The Huttig news., 1917-10-13

CHAPTER II-Hollis, the next night. succeeds in having an interview with the woman. She merely tells him her name is Vera.
 CHAPTER I1I-,Carrington tells his guests of the coming war, and that he is engineering copper pool.
 CHAPTER Iv-The yacht Is sunk fin a collision and Hollis saves McCann. mil Honaire, and one of the party.
 CHAPTER v-Hollis and Mccann res cue Vera and leave the ship fin a small boat.
 CHAPTER VI-Hollis and Vera become friendly, though he is unaware of her identity.
 What became of the fner?l
 "She picked up the boats, and, think ing they had all the survivors. went on. She was & mail boat likely. The yacht went down five minutes after we left her; we've been afoat ever since. Now, Mr. Masters, that's our story in brief. Whats the trouble heref
 I'll tell yer enough to make it clear, sir he said slowly, although there is others on board who can explain more In detail. You're a seaman-or was once-so you'll see easily the sorter fix we're In. I'm the only officer left on the hooker, an I couldn't navigate ship if you'd give 1t to me. I'm only the chief engineer, an my assistant is in the fo'castle with broken leg You see thet rifle for-rard, sir? We'll. It wus lightning did that. Two bolts. so the crew says, fer l wus down below, an never knew whut happened till the electrics all went out. Then 1 shut off steam, and clumb out on deck. Lord, but 1t wus black night. raining cats and dogs, but no wind to speak of II wus the rain what saved us, for fire started yonder-yer can see where il burned-but 1t died out of itself. When morning come we saw what We was up against; 1t looked a lot sight worse then than 1t does now. Them bolts of lightning he'd knocked the foremast into smithereens, killed the wheels man and put the steering gear plumb out O commission. Then the top mast an spars just naturally wrecked the bridge. and charthouse. an the whole mass caught fire. The second officer was in the wheelhouse, sir, an never knew what hit him, an both the captain an the first officer wuS standin' tergether on the bridge. The top mast crushed the life out of lem. There wus six sailormen hurt the same way, an four of 'em died. It wus the <l ,ls.A II xtty
 Bad enough, surely; when did this happen?"
 Might afore last; we've cleaned up a bit since. but the crew won't work much under me an we're short handed. 1 fgged up this wheel aft so as to keep an engine going. and hung on, waiting for something to turn up. There wasn't nothing else I could do."
 No, l presume not" and my eyes rested thoughtfully on the scene for ward How is the hull-sound? You seem sunk deeply"
 That's cargo. sir; full to the matches. The ships dry as q bone; ; have had the we'll sounded every three hours"
 And what about the crew?'
 Just so, so; crimp brought them aboard drunk, an we were not at sea long enough for the mates to whip them into shape when this thing hap pened. I'm no deck officer, MT. Hollis, and they don't take orders from me very well. I call em d--dg hard lot"
 I made no comment, endeayoring to turn all these facts over in my mind, and reach some decision. It was evi- dent enough what was wanted, and how could best serve; but would they be satisfied with the offer which felt willing to make? It was far from my desire to assume command of the h. dian Chief, and guide her destinies on a long outward voyage, to whatever port her cargo had been consigned. What that port was mdde slight diff ference, for my whole desire was to return as quickly as possible ts New York. l would, however, assume tenn porary command, and consent to ravi' gate the vessel to the nearest Amerl- can port, where a competent skipper might be procured. and new crew ob' tained. The Indian Chief possessed no wireless outfit, and whatever l did must be on my own judgment These considerations flashed swiftly through my mind, and l attained decision De- fore Masters again spoke. l would navigate the boat to the nearest port on the American coast. notify the own' ers and then leave them to do as they pleased with vessel and crew. l cared nothing for the salvage; the presence of the disabled steamer in these Wa' ters had saved our lives. which was reward enough surely. All cared for was to get myself and the young lady safe ashore. My thought WAS inter- rupfed by the sound of Masters voice,
 Tt sorter seemed to me, Mir. Hol- lls," he was saying. "that maybe It would be best for me to explain these things before you went into the cabin. YouIl naturally want to know Just the