes' like tn bankers wife goin' t church on Sunday? A mile minute; fog or no fog. it's all the same t them. They run us down an never stop. What tn tarnation we goin' to do? She'll haff t stay aboard till tn run is over can't afford t yank up my mudhook this time O. day"
 Guess she can stand three r four days in our company smellin' oil cloths, fish, kerosene, an punk t'bac- CO.,"
 If y don't like tn kind O t'bacco buy buy your own. I aint objectin' none."
 The mate stepped over to the bunk and gingerly ran his hand over the girls head. Gods whiskers. cap'n, | they's a bump as big's a cork on tn