The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-01-12

| following morning. AS his last unoffi-
| cial act he helped the mate to repair
the small acetylene gas generator In
the forward part Of the yacht. This
was used In emergencies for the for
ward searchlight-
We've got to keep a sharp lookout
for icebergs now" Captain Reed had
warned, land that forward searchlight
must be fixed up"
Boggles didn't know much about
acetylene gas. Neither did the first
mate. They tempered with the plant
for two hours, and then a muffled ex-
plosion forward alarmed every men,
Der Of the crew. It was the first mate
who exclaimed incOherently:
1.-THE thing-the tank exploded right
In our faces. It was so sudden that I
could not say how"
Boggles couldn't explain, for he was
blinded, and his body was blazing like
a human torch covered with pitch.
The captain and DR.. Langdon squelch-
ed the flames, so the yacht was safe,
and Annette, with two sailors. rescued
Goggles from fncineration.
Mr.. Pierce was angry and bored to
the point Of saying:
"How annoying! Any one hurtT
"Boggles is pretty well done up" the
doctor replied, scraping the charred
skin from the blackened face. Hes
blind as a bat for one thing, and
Boggles groaned and stammered in q
hoarse whisper:
81 knew I'd never see Straddle Rock
cove ag'fn. might have knowed
something would happen. Oh. why
didn't stay awayT
Captain Reed called another meeting
to consider the question Of changing
now incapacitated," he exclaimed. land
Of course no one else Is familiar with
this coast"
'"That's So" retorted Mr.. Pierce, with
sudden enlightenment. "Then we must
retdrn-at once"
A malevolent light Of Joy illumined
his features.
Exactly" replied the captain. II
shall order the course changed"
"Not today, captain" interrupted An
nette sweetly. ut seems Hke-like sac
rilege to turn around and run home 30
soon after Mr.. Boggles is laid up. IL
think we should keep on day or two.
There is some hope. DR.. Langdon, isn't
thereY
The doctor shook his head I'm
sorry to disappoint you. Annette, but
there's none. BOggles is blind-totally
blind. He may In six months or a year
recover some Of his sight, but It is q
forlorn hope"
Annette's face darkened. Mr.. Pierce
thought she was about to cry. and he
hastily said:
I'VE might keep on the same course
for day or two, captain. out Of re-
spect for Boggles, and
eyes, yes, certainly"
Annette gave them both a grateful
smile, and the conference was ended.
Boggles absorbed more attention now
than before the accident. Every one
paid him Difference, but that was partly
because all, from the humblest to the
highest knew that the trip was to be
abandoned in a day or two. But Bog.
giles didn't know, and he kept moaning:
"I'll never see the Straddle rocks
ag'in! If could see 'em I'd die In
peace! All, there they are! Are you
here, ma'am? Look at 'em! See the
sun on EN-! There's where l was born
twenty, thirty. forty, fifty years ago.
ma'amw
"Oh, Bogglesw moaned Annette in
return. why did this happenT
Now, the meeting Of the cold breath
from the north coast and the warm
wind Of the southern summer plays
havoc with the sea at many points be-
tween Newfoundland and Labrador.
Fierce elemental struggles of the at
mosphere shake the sea and earth, and
for days and nights no ship is safe in
those far regions.
The Grayling was stanch yacht, but
rather understood for a cruise so far
from port. When the wind struck her
she danced lightly In the choppy seas.
but as the storm developed she grew
troubled and frightened.
DOSSleS TecONeTeu re-
verish delirium and was rational. He
heard the storm and found an atom of
consolation in it. He relieved his mind
of the weight pressing upon 1t.
For a night and day the yacht drift
| ed. Then in the blackness of the Sec
| ond night the vortex Of the frightful
storm was reached. with the craft III
| prepared to meet II.
The forward watch reported break
ers ahead, and the jagged outline Of
rocks was seen In the distant back
ground. The Grayling was drifting
steadily toward them. 1t was a matter
Of an hour before she would strike.
Annette heard the summons to pra-
pare for the worst. The two boats
which were left would hold the crew
and passengers, and there was no alter.
native but to trust their lives to the
tender mercies Of the breakers in them
Goggles, you must rise and go with
me-" Annette said. 'Ill lead you.
| We're drifting on the rocks"