The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-12-07

Once more I woke, troubled be-
cause ! could sleep no better.
struck a match and looked at my
watch. II marked midnight. And
had not left the deck until three
! should have been puzzled had not
guessed the solution. No wonder ]
vas sleeping b%rokenly. ! had slept
twenty-one hours. listened for Q
while 4 the behavior Of the Ghost,
20 tho pounding OF the seas ana the
mufled roar OF tho wind on deck. aud
then turned over on my side and
slept peacefully until morning.
When I arose at seven | saw no
sign of Maud and concluded she was
in the galley preparing breakfast. On
deck ! found the Ghost doing splen'
didly under her patch OF canvas. But
in the galley, though a fire was burn
ing and water boiling. ! found no
Maud.
| discovered her in the steerage. by
Wolf Larsen's bunk. ] looked at him.
the man who had been hurled down
from the topmost pitch OF life to be
buried alive and be worse thai dead
There seemed n relaxation OF his ex'
pressionless face which was new.
Maud looked Mt me and ! understood.
Ills life fickered out in the storm"
! said.
But he still lives" she answered,
infinite faith In her voice.
"He had too great strength"
YES" she said, but now II no
longer shackles him. He Is a free
spirit"
HE is n free spirit surely" ! m.
swered, and, taking her hand. | led
her on deck.
The storm broEg that night, which
Is to ssy that II diminished as slowly
as It had arisen. After breakfast
next morning, when ! had hoisted
Wolf Larsen's body on deck ready for
burial. II was still blowing heavily
and n large sea was running. The
deck vas continually awash with the
sea which came inboard I've the rail
and through the scuppers. The wind
smote the schooner with a sudden
gust. and she henled over TIL her lee
rail was buried. the roar in her rig.
ging rising in pitch 10 a shrek. We
stood In the water to our knees az
| barred my head.
Il remember only one part OF the
service" | said. "and that Is. AND
the body shall be cast into the sea-
Maud looked at me, surprised and
shocked; but the spirit Of something
had seen before was strong upon
me. impelling me to give service to
Wolf Larsen as Wolf Larsen had
once given service to another man
lifted the end OF the hatch cover
and the canvas.shrouded body slipped
: feet first into the sea. The weight
OF iron dragged It down. 1t was gone
! "GOod.by. Lucifer. proud spirit,
: Maud whispered. so low that It wal
drowned by the shouting OF the wind
but ! saw the movement OF her lip,
and knew.
y As we chung to the lee rail anC
: worked our way aft, ] happened L
glance to leeward. The Ghost. at tn
moment, was uptossed on a sea ant
| caught a clear view OF a small
rttdulSulD tWO VI NnIt' NV away
rolling and pitching, head on to tn
sea. as It steamed toward us II wa
painted black. and from the talk o
the hunters OF their poaching exploits
| recognized II as n United State
I revenue cutter. | pointed 1t out t
Maud and hurriedly led her aft to tn
safety OF the poop.
q ufa - at ~ rpah hnlnpy ~ tho flo q
locker. then remembered that in RI
Q ging the Ghost | had forgotten I
y make provision for a fiag-halyard.
I'VE need no distress signal" Mau,
said. "They have only to see u.s."
o we are saved" | said, soberly an
9 solemnly. And then, in an exubel
ance Of Joy, II hardly know whethe
to be glad or not"
o | looked at her. Our eyes were no
loath to meet. We leaned towar
each other, and before l knew 1t m
arms were abou her.
Need II" | asked.
d And she answered, There is n
d need. though the telling Of 1t woul
be sweet, so sweet"
Her lips met the press OF mine
d and, by what strange trick OF tn
n Imagination | know not, the scene l
d the cabin Of the Ghost flashed upo
e me. when she had pressed her finger
lightly on my lips and said. Hush
hush"
o my woman my one small woman.
I said. my free hand petting he
d shoulder In the way all lovers kno'
d though never learn In school,.
Il my man." she said. looking dow
d at me for an instant with tremuloS
lids which fiuttered down and veile
!. her eyes as she snuggled her hea
y against my breast with a happy it'll
d sigh.
!. looked toward the cutter. 1t wa
very close. A boat was being low
cred.
zone kiss. dear love-" l whispered
"one kiss more before they come.
q And rescue rs from ourselves,
she completed. with q most adorabl
a smile, whimsical as I had never see
Ia -.