The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-17

"Here is the s1ne; haul 1t H. Get out
your oars, McGann, and pull. DOM
wait, or. you'll be sucked down whel
the yacht sinks. Never mind me; III
jump from the rai::. and swim out tt
you" ."..,.,..,' - '"t' ~
l climbed onto the rail, gripping ar
iron stanchion for support. and poised
myself for the plunge. The boat. sur
sounded by its little circle Of light
drifted away, McCann awkwardlJ
struggling with the heavy oars. The
lantern rays fell full on the girls up
turned face, and once she held out hel
hands in pleading gesture It could
scarcely have been q minute l hest
tated, yet suddenly beneath me came
sound of rending wood, muft1ed ex'
plosiOn, and the deck reeled as though
burst asunder. l leaped straight out.
ward, and went splashing down into
| the sea-.
Unjust have sunk deeply, for l felt
no swirl of the waters, no suction, but
when l came again to the surface
nothing was visible but the bobbing
lantern on the dinghy. The Esmeralda
had disappeared. A faint cry reached
me, and I answered it, striking out
strongly toward the guiding light. Five
minutes later, dripping and bit ex'
hausted-for had been ashore long
1,,hj1 fn aooO1hor In nvnr
the stern. Even as rested breathless
on the thWart, / realized that the girl
had crept aft, and her hands sought
mine.
"Oh, l am so glad" she sobbed, al
most Historically. II was afraid; T.
l thought you went down with the
yacht"
mo such luck. / jumped just as her
decks blew up. Is there anything in
sight?'
IL haven't looked; but there is no
sound, no light anywhere. Do you
suppose the steamer has really left
us7"
II have no doubt of it," answered,
but stood up so as to see about more
clearly. ''They supposed all who lived
had been picked up, and then continued
on their course"
My eyes ranged the horizon, but l
found nothing. We were alone on the
great ocean in the grasp Of the black
night. l sat down again dazed for the
instant by the immensely Of the wa
tiers, the utter loneliness, and the sud
den realization of the littleness Of this
cockleshell In which we floated. Her
voice aroused me to a comprehension
that I alone was sailor, and that on
me depended every chance for life.
do you know, Mr.. Hollis, where We
are2'
"Not exactly. I heard the captain
state the position Of the yacht yester-
day noon, about one hundred and fifty
miles east and south of Montauk; we
have drifted some SINCE"
"Are we in the steamer lanes?"
"NOt Of the north Atlantic liners {;
they would pass farther eastward. I
cannot imagine what that fellow who
rammed us was doing up In here SO far
out Of his course. Yes, that was q
liner; l could see the lights of her
ports. The only vessel passing along
here will be coasters, or, by luck, pos
sibly some tramp bound Boston way.
Now let's see what Is on board; try the
locker forward; and Miss Vera; you
might examine beneath the stern sheet.
This boat has never been inboard since
we sailed"
They went at the task as though
glad of the opportunity, McCann creep
ing forward on hands and knees.
"Theres nothing here" he reported
discouragingly, "but roll Of tarpau-
lin, some rope ends, and the splintered
handle Of paddle"
swell, what more do we want? That
means SAIL If we can make hole in
one Of the thwarts to step a mast. How
much cloth is there?"
Two or three yards"
Pass it back here; good, solid stuff
that. Now, Miss Vera, what are your
discOveries2"
She looked up quickly, her eyes
sparkling in the dim CLEAN Of the lam
tern. ..-
"A bag Of ea-biscuit, a small beaker
of water, insipid, but sweet, some
strong cord, and brad awl.''
Lord" exclaimed, this is almost
too good to be true. Why, we are out
fitted for voyage. However, there is
little use endeavoring to rig up jury
mast before daylight, when we know In
which direction to steer. Mccain, you
haven't been overheard, and, no doubt,
your watch runs; what time is it?''
He fumbled about and found the
timepiece, staring at it in amazement.
Must have stopped, Hollis" he said.
mo, by jove, the thing is running all
right; the hands point to l 80" -,
That's about the hour. The COLI
sion occurred before eight bells, or
else Seeley would have been on the
bridge, instead Of aft by the cabin.
Have you any idea who was saved?"
Il heard the captains voice back
there under the awning, ordering out
the boats, and after was caught under
that wreckage Darlington came up
from below and climbed along the rail.
I On 1la6 RI him hnt no mold M otfon.