The Pulaskian., 1917-10-05
CHAPTER vII-continued.

However, our conversation lapsed at last, through sheer weariness on my part. had been at the steering oar so long, staring out into that drear ex- panSe of ocean and sky, that every muscle of my body ached and my eyes could scarcely be forced to remain 9pen. In the silence she must have no, iced this, for she exclaimed suddenly: 'Why. never thought you must be nearly dead with fatigue. Let me take inc oar while you sleep"
 '9 am afraid I shall have to-" ad- nitted, 'for I must keep awake to- night. You feel competent?"
 Why, of course; you saw me steer. If anything goes wrong I can call you easily enough. Please lie down for 'ew hOurs.'
 looked about, permitting her to grasp the oar, and slip into my seat.
 Really feel as if must" I said egretfulIy, "and there can be no dan ger while things keep as they are. Call ne. though, if there is change in the weather, for that jury mast will never stand any weight of wind"
 q promise; but am better boat nan than you think"
 must have slept for several hours lndisturbed, for, when finally opened ny eyes once more the sky above us vas beginning to turn purple with twi- light, and the breeze had failed, so that he sail Tapped idly against its impro- vised mast. This, perhaps, was the loise which had aroused me. sat up wide awake instantly and stared about ne in the boat. There was little .hange noticeable; Miss Vera still flung to the steering oar, showing no outward signs of weariness, and greet d me with a smile and nod of the tead; but McCann had moved forward, nd sat playing idly with an open jack nife.
 "I bear testimony that you slept well, dr. Hollis,''' the girl said cheerfully.
 q did not realize until I lay down iow weary was," replied, adopting fer manner, but really you had no fight to let me lie so long. Why, I aust have been sleeping three or four tours, and you will be tired out"
 "Oh, no; it was no trick at all. The Vind kept steady until just few mo- nents ago, and I do not feel in the east fatigued."
 And you have seen nothing? no TnOke, no sail?"
 She shook her head, her eyes grown rave.
 "Not thing; we seem to be abso- utely alone in the immensity of the iea-just one great wave after the 'ther. lit gets on my nerves"
 "It certainly does; such a sight has srdvea more than one insane. But what does this mean? Why is the bis- .uit bag out here"
 pointed to the bottom of the boat, 'evond her feet. Her eyes met mine, ier answer made in whisper.
 SHe-he crept back here while I was adjusting my oar, and took two."
 "McCann?"
 Yes, he had the bag before I mo- Iced, and thought it best not to anger linn then, for he held that open knife a his hand"
 You should have called me-"
 "The mischief was done before had tny time. Besides knew you needed he sleep. What are you going to do?' I smiled bit grimly, glimpsing him beneath the sail.
 "I am about to give MT. Fergus Nc Gam, late of New York, little speci- nen of sea discipline which hope may asst him for the remainder of this voy- lge," replied quietly. "Hold the boat steady, Miss Vera, and leave me to at tend to this degenerate son of wealth" :" l crept forward, scarcely jarring the frail craft, and was beyond the jury mast before the fellow had aroused sufficiently from his knife play even to hote my approach. He stared at me in- solently, leaving the keen blade trem- bling in the plank.
 "McCann," began, wasting no time in preliminaries, lifting myself on one knee, and facing him, ''the young lady says you took advantage of my being sound asleep to help yourself to bis cults; is that sop
 Well, what if did? I was hungry"
 So am l; so no doubt is the lady, for the matter of that. Hunger is no justification for stealing You were not starving; you received exactly the same share we did. More than that. have assumed command of this boat,