Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-01
CHAPTER xxxyu-,Contlnued)

MY EYES left her face to survey the
1Vl others and the cockleshell in which we
noated I could hardly realize that we were
actually all there. | counted them IKE hoN
at school reCiting in class, even speaking
each name aloud. The little boat more u,
bravelv under its load, although Whlte anu
Olson were both baiing. and my eyes TOOK
note of several charred spots along the gun
vale showing the touch of fire. Leayord was wa"
at the tilIer, and seemed to comprehend all
that | was most eager to learn. 80
YES. we're still atloat sir he SAID WIN IN
sailors hopefulness. But u Gou >
mercy. Ry every token we should have beeh
blown ont Of the water when the Indian
Chief exploded but somehow the gust OF II
didn't hit us We was showered with nre,
an hit by a lot of fyin' stun. but nuthih
TO wreck the boat. White had his arm nroKe
by piece o. timber. an an oar went over
hoard But how we ever kept right SIDE up
| In thIs little dinIiy boat when thet big iron
not sunk is morn enyhody but God could
| tau We lust couldn't do nuthin' but Just
| hang on We wus way mp there sir
| scrapen' the clouds, an then doWn III
| hollow that seemed a mile deep; an wheh
| we come up out O. that. there you was, SIR
| shootin' out O. the waves straight az us,
| Tho girl she saw you an screamed; ; she d
| have gone over after yer, II ! hadn't gran
| he'd her. an then Red he got a boathook
inter the collar of yer Jacket, an we hauled
! yer in over the side
THAT must have been hours ago"
quite a spell. sir Something he'd hit yer
head an it bled a bit. The young lady has
been a holdn yer on her lap ever since
she tore her skirt"
Never mind that, Mr.. Leayord," she In
terrupted I'VE all Of us did what we could.
| Olson. will you pass back n biscuit and n
| water bottle? Captain Hollis will regain
| strength il he has something to eat"
smiled at her and accepted the biscuit.
How are we fixed on food? l only want
| my share"
I'VE have had one apiece there were two
bags thrown in we can thank Mccain for
| that. the poor devil
The memory Of that spectacle OF horror
witnessed on the blazing deck came sud-
| denly back to me, and hid my eyes. every
muscle of my weakened body trembling l
felt Vera's arms hold me tight.
What is it. Robert? You are In pain?'
mo; the suffering was mental, not physi-
cal II saw McCann's death; that was
what held me on board so long Bascom
| got him they-they went down together
| fighting i'm each others arms, in a sheet Of
| flame. No words can picture the horror OF
| It. God let's not talk of that any longer
| IL must keep my mind"
"Yes, dear we will not talk of It," ten
| dery "Our own situation is surely bad
enough; you must tell the men what to
| do"
lifted myself. strengthened by the ap.
| peal eager TO be diverted.
"The boat is taking in water?"
mot a great deal sir; she is so deep
loaded some splashes over the gunwae
We're all right so long as the sea keeps
| like II is now"
Are you steering by compass?"
"No sir; by sun. just naturally headed
| west that's the nearest coast I reckon"
''Yes; it's matter of guesswork. A.
| a rough reckoning should think we might
| be seventy miles at sea. We're overloaded
but imagine many fisherman's dory has
made a worse voyage in these waters"
Are these fishing seas, sir?"
THE best in the world I've often read
| of dory crews being lost in the winter fog
| and yet making land In spite Of the storm
and cold II they can do It in such weather
| there is no call for us 10 give up while the
boat floats. The first job should be to rig
| sail there is one oar left?"
| AYE. sir, and paddle"
Good enough. Red, cut a hole in that
| forward thwart with your sheath knife
not too large, now, Any canvas aboard?"
"Only these strips"
They'll do for stays and to make Sc.
cure. The sail will have to be a shirt
| Olson, how about yours?"
| He peeled II of without a word and
| helped me fasten II TO the oar blade II
was a rough bit of work, yet served the
purpose, and when we had stepped the
|
could with the paddle, and the outspreat
garment bellied out in the fairly fresh wind
the sight put new heart into all OF us.
could but note the fellows staring at II
| and then at the rushing OF green water
| alongside, as though calculating our prog
| ress No doubt II was small enough, ye
the very knowledge that we were movinl
al all tended 10 bolster our courage anC
| arouse hope. ..'
isn't there enough left of that painter
rome 10 reach from the top of the oar blad,
| 10 the bow" 7 asked. surely there is
| run her through the ring bolt. Now whC
will donate another shirt for a jib?"
Red was the quickest, and In ten minute,
the dinghy was fairly lying down to II, tn,
two shirts-one gray, the other mottled blu,
| -bellying out bravely their empty sleeve
| happing like signals of distress, as IN,
laden craft plunged and leaped through tn,
/ trembling water
Ease her little, Leayord," I said ''Bet
/ ter 10 ship a bit OF water than strain hel
| seams that's more like e. Why. men W,
must be doing ave knots, and that's "a
NOUS"