Western Kansas world., 1917-11-01


of a clear sky, glistening along the
foam of racing waves. but. as noon ap-
preached, the southern sky became
misty, the clouds increasing in dem
Sity until we could see only a few
hundred yards beyond our bow. 1t
was not q storm cloud, and brought
with it no fear of disaster, but COM
pletely blotted out the horizon, and
gave a dark, sullen gloom to the sur
rounding waters.
1t must have been three o'clock when
McCann suddenly gave vent to a
startled roar, Strengthening to his
knees. and pointing straight ahead into
the smother. I stared, but saw nothing
except the grotesque forms assumed by
the whirling mist, but Vera leaned out
over the side, shading her eyes.
''What is it?' 1 asked sharply
'Make a report, man!'
"a ship yonder!" he shouted, but
without turning his head. 81 saw it
plainly enough, but it has gone now."
ST see it, Mr.. Hollis !" the girl cried
excitedly. Fright out there through
that lane of mist-it's big steamer J"
''Straight ahead2'
"Just a little this way-thereI you
| can see her nowi"
I did, a mere glimpse, instantly OBJ
| scured, but visible again a moment
later. McCann was on his feet, ges-
| ticulating wildly.
'Now, D. you !" he shouted, ''put
US on board there, and I'll show you
who am. You brute, I dare you to
put US on board"
"Sit DOWN. ordered. sNow, keep
still, and stand by with that rope. I'll
put you aboard all right, but until do,
you will obey what say, or go into
| the water"
I took my eyes off him, and stared
at the vessel, conscious instantly that
something was wrong. She was ap-
parently a big steel freighter, four
| thousand tons I guessed, her water line
showing a heavy cargo, and her bows
red with rust where the black paint
had disappeared. The foremast was
broken off at the tops, remaining a
great splinter, and where the bridge
and wheelhouse ought to be there was
| piled a mass of wreckage, showing
black above the bulwarks. A wheel
| had been rigged aft on the poOpdeck,
and there alone saw evidence of hui
man beings on board. One fellow stood
gripping the SpokeS, while another
| leaned motionlesS against the rail fac
| ing forward. Neither one saw US, al
though I swung my hat, and sent n
hail across the intervening water. The
| girl glanced back into my face.
"What is the matter with them, Mr..
Hollis?" she asked. 'Is something
| wrong?"
| 81 am afraid so; their foretop mast
| is down, and it looks as though it had
/ ocyho 1>v-i6 -I,n0 Ihnr %
when it fell. They have rugged up an
emergency wheel aft. Can you make
out her name?"
''The Indian Chief of Philadelphia" J"
mo regular Hner-probably tramp.
I never saw tunnels painted like that
before, and she shows no flag. How
| ever, any port in a storm"
I stood up, following my hands.
"Ahoy therei Indian Chief, ahoy J"
The man leaning on the after rail
turned, and gazed down at us, shading
his eyes, and the heads of a half dozen
others bobbed up above the forward
bulwarks. could see the fellow aft
plainly now, a broad, stockily built
man, with extremely red face, wearing
overalls, and a wooden shirt, open at
the throat. In appearance there was
nothing of the officer about him, yet
it was his voice which finally answered
my hail. sending a deep, roaring note
across the waters.
'Hullo, there. Who are yer? From
some ship close by?"
"We are passengers from the Amerf-
can yacht Esmeralda, sunk in collision
two nights ago, and have been af1oat
ever since. Can you take us aboard?' p
Passengers, you say? All of yer
passengers?''
EYES,"
He turned, and spoke to the man
grasping the wheel, tall, loose -jointed
fellow in straw hat and pink shirt.
There was a moments argument be
fore he returned to his position at the
rail.
81 dunno as yer would be much bet
: ter off along with Us than yer are thar
: in the dinghy" he called indifferently
! "For, in a manner o. speakin', we're nc
more than a wreck reckon thai
amt no one among yer who knows how
; to navigator"
/ stood up, following my hands te
make my voice carry more clearly.
) ''That is not a very sailorlike speech
my friend" shouted, yet striving tc
) conceal anger. But as you put hu
manity on those terms, I'll answer you
have been in the merchant service
and commanded ships"
swell7 Is that so? Sail, or steamT
~