Western Kansas world., 1917-11-01
CHAPTER vII-Continued.


@
However our conversation 1apSed at
last, through sheer WEAKNESS on my
part. I had been at the steering oar
so long, staring out into that drear ex-
spanse of ocean and sky, that every
muscle of my body ached, and my eyes
could scarcely be forced to remain
open. In the silence she must have no.
ticed this, for she exclaimed suddenly:
"Why, never thought you must be
nearly dead with fatigue. Let me take
the oar while you Sleep"
81 am afraid 1 shall have to-" I ad-
mitted, 'for I must keep awake to-
night. You feel competent?''
"Why, of course; you saw me steer.
If anything goes wrong I can call you
easily enough. Please lie down for a
few hours"
looked about, permitting her to
grasp the oar, and slip into my seat.
"Really I feel as if 1 must,' 1 said
regretfully, "and there can be no dan
ger while things keep as they are. Call
me, though, if there is a change in the
weather, for that jury mast will never
stand any weight of wind"
81 promise; but am a better boat
man than you Think
must have slept for several hours
undisturbed, for, when / finally opened
my eyes once more the sky above us
was beginning to turn purple with twi-
light, and the breeze had failed, so that
the sail tapped idly against it's impro-
vised mast. This. perhaps, was the
noise which had aroused me. I sat up
wide awake instantly, and stared about
me in the boat. There was little
change noticeable; Miss Vera still
.clung to the steering oar, showing no
outward signs of WEAKNESS, and greet
ed me with a smile and nod of the
head but Mccain had moved forward,
and sat playing idly with an open jack
gknife.
81 bear testimony that you slept well,
Mr.. Hollis" the girl said cheerfully.
81 did not realize until I lay down
lhow weary I was.'' replied, adopting
her manner, "but really you had no
right to let me lie so long. Why, 1
must have been sleeping three or four
hours. and you will be tired out"
"Oh. no; it was no trick at all. The
wind kept steady until just a few mo-
ments ago, and I do not feel in the
least fatigued."
"And you have seen nothing? no
-SIuOhS, no SAIL
She shook her head, her eyes grown
grave.
"Not thing; we seem to be abso-
hutely alone in the immensity of the
=sea-just -one great wave after the
other. lit gets on my nerves."
'sIt certainly does; such a sight has
driven more than one insane. But
what does this mean? Why is the bis
cult bag out here?"
pointed to the bottom of the boat
beyond her feet. Her eyes met mine
fher answer made in a whisper.
''He-he crept back here while was
adjusting my oar, and took two"
''McCann?"
A'Yes, he had the bag before 1 no
Iticed, and thought it best not to anger
him then, for he held that open knife
an his hand"
You should have called me-"
1.-The mischief was done before had
amy time. Besides 1 knew you needed
the sleep. What are you going to dor
smiled bit grimly, glimpsing hin
beneath the sail.
Il am about to give Mr.. Fergus Nc
Cam. late of New York, little speci
men of sea discipline which hope may
last him for the remainder of this voy
age" / replied quietly. "Hold the boa
steady. Miss Vera, and leave me to at
tend to this degenerate son of wealth.
I crept forward. scarcely jarring tn,
ifrail craft. and was beyond the jur,
mast before the fellow had arouset
sufficiently from his knife play even t,
note my approach. He stared at me In
ssolently. leaving the keen blade trem
bling in the plank.
Mccain" / began. wasting no tim
I'm preliminaries, lifting myself ON on
knee. and facing him, "the young lad.
says you took advantage of my bein
sound asleep to help yourself to bis
scuits: is that so?"
''well. what if did7 Twas hungry.
$50 am i; so no doubt is the lady
for the matter of that Hunger is n
justification for stealing. You wer
not starving: you received exactly th
same share we did More than that.
lave assumed command Of this boa