Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-11-21

taken. however, grant your TequeS
now. although l doubt If he shows
even gratitude. Mccain !"
He lifted his head, and stared aft
but without changing attitude.
Here is your ration. You do not de
serve bite, nor would you receive any
through me. You owe this to the lady
catch 1t now"
He picked the half biscuit up from
the bottom of the boat, where 1t fell at
his feet, and began nibbling at 1t, like
famished dog. There was no sign OF
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 clear sky, glistening along the
foam of racing waves, but. as noon APP
preached, the southern sky became
misty. the clouds increasing in den
sity until we could see only few
hundred yards beyond our bow. 1t
was not a storm cloud, and brought
with 1t no fear Of disaster, but COM
pletely blotted out the horizon, and
gave a dark. sullen gloom to the SUR
waters.
1t must have been three o'clock when
Mccain 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" l asked sharply.
Make a report, mani"
"A ship yonderl" he shouted, but
turning his head. II saw 1t
plainly enough. but it has gone now"
II see 1t, Mr.. Hollis!" the girl cried
fright out there through
that lane Of mist-it's a big steamer I"
straight ahead?"
"Just little this way-there! you
ian see her nowi"
did, mere glimpse, instantly OBJ
scured, but visible again a moment
alter. Mccain was on his feet, ges-
wildly.
"flow, D. you 7" ne shouted, put
Is on board there. and I'll show you
Who I am. You brute, 1 dare you to
,ut us on board"
"Sit down." I ordered. "Now, keep
IT'LL, and stand by with that rope. I'll
nut you aboard all right, but until do,
'ou will obey what I say. or 60 into
he water"
took my eyes Off him, and stared
It the vessel, conscious instantly that
omething was wrong. She was ap-
a big steel frelghter four
thousand tons guessed, her water line
howing a heavy cargo, and her bows
ed with rust where the black paint
lad disappeared. The foremost was
rOken off at the tops, remaining a
reat splinter, and where the bridge
nd wheelhouse ought to be there was
lied a mass Of wreckage, showing
lack above the bulwarks. A wheel ]
ad been rugged aft on the poopdeck,
nd there alone saw evidence Of hu-
ian beings on board. One fellow stood
ripping the spokes, while another
.aned motiOnless against the rail fac
lg forward. Neither one saw us, al
hough I swung my hat, and sent a
all across the intervening water. The
lrl glanced back into my face.
"What Is the matter with them, Mr..
[ollis?' she asked. us something
'rongT
II am afraid so; their foretop mast
down, and 1t looks as though 1t had
mashed the bridge and wheelhouse
hen it fell. They have rugged up an
wheel aft. Can you make
ut her name"
"The Indian Chief Of Philadelphia" |
"No regular unexpectedly tramp.
never saw tunnels painted like that
efore, and she shows no flag. How
YER, any port in a storm"
l stood up, following my hands.
"Ahoy there! Indian Chief. ahoy I"
The man leaning on the after rail |
lrned, and gazed down at us, shading
Is eyes, and the heads of a half dozen |
theirs bobbed up above the forward |
ulwarks. could see the fellow aft |
lainly now, broad, stockily built |
ian, with extremely red face, wearing
veralls, and a wooden shirt, open at |
le throat. In appearance there was
othing Of the officer about him, yet
was his voice which finally answered
" hail, sending deep, roaring note
cross the waters.
"Hullo, there. Who are yer? From
,me ship close by?"
eve are passengers from the Ameri-
IN yacht Esmeralda, sunk in collision
70 nights ago, and have been afioat