The Elbert County tribune., 1918-04-05
CHAPTER vlI-contInued.

However. our conversation lapsed at
iast, through sheer WEAKNESS on my
part. had been at the steering oar
30 long, staring out into that drear ex-
panse OF ocean aud sky. that every
muscle of my body ached. and my eyes
could scarcely be forced to remain
open. In the silence she must have no
ticed this. for she exclaimed suddenly:
"Why. / never thought you must be
nearly dead with fatigue. Let me take
the oar while you Sleep"
II am afraid 1 shall have to-" ad-
mItted. -for l must keep awake to-
night. You feel competent7"
"Why. of course; you saw me steer.
If anything goes wrong l can call you
easily enough. Please lie down for
few hours"
looked about. permitting her to
grasp the oar. and slip into my seat.
Really l feel as If / must" 1 said
regretfuliy. "and there can be no dan
ger while things keep as they are. Call
me. though, IL there is a change in the
weather, for that jury mast will never
stand any weight of wind"
Il promise; but am better boat
man than you think"
i must have slept for several hours
undisturbed, for. when finally opened
my eyes once more the sky above us
was beginning to turn purple with twj-
light, and the breeze had failed, so that
the sail tapped idly against It's impro-
vised mast. This. perhaps, was the
noise which had aroused me. / sat up
wide awake instantly, and stared about
me in the boat. There was little
change noticeable; Miss Vera still
.elung to the steering oar, showing no
outward signs Of weariness. and greet
ed me with q smile and nod of the
head but McCann had moved forward,
and sat playing Idly with an open jack
knife.
II bear testimony that you slept well.
Mr.. Hollis" the girl said cheerfully.
II did not realize untils I lay down
how weary was," replied, adopting
Der manner, "but really you had no
right to let me lie SO long. Why. I
must have been sleeping three or four
hours, and you will be tired out"
"Oh. no: 1t was no trick at all. The
wind kept steady until just few mo-
ments ago, aad do not feel In the
least fatigued."
"And you have seen nothing? no
smoke. no sail?"
She shook her head. her eyes grown
grave.
mot thing; we seem to be abso-
lutely alone In the immensity of the
sea-just one great wave after the
other. lit gets on my nerves."
at certainly does; such a sight has
driven more than one insane. But
what does this mean7 Why is the bis.
cpit bag out here?"
I pointed to the bottom of the boat
beyond her feet. Her eyes met mine
her answer made in a whisper.
"He-he crept back here while was
adjusting my oar, and took two"
''McCann?"
Eyes. he had the bag before 1 no
decd. and thought 1t best not to anger
him then. for he held that open knife
IN bis hand"
~You should have called me-"
1.-The mischief was done before l hat
any time. Besides I knew you needed
the sleep. What are you going to dor
1 smiled bit grimly, glimpsing hin
beneath the sail.
II am about to give Mr.. Fergus Nc
Cam. late of New York. little speci
men of sea discipline which hope ma,
last him for the remainder of this voy
age" replied quietly. ''Hold the boa
steady. Miss Vera. and leave me to at
tend to this degenerate son of wealth.
/ crept forward. scarcely jarring thu
frail craft. and was beyond the jur,
mast before the fellow had aroused
sufficiently from his knife play even tt
note my approach. He stared at me In
solently. leaving the keen blade trem
bling in the plank.
'McCann." began, wasting no tint
IN preliminarles, lifting myself on on,
knee, and facing him, "the young lad,
says you took advantage of my beini
sound asleep to help yourself to bis
cults; Is that so7"
"welI, what II didf WAS hungry
$50 am I; SO no doubt is the lady
for the matter Of that Hunger u nj
Justification for stealing. You wers
not starving; you received exactly tn,
same share we did More than that,
havs assunped command OF this boat