Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-22

long since rated as a cowardly bully. lie
was fully determined TO repay Byrne so far
as he could the great debt he owed him
All thoughts Of revenge for the mucker's
former assault upon him were dropped and
he now looked upon the man as a true
friend and ally
For three days tho Halfmoon plunged
helplessly upon the storm-racked surface OF
the mad sea. No soul aboard her enter
talned more than the falntest gllrnmer Of a
hope that the ship would ride out the storm
but during the third night the wind died
down, and by morning the sea had fallen
sufficiently to make II safe for the men OF
the Halfmoon to venture upon deck.
There they found the brgantne clean
swept from stem TO stern. To the north OF
them was land at a league or two, perhaps.
Had the storm continued during the night
they would have been dashed upon the
coast.
God-fearlng men would have given thanks
for their miraculous rescue but not SO
these. Instead. the fear of death removed
they assumed their former bravedo.
Skipper Simms boasted Of the seamanshlp
that had saved the Halfmoon-hs own sea-
mInship. of course Ward cursed the luck
that had disabled the ship at so crucial
period OF her adventure, revolving in his
evil mind various possible schemes for turn
| ing the misfortune to his own advantage.
Billy Byrne, sitting upon the corner Of
| the galley table, hobnobbed with Blanco
| These choice representatives of the ships
| company were planning a raid on the skip
| per's brandy chest during the disembarka-
| tlon which the sight of land had rendered
not improbable.
The Halfmoon. with the wind down. wal
| lowed heavily in the trough of the sea, but
even so Barbara Harding wearied with
| days of confinement In her stuffy cabin
below, ventured above deck for breath OF
| sweet, clean air
Scarce had she emerged from below than
| Theriere espled her and hastened. TO her
| side.
well, Miss Harding" he exclaimed, "lt
| Is good to see you on deck again. / cannot
| tell you how sorry have felt for you,
| cooped up alone in your cabin without a
single woman for compan!onship. and all
those frghtful days of danger There was
| scarce one of us that thought the ship
would weather so long and hard a blow.
We were very fortunate to come through IL
| so we'll"
"well?" queried Barbara Harding with n
| wry smile, glancing about the deck or the
| Halfmoon "T cannot see that we are either
| through IL we'll or through II at all. We
| have no masts. no canvas no boats; and
| though I am not much Of sailor. | can
see that there is little likelihood of our
Henectlng n landing on the shore ahead
| either with or without boats--it looks most
| forbiddinR.
Then the wind has gone down, and when
| IL comes UP again IL Is pOSSlblS ththt IL "'''
carry us away from the land, or IL 1t takes
us toward II, dash us to pieces at the foot
of those frightful cliffs"
"I see you are too good a sailor by far
| to be cheered by any questionable hopes
laughed Therere but you must take the
will into considerations wished only to
give you a ray of hope that might tighten
your burden OF apprehension.
| However. honestly do think that we
may find way to make a safe landing II
| the sea continues to go down as IL mas IN
| the last two hours We are not much more
| than a league from shore, and with the jury
| mast and sail that the men are setting up
| under Mr.. Ward we can work In In com
parative safety with-a light breeze, which
| we should have during the afternoon There
| are few coasts, however rugged they may
| appear at a distance, that do not offer some
| foothold for the wrecked mariner, and I
doubt not but that we shall find this no
exception to the rule"
"I hope you are right, Mr. Therlere" said
tho girl "and yet cannot but feel that my
| posltion will be less safe on land than 1t
has been upon tho Halfmoon. once free
| from the restraints of discipline which tra-
| dition custom and law enforce upon the
high seas there is no telling what atrocities
| these men will commit. To he quite candid
| Mr. Theriere I dread n landing worse than
| dreaded the dangers OF the storm throush
| which we have just passed
| "I think you have little to fear on that
| score Miss Harding" said the Frenchman-
| 1T intend making II quite plain that con-
| slider myself your protector once we have
| left the Halfmoon, and I can count on
| several of the men to help me. Even Mr'
| Divine will not dare do otherwise. Then
we can set up a camp OF our own apart
| from Skipper Slmms and his faction, and
| there you will be constantly guarded until
succor may be obtained"
| Barbara Harding had been watching the
| mans face as he spoke, The memory OF
| his consideration and respectful treatment
| of her during the trying weeks OF her
| captivity had done much to erase the
| IntuItive feeling of distrust that had tinged
| her thoughts of him earlier in their ac-
| ouaintance, while his heroic act In descend
| ing into the forecastle in the face OF the
| armed and desperate Byrne had thrown a
| glamour of romance about him that could
| not help but tend to fasclnate girl of
Barbara Hardlngs type.
Then there was the look she had seen
| In his eyes for a brief instant when she
| had found herself locked in his cabin on
the occasion when he had revealed TO her
| Larry Divnss dupllclty. That expression
| no red-blooded girl could mistake, and the
| fact that he had subdued his passion spoke
| elouuently 10 her OF the hneness ana
chivalry OF his nature.
Il was with feeling Of utter trustfui-
ness therefore, that she gladly gave her
| self into the keeping of Henri Theriere,
| Count de Cadenet second officer OF the
| Halfmoon.
"oh, Mr.. Theriere." she cried, III you
| can only arrange II so, how relieved and
| almost happy shall be How can l ever
repay you for all that you have done Tor
me?"
eyes-the light of love that would not be