The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-06-09

ing-from side to side.
Anything can do for your"
asked.
He made no reply at first. but on my
repeating the question he answered
mo. no; I'm all right Leave me alone
till morning."
But as | turned TO so noted that his
head had resumed its rocking motion
Maud was waiting patiently for me
and took notice, with thrill of Joy
OF the queenly poise Of her head and
her glorious. calm eyes. Calm and
sure they were as her spirit itself.
viii you trust yourself to me for
q journey Of SIX hundred miles or sol
l asked.
You meant" she asked, and
knew she had guessed Alright
Eyes. mean Just that" l replied
There II nothing left for US but the
open boat"
For me. you mean" che said. you
are certainly as safe here as you have
been"
mo, there Is nothing left for US but
the open boat" iterated stoutly
win you please dress as warmly as
you can. at once, and make into q
bundle whatever you wish to bring
with your"
"And make all haste" added, as
she turned toward her stateroom.
The Iazafetto was directly beneath
the cabin, ana, opening the trapdooF
in the floor and carrying o candle with
me, I dropped down and began over.
hauling the ships stores. l selected
mainly from the canned goods, and by
the time | was ready, willing hands
were extended from above to receive
what passed up.
We worked IN silence. helped my
self also to blankets. mittens, oilskins,
caps, and such things, from the slop-
chest. 1t WIS no light adventure, this
trusting ourselves In a small boat to
30 raw and stormy sea, and 1t was
imperative that we should guard our
selves against cold and wet.
We worked feverishly at carrying
our plumber on deck and depositing 1t
amidships. SO feverishly that Maud,
whose strength was hardly a positive
quantity. had TO give over. exhausted,
and sit on the steps at the break Of the
OaoN uthta dl1 raN uarwa 80 ranovnr
her, and she lay on her back, on the
hard deck. arms stretched out and
whole body relaxed. It was a trick
remembered Of my sister, and knew
she would soon be herself again.
knew, also. that weapons would not
come amiss, and re-entered Wolf Lar
sens stateroom to get his rife and
shotgun. spoke to him. but he made
no answer, though his head was still
rocking from side to side and he was
not asleep.
"Good.by, Lucifer," l whispered to
myself as softly closed the door.
Next to obtain was a stock of am.
munition-an easy matter. though
had to enter the Storage companion
way to do It. Here the hunters stored
the ammunition boxes they carried in
the boats, and here. but few feet
from their noisy revels. took posses
sion of two boxes.
Next, to lower a boat Not so
simple a task for one man. Having
cast OF the lashings. hoisted first on
the forward tackle, then ON the aft.
till the boat cleared the rail, when
lowered away, one tackle and then the
other. for couple OF feet, till 1t hung
snugly, above the water, against the
schooner's side. l made certain that
It contained the proper equipment of
oars, rowlocks and sail. Water was
consideration, and I robbed every
boat aboard of its breaker. AS there
were nine boats all told. It meant that
we should have plenty Of water. and
ballast as we'll, though there was the
chance that the boat would be over
loaded, what Of the generous supply OF
other things was taking.
A few minutes suficed to finish the
loading, and | lowered the boat into
the water. As helped Maud over the
rail and felt her form close to mine.
Il was all could do to keep from cry.
ing out, Il love you'll love you'll"
Truly Humphrey Van Weyden was at
last In love. I thought, as her fingers
chung 10 mine while l lowered her
down to the boat. held on to the rail-
with one hand and supported her
weight with the other. and was proud
at the moment OF the feat It was .
strength I had not possessed a few
months before, on the day I said good
by to Charley Furuseth and started
for San Francisco on the Inflated
Martinez
As the boat assembled on q sea, her
feet touched and I released her hands.
I cast OF the tackles and leaped after
her. had never rowed In my life. but
I put out the oars and at the expense
OF much effort got the boat clear OF
the Ghost. Then experimental with
the sail. had seen the boat steerers
and hunters set their spritsails many
times, yet this was my first attempt
What took them possibly two minutes
took me twenty, but in the end I sue
ceeded In setting and trimming II. and
with the steering oar in my hands