The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-11-09

si:isiIiiie began again, for 1t was not
as alert as at the beginning. for both
had lost their first wind. Slowly Dan
ay forced his rival out toward the
stern. and grim smile came over
his face
I'm make you jump overheard" he
said
Neil ducked under the others arms.
bobbing up again at the rear. He
struck Danny savagely between the
shoulders. The blow almost knocked
him down. but he recovered. lunged at
Neil. and the two again clinched. Once
more they strained and wrestled, and
at last Danny threw Neil heavily to
the deck and sat on him. Then he be-
gan deliberately and methodically to
pound the fallen man in the face
Enough! Enough. III let you have
herr" painted Neil
! The pummeling stopped instantly,
and Danny arose and assisted Neil to
his feet. Both We're cut, and they sat
! down together to stanch the flow of
| blood
That was some fierce" said Neil
when at last he got his breath.
Pm thinkin' twas So" assented
| Danny. Now. who's the better MANI"
he asked triumphantly. turning around
to where Rachel sat.
But Rachel was gone, nor could
Danny see her anywhere in the vicin-
| lily of the wreck.
It's likely she's gone for some one
to stop the fight" chuckled Danny;
las though she Gidnl know "a stop 1t
myself"
| Neil disregarded the irony of this re-
mark and turned his attention 10 the
water. Little swirls of white. thick
mist We're twisting and turning above
the dull flood of the tide and the
swish of the water had grown louder
than it had been early in the evening.
To the west, mountain of black cloud
piled itself UP in the sky and zigzags
of lightning were tearing through 1t.
A rattle of thunder echoed from hill
to hill.
The first thunder of the year." said
Danny indifferently Its nigh time.
Below is as dry and snug as In your
own ship"
He took out his pipe and began shaw
Ing from fig of twist, preparatory to
going below when the rain came. His
home was a short ten minutes walk
away. but there was nothing there to
attract hem, and II was just as COM
Prince.
A quarter of an hour passed before
the first puff of wind struck them, but
when the storm finally did break it
broke with fury.
"a blow with it," said Neil.
The wind came tearing through the
growth of spruce. whipping the water
of the strait into an angry, churning
mass.
Pm a-thinkin' of the girl" said Dan
ny, stopping suddenly. do you sup
pose she's got home?"
He was still standing on the deck,
though the first big patters of rain had
begun to fall.
Wen see," said Neil.
They clambered up the little broken
spur of rock to the street that runs
less than two hundred yards away;
facing the now drenching downpour,
they hurried to her house. Her
mother, pale and trembling, met them
at the door. She was from an inland
farming village, and had never grown
used to the ways of the sea.
She's gone" she cried, without
VIC NO ho tyrn
her; her and Angus Finley, gone over
an hour ago."
Gomez" echoed Danny in surprise
Gone where?"
ACROSS the strait to the village"
said Mrs. McIzaac, Ito be married. She
would have her way. She was wait
ing for him at the wreck this night,
and just as you started fighting he
came along"
"If I'd "a known It," said Danny,
doubling up his fist.
"She had mind TO play a game on
you all" said Mrs McIzaac.
well. she did," said Danny slowly
The two discarded suitors turned
from the door.
Are you going homer" asked Neil.
NO" said Danny. I'm minded to
go to the slip. When they come in
want to see them"
But they'll never come In this
blow" protested Neil.
They'll have to come some time,
and want to be the first to see them,"
persisted Danny.
Together the two men, now soaked
to the skin and thoroughly detected,
walked down to the slip, in whose en-
normous cradle all sorts of craft are
dragged ashore for repairs They had
just reached it when far out in the
harbor they heard the screams Of a
woman
Help! Help!" she cried.
The cry was caught up and repeated
by man. Neil looked at Danny and
Danny looked at Neil Neither spoke,
but together they sprang to where
Murchisonn's dory, with the oars care
fully laid across the thwarts, was ly-
ing on the beach. They dragged 1t
down and launched It, All their clum-
siness was gone. They were in their
element.
rrl,o,, 1uoro ri, .3,a- 3, IL. A.A41;-.