Meade County news., 1917-10-11

| thankfulneSS in his action, and he con-
tinued to glare at us with one eye open
in sullen insolence.
The sun blazed down upon us out
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 den
sity until we could see only a few
hundred yards beyond our bow. 1t
was not storm cloud, and brought
with it no fear of disaster but COM
pletely blotted out the horizon, and
gave dark, sullen gloom to the sur
rounding waters.
It 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. 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 o report, manw
ga ship yonderw he shouted, but
without turning his head. II saw 1t
plainly'enough, but 1t has gone now"
81 see it, Mr.. Hollis" the girl cried
eXcitedly. "Right out there through
that lane of mIst-it's big steamerw
straight ahead?"
"Just little this way-thefe you
can see her now"
did, a mere glimpse, instantly OBJ
scured, but visible again a moment
later. Mccain was on his feet, ,ges-
ticulating wildly.
"Now, d your he shouted, "put
us on board there, and I'll show you
who 1 am. You brute, dare you to
put us on board"
"Sit down" 1 ordered. "Now, keep
still, and stand by with that rope. I'll
put you aboard all right, but until do,
you will obey what l say, or go into
the water"
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 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
great splinter, and where the bridge
and wheelhouse ought to be there was
piled 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 swung my hat, and sent a
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 1t had
smashed the bridge and wheelhOuse
when it fell. They have rlgged up an
emergency wheel aft. Can you make
out her nameY
"The Indian Chief Of Philadelphia"
mo regular unexpectedly tramp.
I never saw tunnels painted like that
before, and she shows no flag. How
ever, any port In storm"
stood up, following my hands.
"Ahoy therel Indian Chief, ahoyp
The man leaning on the after rail
turned, and gazed down at us, shading
his eyes, and the heads Of 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 woOlen shirt, open at
the throat. In appearance there was
nothing Of the officer about him, yet
1t was his voice which finally answered
my hail, sending deep, roaring note
across the waters.
"Hullo, there. Who are yer? From
some ship close byT
1--WE are passengers from the Amerl-
can yacht Esmeralda, sunk in collision
two nights ago, and have been a1oat
ever since. Can you take us aboardT
Passengers, you say2 All of yer
passengers?"
"Yes."
He turned, and spoke to the man
grasping the wheel, tall, loose-jolnted
fellow in straw hat and pink shirt.
There was a moments argument be-
fore he returned to his position at the
rail.
II dunno as yer would be much bet
ter off along with us than yer are thar
In the dinghy" he called indifferently.
"For, in manner O. speakin', we're no
more than a wreck. reckon thar
amt no one among yer who knows how
to navigate"
stood up, following my hands to
make my voice carry more clearly.
"That is not a very sailOrllke speech,
my friend" shouted, yet striving to
conceal anger. "But as you put hu-
manity on those terms, I'll answer you.
I have been in the merchant service,
and commanded ships"
"Well? Is that So? Sail, or steamr
"Steam-the old Atlas line. Do you
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