The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1918-06-29

| Hin, some rope endS, ana the Spl1ntered
handle Of a paddle"
"Well, what more do we want? That
means sail, If we can make hole in
one of the thwarts to step mast. How
much cloth is there?"
Two or three yards"
"Pass it back here; good, solid stuff
that. Now, Miss Vera, what are your
discoveries?"
She looked up quickly, her eyes
sparkling in the dim CLEAN of the Ian
tern.
"a bag Of sea-biscuit, a small beaker
of water, insipid, but sweet, some
strong cord, and brad awl."
Lord" exclaimed. this is almost
too good to be true. Why, we are out
fitted for a voyage. However, there is
little use endeavOring to rig up jury
mast before daylight. when we know in
which direction to steer. McCann, you
haven't been overheard, and, no doubt,
your watch runs what time is it?"
He fumbled about and found the
timepiece, staring ut it in amazement.
Must have stopped, Hollis" he said.
mo, by jove, the thing is running all
right; the hands point to / 30"
That's about the hour. The COLI
sion occurred before eight bells, or
else Seeley would have been on the
bridge, instead Of aft by the cabin.
Have you any idea who was saved?"
Il heard the captains voice back
there under the awning, ordering out
the boats, and after l was caught under
that wreckage Darlington came up
from below and climbed along the rail.
l called to him, but he paid no atten-
ton; there was considerable noise
then, and he might not have heard
me-"
Vera was leaning forward listening.
did Mr.. Seeley leave in the boats"
she asked. "Was he hurt?"
I tried to stop him from answering
by gesture of my hand. but the man
was gazing out over the port quarter,
and saw nothing.
"Seeley-the second mate? No, he
didn't get away. The same spar that
got me, caught him, and he never spoke
after that; seemed like nice fellow,
too"
Her face was like marble in the lamp
light.
"He was killed! Then it was be-
cause he was killed he did not unlock
my door; IL am glad know"
She buried her face in her hands.
and sat there motionless. There was
nothing I could do, or say, for had
no conception as to what the man was
to her-lover, husband, father. friend7
Truly only the last relationship APP
peared possible. for seemingly there
could be no closer ties between the
two. They were clearly not Of the
same Glass;. yet the girls sorrow was
evidently real and genuine.
To relieve my mind, compelled Nc
Cam to pick up panakin, which had
lodged under a thwart, and bail out
the boat. He crept about, grumbling to
but did fairly good job. As
no water Oozed in through the seams,
we were soon floating with much
greater buoyancy. the planking under
foot rapidly drying.
The night was dark and thick, but
without rain. My wet clothes chung
to me in discomfort, yet I had
no reason to fear evil results, as the
air was warm, and the salt water had
Its own virtue. It was a gray, CHASTITY
the sky overcast, the great
surges bearing down upon US, ever rae
Ing toward our little cockleshell, ter
rifying in their aspect. The sharp bow
Of the dinghy rose to them buoyantly
enough, but the broad expanse Of trou-
bled waters stretching all about. the |
black, cloud shadows overhead, and !
the little boat in which we were tossed.
combined to bring to me feeling akin |
to despair. The only hope was the |
possible overhauling Of some passing |
ship. but the lowering sky scarcely en-
abled me to see clearly q hundred |
yards, even in the light Of the gray |
lawn. A rescuing vessel might easily |
pass us by within q quarter Of mile
unseen, nor had we any means Of at
attention. I confess that, sit
ing there In loneliness, staring about
nto the grim expanse Of fog and sea, I
iell into q blue funk. Nor was I
greatly heartened when the sun finally
'ose above the horizon, for It was no
more than q sullen red glow, barely
7isible through the clouds Of vapor,
md only rendering more CHASTITY than
.ver the heaving leagues Of ocean.
My glance turned downward to my
In the boat McCann still
'lept. with head pillowed on his arm,
,ut the woman lay with her eyes wide
,pen, looking upward at the drifting