The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-06-16
CHAPTER xxIv--contInued.


had had no sleep for forty-eight
hours. was wet and chilled to the
marrow, till ] felt more dead than
alive. Ny body was stiff from exer-
ton as well as from cold, and my
aching muscles gave me the sever
est torture whenever ! used them,
and ! used them continually. And all
ahe time we were being driven off
into the northwest. directly away
from Japan toward bleak Bering sea.
Maud's condition was pitiable. She
sat crouched in the bottom Of the
boat, her lips blue, her face gray and
plainly showing the pain she suffered.
But ever her eyes looked bravely at
me, and ever her lips uttered brave
words.
The worst of the storm must have
blown that night, though little / no
ticed It. | had succumbed and slept
where / sat In the stern-sheets. The
morning of the fourth day found the
wind diminished to a gentle whisper.
the sea dying down and the sun shin.
ing upon US. Oh, the blessed sun!
How we bathed our poor bodies In its
delicious warmth, reviving like bugs
and crawling things after a storm
We smiled again, said amusing things
and waxed optimistic over our situa-
tion. Yet It was. II anything. worse
than ever.
Came days OF storm, days and
nights Of storm. when the ocean men,
aced US with Its roaring whiteness
and the swind smote our struggling
boat with Titan's Bullets. 1t was IN
such q storm, and the worst we had
experienced, that what saw | could
mot at first believe. Days and nights
of sleeplessness and anxiety had
doubtless turned my head. | looked
back at Maud. to identify myself. as
1t were, in time and space. Again I
turned my face to leeward. and again
saw the jutting promontory, black
and high and naked, the raging surf
that broke about its base and beat its
front high up with spouting fountains,
the. black and forbidding coast line
running toward the southeast and
frfnged with tremendous scarf OF
white.
MAUD" said. MAUD"
She turned her head and beheid the
sight
1T cannot be Alaska!" she cried.
-Alas. no." answered, and asked,
%Can you swim?"
She shook her head.
Neither can l." | said. 80 we
must get ashore without swimming
IN some opening between the rocks
through which we can drive the boat
and Chamber out. But we must be
auckland sure"
spoke with confidence she knew
i did not feel, for she looked at me
with that unfalterlng gaze OF hers
and said:
Il have not thanked you yet for all
you have done for me. but
She hesitated. as If in doubt bow
hest TO word her gratitude
'Well7" I said. brutality. for l was
not quite pleased with her thanking
ne.
you might help me-" she smiled.
TO acknowledge your obligations
before you die? Not at all. We are
mot going to die. We shall land on
that island. and we shall be snug and
sheltered before the day IL done"
spoke stoutly, but I did not be-
iieve q word. Nor was prompted 20
lie through fear. felt no fear, though
I was sure OF death In that boiling
surge amongs the rocks which was
rapidly growing nearer. II was I'm
possible TO claw OF that shore. The
wind would instantly capsize the
boat; the seas would swamp II the
lmoment IL fell into the trough; and.
besides. the sail. dashed to the spare
cars, dragged in the sea ahead Of u.
as sea-anekor.
Instinctively we drew closer In
gethcr In the bottom OF the boat. !
felt her mittened hand come out TO
nine. And-thus vithoHt speech. we
waited the end. We we're not far on
ne line the wind made with the west
ern edge Of ne pronCut0rT and l.
lzatrhsd N the hope that snna net Of
lie cmreui or send o. the 80 would
krsft us pest before We reached the
eurf.
we shah % clear" ] saId. wits .