The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-10-12
CHAPTER xx-contInued.

We left the table TO 20 on dock. for
= steamer was n welcome break In the
monotony Of the sea on which we
nontod. while tho conviction that II
was Death Larsen and the Macedonia
d to the excitement. The stir
breeze and heavy sea which had
sprung up tho previous afternoon had
been moderating all morning. so that
" was now possible 10 lower tho
bonts FOR an afternoons hunt The
hunting promised 10 be profitable We
hnd sailed since daylight across n sen
barren OF seals. and we're now running
Snto tho herd.
Tho smoke was still miles astern.
hut o%verhauling us rapidly, when We
lowered our boats. They spread out
and struck n n%ortherly course across
ahe ocean. Now and again We saw q
sail lower, heard tho reports OF the
%shotguns, and saw tho sail 20 up again
The seals were thick. the wind was
dying away; everything favored p big
catch. Az we ran of 10 get our lee
ward position OF the last lee boat. wo
found the ocean fairly carpeted with
sleeping seals. They were all about
us. thicker than I had ever seen them
before. In twos and threes and
punches. stretched full length on the
surface and sleeping for all tho world
Nike 30 many lazy young dogs.
Under tho approaching smoke the
null and upperworks Of a steamer
were growing larger. II was the Mace.
donia. | read her name through the
glasses rs she passed by scarcely n
mile TO starbonrd. Wolf Larsen looked
%sAvagely NJ tho vessel. while Maud
Brewster was curious
Where is the trouble you were 30
sure was breezing up. Captain Lar.
?" she asked gayly.
Tie glanced at her. n moments
amusement %softening his features.
What did you expect? That they'd
come aboard and cut our throats?"
Something like that" she con.
fessed. You understand. sealhunters
are so new and strange 10 me that |
am quito ready TO expect anything"
lie nodded his head. quite right.
quite right, Your error is that YOU
JAILED To expect the worst"
Why. what can be- worse than cut
ting our throats?" she asked with
pretty naive surprise.
Cutting our purses" no answered
Mar is SO made these days that hia
capacity for living is determined By
che money he possesses"
WHO steals my purse steals trash. "
she quoted
who steals my purse steals my
right TO live was the reply, "old saws
10 the contrary. For he steals my
bread and meat and bed. and in SO do.
ing imperils my life. There are not
enough soup.kitchens and bread lines
30 30 around, you know and when
men have nothing In their purses thcv
usually die, and die mlscrahly-unlesa
1hey are able TO M their purses pretty
speedily"
But ! fail 70 sec that this steamer
has any designs on your purse"
Wait and you will see he an.
swered grlmly.
We did not have long to wait. Hay.
ing passed several miles beyond our
limo OF boats. the Macedonia proceeded
20 lower her W We knew she car.
~ied fourteen boats 10 our five tive
we're one short through the desertion
OF Wainwright), and she began drop
ping them far 10 leeward OF our last
boat, continued dropping them athwart
our course, and finished dropping them
far to windward OF our first weather
boat. The hunting. for us, was spoiled
There were no seals behind us, and
ahead OF us the line OF fourteen boats,
like n huge broom. swept the herd be-
fore II,
our boats hunted across the two or
threo miles OF water between them
and the point whore the Macedonia's
had been dropped, and then headed for
home The wind had fallen 10 a whis
per, the ocean was growing calmer and
calmer, and this, coupled with the
presence Of the great herd. made IA
perfect hunting ddy-one of the two or
tire" DAYS TO be- encountered In the
Whole ~ n lucky season, An angry lot
ipH'ol uuh the boats we're hoisted In