The Huttig news., 1917-09-29

bled waters stretching all about, the black, cloud shadows overhead, and the little boat in which we were tossed, combined to bring to me a feeling akin to despair. The only hope was tho possible overhauling of some passing silip uut the towering SKY scarceiy en- abled me to see clearly a hundred yards, even in the light of the gray dawn. rescuing vessel might easily pass us by within a quarter of a mile unseen, nor had we any means of at tracing attention. confess that, sit ting there in loneliness, staring about into the grim expanse of fog and sea, fell into blue funk. Nor was ! greatly heartened when the sun finally rose above the horizon, for 1t was no more than sullen red glow, barely visible through the clouds of vapor, and only rendering more ghastly than ever the heaving leagues of ocean. My glance turned downward to my companions in the boat. McCann still slept, with head pillowed on his arm, but the woman lay with her eyes wide open, looking upward at the drifting spume. Her eyes met mine, and she sat up, grasping the gunwale with one hand, and stared about her over the drear expanse of sea.
 "There is nothing in sightf she spoke wearily. Are you sure MT. Car rington made his escapeW
 "As certain as I can be. I did not see him after I left the party in the after cabin last evening" But McCann insists that he came on deck, and joined the others in lowering the boats. Beyond doubt he got away safely, and was picked up by the liner"
 She was silent for some time, her gaze on the man sleeping in the bows. He rolled over, revealing his face, gray and haggard in the dawn.
 "Who-who is that many" she ques. tioned. You call him McCapn; Is he sailor?"
 "No; he WAS one of the guests. He Is rich mans son, who occasionally takes flyer on Wall street.
 "Not-not Fergus McCann?'
 Il believe that Is his name, now that you recall it. Why? Did you ever know the fellowi"
 "Only by reputation, which is not the best. He was involved rather un- pleasantly in the Bascom shooting case"
 Aye, I remember. I read about the affair in Chicago paper at the time. but failed to comprehend 1t was this MeCann who was involved. Did Bas- com die?"
 He will be crippled for life. of course his assailant may not have been entirely to blame-it was a drunken quarrel over a woman"
 Well" I said quietly, "the man Is in for job of sailor work here, wheth- CT it pleases him, or not. He acted bit s,1len last night, but am in no mood just now to baby him. Have you ever steered asboat with an oar, Miss VeraT'
 "I have done lots of canoeing, and last summer at Palm Beach," she stopped, laughing at the slip "Yes. | actually at Palm Beach, steered some larger boats. IT believe I could"
 You will find this somewhat diff ferent. Still, there Is not much of a trick to 1t. and I am going to let yon try your hand. Do you think you can hold her all right?"
 "Of course I can." almost indignant ly. Really, Mir. Hollis, have steered boats in worse seas than this. If the oar wasn't quite so heavy
 There Is no steering paddle aboard We'll, if anything goes wrong, sing out I'm going to rout out that fellow for ward, and get at our work"
 1 cannot say that MeCann was par ticularly pleasant about 1t: he had a way of showing that he rather resent ed my assumption of authority, and performed what l ordered with de- liberation which was almost insolent. However, he made no open revolt, and I thought 1t best not to anger the man unnecessarily. We worked steadily for an hour, the fellow proving practically useless, except to hand me the article required, or to throw his weight on a ropes end. Vera succeeded in holding the boat steady, although I thoughtthe weight of the waves increased as though we were on the outer edge of some storm.
 dashed aR oar upright to a thwart, bracing 1t securely by ropes to oar locks on either side; then secured tfie, broken paddle handle as a spar, notch- ing the oar to give purchase, and rigged up the tarpaulin, being compelled to use rope-ends to secure it in position It was a rough job, yet the stiff canvas; bellied out In the wind, and was cs'ia-. scious of a thrill of hope. as I crept back to the stern sheets, grasped the, steering oar, and headed the boat into the southwest.