The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-02-19

my side, began to chuckle in slshin
cant way. | looked at him inqulrlhsy'
Talk of a mess!" he giggled. Don
YOU see there. in the stern-sneels' oil
the bottom. May never shoot sea-
again il that amt woman!
| looked closely, but was not sure
until EXPLANATIONS broke out on oil
sides. The boat contained -FOUR nleh'
and it's fifth occupant was certainty d
woman. We were agog with excite
ment, all except Wolf Larsen, VINO was
evidently disappointed in that II was
not his own boat with the two victims
of his malice.
We ran down the flying jib, hauled
the jib-sheets to windward anu the
main sheet fiat, and came up into the
wind. | now caught my first glimpse
of the woman. She was wrapped IN
| long ulster, for the morning was raw
and | could see nothing but her race
and a mass of light brown hair escap-
| ing from under the seamans cap Oh
her head. The eyes were large anu
brown and lustrous, the mouth sweet
and sensitive, and the face itself
delicate oval, though sun and expos
ure to briny wind had burnt the race
scarlet When one of the sailors lit
ed her into Wolf Larsen's down
stretched arms. she looked up into our
curious faces and smiled amusedly
and sweetly, as only a woman can
smile. and as had seen no one smile
for so long that | had forgotten sucn
smiles existed.
"Mr. Van Weyden!"
Wolf Larsen's voice brought me
sharply back to myself.
Twill you take the lady below ana
see to her comfort? Make up thar
spare port cabin. Put Cooky to WORK
/ on 1t. And see what you can do Tor
that face. It's burned badly"
He turned brusquely away from US
and began to question the new men.
! The boat was cast adrift, though one
| of them called 1t bloody shame
with Yokohama so near.
: mo need to go to any great trouble
: for me-" she protested, when l mao
seated her in Wolf Larsen's armchair
e which had dragged hastily from his
cabin. THE men were looking for
: land at any moment this morning, and
J. the vessel should be in by night; don'
l. you think so?"
Her simple faith in the immediate
T future took me aback. How could
l explain to her the situation, the
II strange man who stalked the sea like
II Destiny, all that it had taken me
y months to learn? But answered hon
estly:
IF it we're any other captain excep
a. ours, | should say you would be ashor'
q in Yokohama tomorrow. But our CAP
lie tain is a strange man, and | beg o
u you to be prepared for anything, ur
Is derstand for anything.
u Il confess | hardly do undel
stand" she hesitated. perturbed bu
IL not frightened expression in her eye:
III "Or is It a misconception OF mine tina
" shipwrecked people are always show
~ every consideration? This is such
Ill little thing, you know. We are
close to land"
III "Candidly, do not know" l strov
ly TO reassure her. 81 wished merely
prepare you for the worst. II tn
~ worst is to come. This man, tn
ne captain, is a brute. demon, and on
ny can never tell what will be his me-
fantastic act"
III was growing excited, but she i
'u' terrupted me with an "Oh, l see," ar
III her voice sounded weary. To thin
10. was patiently an effort. She was clea
III " on the verge of physical collaps
q | had quite forgotten the existence
''S Leach and Johnson, when suddenl
III like a thunderclap, Boat ho!" can
rs down the open companionway. 1t wi
Smokes unmistakable voice. cryil
ap from the masthead.
-. There were swift commands
49, deck, a stamping Of feet and sla
ping of recipients as the Ghost sh
into the wind and about on the 9th
- tack. AS she filled away and heele
- the armchair began to slide across I
cabin floor, and l sprang for 1t ~
in time to prevent the rescued WON
, , from being spilled out.
=, Her eyes were too heavy to sugg'
more than a hint Of the sleepy s.
IA prise that perplexed her as she look
or up at me, and she half stumbled. h
tottered, as | led her to her cab
n Mugridge grinned insinuatingly in
'o.i face as L showed him out and order
'oA' him back to his galley work; and
use won his revenge by spreading glt
ie ing reports among the hunters as
ugh what an excellent "lydy's myde" l v
90" proving myself to be.