Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-12-27
CHAPTER villa
We siaht a Tramp.

. ~ STI<AU ALn tltAV
We Sight a Tramp.
The one blow, coupled with the loss
of his weapons, had so completely
|cowed the fellow, that I scarcely gave
him another thought. / crept back to
the stern, and took the, steering oar,
the girls eyes meeting mine question
tingly.
81 could not see all that occurred, be-
cause of the SAIL" she said. "You dis
armed the MANI"
eyes, I have his revolver in my
pocket, and the knife also. He will
make no more trouble. Come, we will
divide a biscuit between us, and then
it will be your turn to lie down."
'But doesn't Mccain have any?"
"He has had more than his share al
aready. I'll offer him a swallow of Wa
ter-that's all. i imagine the way his
head feels, he has forgotten all about
being hungry
"You had to strike him?"
"Slightly, a mere tap Of sea disci-
: pine" and I glanced at my knuckles.
"He was armed, you know, and I could
take no chances. There is no harm
done. Come; are you not tired enough
to rest?"
She glanced up into my face.
"You will call me at midnight, if I
fall asleep?"
eff I feel worn out then, and the
sea keeps as it is, or no worse. There,
take my coat for a pillow. No, really I
shall not need it; this is an ideal sum
mer night, but we are out of the track
of ships"
"But do you still believe we will find
+; one?"
81 have every faith in the world"
answered heartily, determined to con-
ceal my doubts. eff the weather holds
pleasant, we should be far enough
south by morning to be in the north
Atlantic lane between New York and
Liverpool. Lie down, and rest, Miss
Vera; there is no sign of any storm
brewing, and tomorrow you'll probably
nave the deck Of a liner under your
feet"
know not how much she may have
believed of what I said, but she smiled
me a cheerful goodnight, and lay dowI
in the bottom of the boat, my coat fold
ed under her head. She rested there
motionless, her face shadowed by one
arm, and very soon her regular breath
ing convinced me she slept like. q tired
child. I looked at her shadowy figure
then forward to where Mccain hung
silent in the bows.
What If we should not overhaul s
ship? What If some evil fate would
permit of our floating on unseen? AnG
there were few eatable biscuits left
and barely a cupful of tepid water. Thu
thought of what the end might be near
1y crazed me, as I sat there alone II
the silence and gloom-I could picture
those final hours Of despair, as We lay
starved and helpless in the unguidet
boat. the girl mercifully unconscious
perhaps, and Mccain a gibbering idiot
My God! I must stop thinking!
must be a man for her sake; aye, ,ani
retain my self-control, SOFAS to do {
mans work to the end.
At midnight the wind was at tt
height, and I did. not call the girl, as
dared not trust her to steer the Graf
through such rough water. She slep
~undisturbed, not even changing her pc
sition, a mere dim outline ut my feet
Forward Mccain had slowed himsel
away beyond the bow thwart, and
could see nothing of him under tn
blight Of the sail. I was the only on,
awake In the leaping boat, fighting 1T
desperate way through black water
under the dull CLEAN Of the stars.
The SUI had begun to show ,aboy,
the horizon before the girl fnall,
awoke, and sat up In the bottom of tn
boat, staring about her with wide-opel
eyes, as though startled by the chang
IA the aspect Of the sea. Finally sh,
lifted herself to the nearest thwart
and greeted mt reproachfully.
you have let me sleep all night, an,
lying on your coat. You must be tire,
nearly to DEATH
"Far from 1t; and we are to b
blessed with another day Of sunshine
Perhaps by afternoon the sea will. hav'
gone down, and I can get a nap. Ar
You ready for breakfast?"
My explanation did not satisfy her
I could read that In the expression o
her face, but she made no further pro