Meade County news., 1917-10-04

thWart behind you; better tie it to
the lock. Good; you'll make sailor
yet. Now listen: work your boat over
until you can get grip on the rudder
chains, and hold her .steady-yes, to
your right; use one of the oars. Now
hang on-TIn going to send the lady
down; stand by to give her hand"
He did as l bade him in fashion,
but was so awkward about it, 1 Won
dered the boat kept upright. Satisfied,
glanced aside at my silent companion.
"Not a very easy gqngway, but the
best we have. Are you afraid?"
She smiled.
"Not in the least, Mr.. Hollis; these
skirts are a nuisance, but can climb
like boy. Help me keep my balance
on the rail"
She was over so quickly can scarce
ly recall more than clasping her arm
and she went down the rope hand over
hand, as lightly as sailor. BY the
time she reached the boat, her body
was half submerged in the water, but
McCann gave her his hand, and assist
ed in dragging her in over the side.
II am all right, Mr.. Hollis" she
called in her clear, steady voice. Snow
you come-come, quick"
"Just a second more" 1 answered.
Here is the line; haul 1t in. Get out
your oars, Mccain, and. pull. Don't
wait, or you'll be sucked down when
the yacht sinks. Never mind me; I'll
jump from the rail, and swim out to
you" .,.: -
1 climbed onto the rail, gripping an
iron stanchcn for support, and poised
myself for the plunge. The boat, sur
sounded by its little. circle of light,
drifted away, McCann awkwardly
struggling with the heavy oars. The
lantern rays fell full on the girls up
turned face, and. once she held out her
hands in pleading gesture. 1t could
scarcely have been a minute hesi-
tated, yet suddenly beneath me came
sound of rendipg wood, a mufIled ex-
plosion, and the deck reeled as though
bui oI douhuSAs lSdpcu oLldIShl OuI.
ward, and went splashing down into
the sea-. .t
must have sunk deeply, for felt
no swirl of the waters, no suction, but
when l came again to the surface,
nothing was visible but the bobbing
lantern on the dinghy. The Esmeralda
had disappeared. A faint cry reached
me, and 1 answered it, striking out
strongly toward the guiding light. Five
minutes later, dripping and a bit ex-
hausted-for had been ashore a long
while-I managed to Chamber In over
the stern. Even as rested breathless
on the thwart, 1 realized that the girl
had crept aft, and her hands sought
mine.
"Oh, am so glad" she sobbed, al
most Historically. II was afraid; L
l thought you went down with the
yacht"
mo such luck. l jumped just as her
decks blew up. Is there anything in
sightT'
Il haven't looked; but there is no
sound, no light anywhere. Do you
suppose the steamer has really left
us?"
Il have no doubt of it," answered,
but stood up so as to see about more
clearly. "They supposed all who lived
had been picked up, and then continued
on their course"
My eyes ranged the horizon, but l
found nothing. We were alone on the
great ocean In the grasp Of the black
night. / sat down again dazed for the
instant by the immensity of the wa
ters, the utter loneliness, and the sud-
den realization of the littleness of this
cockleshell in which we floated. Her
voice aroused me to a comprehension
that | alone was sailor, and that on
me depended every chance for life.
"Do you know, Mr.. Hollis, where we
are?'
mot exactly. l heard the captain
state the position of the yacht yester-
day noon, about one hundred and fifty
miles east and south of MOntauk; we
have drifted some SINCE"
"Are we In the steamer lanes"
"Not of the north Atlantic liners;
they would pass farther eastward. /
cannot imagine what that fellow who
rammed us was doing up in here so far
out of his course. Yes, that was a
liner; l could see the lights OF her
ports. The only vessel passing along
here will be coasters, or, by luck, pos
sibly some tramp bound Boston way.
Now let's see what is on board; try the
locker forward; and Miss Vera, you
might examine beneath the stern sheet.
This boat has never been inboard since
we sailed"