The Pulaskian., 1917-10-05


 tinued to glare at us with one eye open in sullen insolence.
 The sun blazed down upon us out of clear sky, glistening along the foam of racing waves, but, as noon ap- preached, the southern sky became misty, the clouds increasing in den- sity until we could see only few hundred yards beyond our bow. It was not q storm cloud, and brought with it no fear of disaster. but com pletely plotted out the horizon, and gave dark, sullen gloom to the sur rounding waters.
 It must have been three o'clock when McGann suddenly gave vent to startled roar, strengthening to his knees, and pointing straight ahead into the smother. I stared, but saw nothing except the grotesque forms assumed by the whirling mist. but Vera leaned out over the side, shading her eyes.
 "What is it?" I asked sharply. Make a report, man!s
 "A ship yonder!" he shouted. but 0lllOub SdW IL plainly enough, but it has gone now"
 q see it, Mir. Hollisl' the girl cried excitedly. Right out there through that lane of mist-its big steamerp
 Straight aheadY
 "Just little this way--there you can see her now!"
 I did, mere glimpse, instantly obs seured. but visible again moment later. McCann was on his feet, ges- tieulating wildly.
 s'Now, d. youp' he shouted, "put us on board there, and I'll show you who am. You brute, I dare you to put us on board
 "Sit downi" ordered. "Now, keep still, and stand by with that rope. I'll put you aboard all right, but until do, you will obey what l say, or go into the water"
 took my eyes off him, and stared at the vessel, conscious instantly that something was wrong. She was ap- parently a big steel freighter, four thousand tons I guessed, her water line showing a heavy cargo, and her bows red with rust where the black paint had disappeared. The foremast was broken off at the tops, remaining q great splinter, and where the bridge and wheelhouse ought to be there was piled mass of wreckage, showing black above the bulwarks. A wheel had been rigged aft on the poopdeck, and there alone I saw evidence of hu- man beings on board. One fellow stood gripping the spokes, while another leaned motionless against the rail fac ing forward. Neither one saw us, al though I swung my hat, and sent a hail across the intervening water. The girl glanced back into my face.
 "What is the matter with them, Mr. Hollis?" she asked. "Is something wrong?"
 sI am afraid so; their foretop mast is down, and it looks as though it had smashed the bridge and wheelhouse when it fell. They have rigged up an emergency wheel aft. Can you make out her name?"
 
 "No regular liner-probably a tramp. never saw tunnels painted like that before, and she shows no flag. How ever, any port in storm"
 stood up, following my hands.
 "Ahoy there! Indian Chief ahoy !"
 The man leaning on the after rail turned, and gazed down at us, shading his eyes, and the heads of half dozen others bobbed up above the forward bulwarks. I could see the fellow aft plainly now, a broad, stockily built man, with extremely red face, wearing overalls, and woolen shirt, open at the throat. In appearance there was nothing of the officer about him, yet it was his voice which finally answered my hail. sending a deep, roaring note across the waters.
 "Hullo, there. Who are yer? From some ship close by?"
 'sWe are passengers from the Ameri- can yacht Esmeralda, sunk in collision two nights ago, and have been afloat ever since. Can you take us aboard?"
 aooChSC1o, JOu say All Ol JSA passengers"
 "Yes."
 He turned, and spoke to the man grasping the wheel, tall, loose-jointed fellow in straw hat and pink shirt. There was moments argument be- fore he returned to his position at the rail-
 q dunno as yer would be much bet ter off along with us than yer are thar in the dinghy" he called indifferently. For, in a manner O speakin', we're no more than a wreck. I reckon thar ain't no one among yer who knows how to navigator"
 l stood up, following my hands to make my voice carry more clearly.
 "That is not very sailorlike speech my friend" I shouted, yet striving to conceal anger. 'But as you put hu- manity on those terms, I'll answer you. have been in the merchant service, and commanded ships"