Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-12-13
CHAPTER v.
The Rescue Of Vera.

The Rescue of Vera.
'Take this lantern, McCann," I
called, ana held it up to him, "Ill need
both my hands free. Hold it as low as
possible. Now, here goesv
I did not pray audibly, but a prayer
was in my heart, as I released my grip
on the rug and took the plunge. The
first chair crumpled beneath m
weight, but by good luck the second
held just long enough to enable me to
grip the latch Of the door and cling
tight. The slant Of the deck gave one
cropping foot precarious purchase on
the threshold, although water swept
nearly to my waist, and for a moment
I tottered there, helpless to do more
than merely sustain my position. The
noise made by this struggle must have
been heard within, for I became aware
Of water splashing, and a fist pounded
the door.
"Help! Is t!;at you, Mr.. seeley?"
"No," I answered, nervcd to new
effort by the sound of her voice, and
the knowledge that 1 had indeed locat-
ed the right spot, and found her still
alive. "This is Hollis. Is the door
locked?"
"Yes, Mr.. Seeley has the key; you
must be quick-the water is already
above my waist"
"No time for keys. then" I said.
"Stand back until 1 cut a way in.
Throw your light down, McCann-ay,
that's better!
The latch Of the door was forward !;
I could cling to it, and have my right
hand free with which to WELD the
hatchet; keeping both feet wedged on
the threshold. The light was the mer-
est glimmer, yet sufficient to reveal
the paneling of the door, and I hacked
at this fiercely, exerting the full
strength of my arm. A dozen blows
s%plintered the upper panel, and then
/ sent the keen blade crashing down
ward gouging out great chunks and
splinters until a jagged passage had
been made, sufficiently large FOR the
passage Of a body. The water was
deeper in the cabin than in the open
ing, drenching me nearly to the arm
pits. Mccain called in warning, his
voice cracked with a terror he could
no longer control.
"Vait; I'll be there in a minute!" /
shouted back, my only fear lest he de-
11sert us. The bulkhead still held; this
torrent was water which had found
other entrances; no doubt it would
eventually increase in volume and sink
the vessel, yet there was still ample
time for us to escape. There would be
no sudden plunge while thrt buIkhead
held.
"Are you all right, Miss Vera?'s ]
asked anxiously. Where are you7
Can you see me?"
Eyes; I I'm clinging to the BERTH
Her voice was excited but clear. .sssThe
water is up to my shoulders. Is the
opening sufficiently"
For YOU, / think, If You can make 1t
alone. should have to knock out
another panel to get through myself"
"There is no time for that, and no
need. I'm coming now watch out"
Our two bodies S obscured the faint
glow Of the lantern dangling from Nc
Cams hand above that I could see
nothing, yet / managed to grapple her
arm, and thus assist in dragging her
into the Jagged opening. The water,
surging to the sodden roll Of the
doomed yacht, and now damned by her
body, poured over us both in suffocat-
Ing volume, but the struggle was only
Q 9 moment, and then I had the girl
safely clasped in my arms, her head
elevated we'll above the receding food.
Now, grasp the rug" I ordered, as
4 thrust her lighteform upward. ut
will help you creep up the slope Of the
deck. Creep On back. Mccain, with
the lantern; never mind me-m fnd5
q way out"
She possessed sufficient nerve and
strength for the effort. There was no
shesitancy, no word Of protest. Silent.
IL, inch BY inch. she fought her way
Mt, her feet slipping on the wet planks,
but her fingers gripping desperately
at the sustaining cloth. I could SEQ
only the outline Of her revealed against
the CLEAN Of the lantern, as Mccain
clambered upward In advance. I could
hear the groaning Of the bulkhead to
the strain, and realized thqt the tim
ibers could not long hold against the
fmInense weight, Suddenly the fear
had come into my heart ; not until then
had I paused to t~hink--effort had OBJ
scured all conception OF danger; but
waiting there III that black. hell. the
creaking OF timbers In my ears, the wn-.
Ter clulehing my throat, the full hor-
rof Of II overwhelmed mo with sudden
terror. Ny n0di Surely ws could not
have accomplished oil this. and sin ha