The Carlisle independent., 1917-04-12

There's No Sign of the Forl
 Lieutenant Hope will not be back until tonight" the telephone girl in- formed him. He has gone to the Farallons."
 There were now three craft racing toward the same goal. Well in the lead vas the small launch containing Hope and Cleo. Bearing down on a more northerly course was the power boat hired by Mahlin and Satsuma, while somewhere astern pounded the larger craft bearing Morton, Olga and Sextus. Doubtless all three of the shippers would have exercised more caution than they did could they have seen the notices which were being displayed that afternoon on the bulle- tin boards of the various shipping of. fees and other places where seafaring folk congregate:
 WARNiNGl
 Shipmasters and others naVieat-
 Ing the waters between the en-
 trance to San Francisco Bay and
 the FaraIlon Group are warned to
 be on the lookout for floating
 mine which broke loose from it's
 moorings during experiments at
 Fort Point Torpedo Station and is
 believed to have drifted into the
 channel. The mine, which re-
 sembles a large buoy, is painted
 sray-bIue and is marked "U. S.
 1127B." Anyone sighting it is
 warned against attempting to take
 1t in tow but should immediately
 notify the chief ordnance officer,
 Fort Point, Cal.
 (Signed) H. J. MACKENZIE,
 Adjutant-General,
 By Order the General Command
 Ing the Western Department.
 The mill-pond ealmness which pre- vailed in the inner harbor proved to be no criterion of the weather without, for in the bay brisk breeze was blow ing and outside the Gate the breeze turned into gale In fact, so heavy sea was running that darkness was descending when Morissey ran his launch under the lee of the lighthouse on Southeast island and Hope and Cleo clambered ashore. In response to their whistle a gray-bearded man, tall and angular, appeared in the door way of the small. whitewashed build ing which adjoined the lighthouse.
 That's the keeper, Captain Fair weather" said Morissey.
 q am Lieutenant Hope of the navy" Hope introduced himself 'I am look ing for a man named Fitzmaurice of the coast survey. I understand that he is over here charting the islands" ,"
 'Mr. Fftzmaurice left this morning for Middle island" was the answer. "The government has radio station there and he went over to send a mes sage to Frisco. reckon he likes their food better than he does mine, any way"
 How far is it across to Middle is land?"
 About six miles"
 Well" said Hope, turning to Cleo, the only thing for us to do. it seems, is to keep on to the other island"
 Its none of my business" inter rupted the keeper. but you'll be talk ing big chance if you try to cross to Middle island tonight. It's a danger ous channel even in the day time, and it'll be dark in another ten minutes There's a big sea running already and the winds rising"
 What do you think about it. Morris sey?" Hope asked the boatman.
 I'm game for it, sir"
 And how about you, Cleo?"
 "Oh, I would much rather go on, Jarvis" she answered. T couldn't sleep tonight if I felt that those books were only six miles away. I'm not in the least afraid-you are with me I" The last four words were spoken so softly that only Hope could hear.
 Remember" the keeper called af- ter them as they turned back to the boat, there's some bad reefs between nere and the other island. Keep this light astern of you all the time. If you get quarter of a mile of the you'll be in heap of trouble" As the keeper prophesied, the wind, even during the few minutes that they had spent ashore, had greatly risen. and as they rounded the point It struck them with a force and sud- denness which nearly capsized the lit- tie launch. But 1t was too late to turn back. To attempt to go about in the sea that was now running was but to invite disaster. Their only hope of sl.fety lay in keeping the boat bow-on to the mountain-high waves which were roaring down upon them. Small wonder then that Hope and Morissey, h off ckv aI xo kIz oy~