The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-11-09
CHAPTER VIII,
We SIGHT a Tramp.

of his weapons, had so completely
'cowed the fellow, that / scarcely gave
him another thought. crept back to
the stern, and took the steering oar,
the girls eyes meeting mine question
ingly.
81 could not see all that occurred, be-
cause Of the sail" she said. You dis
armed the MANI"
Eyes, / have his revolver in my
pocket, and the knife also. He win
make no more trouble. Come we will
divide biscuit between Us. and then
It will be your turn 70 lie down"
''But doesn't McCann have any?"
"He has had more than his share al
ready. I'll offer him q swallow Of wa
ter-that's all. l imagine the way his
head feels, he has forgotten all about
being hungry"
you had TO strike him?"
Slightly, a mere tap Of sea d!sci-
pline," and l glanced at my knUckles.
'He was armed, you know, and could
take no chances. There IS no harm
done. Come; are you not tired enough
TO restf'
She glanced up into my face.
you will call me at midnight. If I
fall asleepf"
IF l feel worn out then, and the
sea keeps as IL is, or no worse. There,
take my coat for a pillow. No, really 1
:hal not need 1t; this is an ideal sum-
mer night, but we are out Of the track
of ships"
But do you still believe we will find
oneT
81 have every faith In the world" I
answered heartily, determined TO con-
ceal my doubts. IF the weather holds
pleasant, We should be far enough
south by moning TO be in the north
Atlantic lane between New York and
Liverpool. lie down, and rest, Miss
Vera; there Is no sign OF any storm
brewing, and tomorrow yOull probably
have the deck Of liner under your
feet"
/ know not how much she may have
believed Of what / said but she smiled
me a cheerful goodnight, and lay down
In the bottom Of the boat, my coat fold
ed under her head. She rested there
motiOnlcSs, her face shadOwed by one
arm, and very soon her regular breath
Ing convinced me she slept like tired
child. looked at her shadowy figure
silent in the bows.
What If we should not overhaul a
ship? What if some evil fate would
permit of our floating on unseen? And
there were few eatable biscuits left,
and barely cupful of tepid water. The
thought Of what the end might be near
ly craZed me, as i sat there alone In
the silence and gloom-I could picture
those final hours Of despair, as we lay
starved and helpless In the unguided
boat, the girl mercifully unconscious,
perhaps, and Mccain a gibbering idiot
My God l must stop thinking!
must be a man for her sake; aye, and
retain my self-control so as to do q
mans work to the end.
At midnight the wind was at its
height, and / did not call the girl. as ]
dared not trust her to steer the craft
through such rough water. She slept
undisturbed, not even changing her po-
sitlon, a mere dim outline at my feet
Forward Mccain haG slowed himsel.
away beyond the bow thwart and I
could see nothing Of him under the
blight Of the sail. / was the only one
awake In the leaping boat, fighting It's
desperate way through black waters
under the dull CLEAN of the stars.
The sun had begun to show above
the horizon before the girl finally
awoke, and sat up in the bottom Of the
boat, staring about her with wide-open
eyes, as though startled by the change
in the aspect Of the sea. Finally she
lifted herself to the nearest thwart,
and greeted me reproachfully.
'You have let me sleep all night, and
lying on your coat. You must be tired
nearly to DEATH"
Far from IT,; and we are to be
blessed with another day of sunshine.
Perhaps by afternoon the seq will have