The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-02-28

when thet big iron pot sunk Is more'n
enybody but God could tell. We just |
couldn't do nuthin' but Just hang on.
We wus way up there, sir, scrapin'
the clouds, an then down In n hollow |
that seemed mile deep; an when we
come up out o. that, there you was, sir,
shootin' out o. the waves straight at |
us. The girl. she saw you an
screamed: she'd have gone over after
yer, II l hadn't grabbed her, an then |
Red he got boat hook inter the collar
of yer jacket, an we hauled yer In |
over the SIDE"
''That must have been hours ago"
"Quite a spell. sir. Something he'd
hit yer head. an II bled n bit. The
young lady has been a-holdln' yer on
her lap ever since; she tore her
skirt"
"Never mind that. Mr.. Leayord." she
interrupted. I'VE all OF us did what we
could. Olson, will you pass back n
biscuit and a water bottle; Captain
Hollis will regain strength II he has
something to eat"
smiled Mt her. and accepted the
biscuit.
"How are we fixed on food7 only
want my share"
"We have had one apiece there were
two bags thrown In; we can thank Nc
Cam for that, the poor devil"
The memory Of that spectacle Of hor-
ror witnessed on the blazing deck
came suddenly back to me, and hid
my eyes, every muscle Of my weakened
body trembling. felt Vera's arms hold
me tight.
"what Is It. Robertf You are in
painr
"No: the suffering was mental, not
physical. IL saw McCann's death;
that was what held me on board SO
long. Bascom got him; they-they
went down together fighting in each
others arms. in a sheet OF flame. No
words can picture the horror Of 1t.
Let's not talk Of that any longer. IL
must keep my mind"
"Yes. dear. we will not talk Of It,"
tenderly. "Our own situation is sure
ly bad enough; you must tell the men
what to do"
lifted myself. strengthened by the
appeal. eager to be diverted.
'"The boat IL taking In waterr
"Not q great deal. sir; she is SO deep
loaded some splashes over the gunwale.
We're all right SO long as the sea keeps
like II Ii now"
"Are you steering by compass"
"No. sir, by sun. Just naturally
headed west; that's the nearest coast,
reckOn7 Are these fishing seas. sir?"
"The best In the world. I've often
read Of dory crews being lost in the
winter fog. and yet making land In
spite Of the storm and cold. II they
can do II In such weather, there is no
call for us to give up while the boat
floats. The first Job should be to rig
sail: there is one oar leftf"
"Aye, sir, and paddle"
"Good enough. Red, cut a hole In
|, that forward thwart with your sheath
knife; not too large now. Any can
: vas aboardf"
"Only these strips"
they'll do for stays, and to make
., secure. The sail will have to be shirt
!, Olson. how about yours?"
He peeled II Off without word. and
helped me fasten II to the orr blade
II was rough bit Of work, yet served
the purpose, and when we had stepped
, the improvised mast. bracing It as best
, we could with the paddle. and the ont.
. spread garment bellied out In the fair.
! ly fresh wind. the sight put new heart
= into all Of us. could but note the fel.
lows staring at II, and then at the
q rushing green water alongside, as
a though calculating our progress. Nc
!. doubt II was small enough, yet the
!. very knowledge that we were moving
: at all tended to bolster our courage
!. and arouse hope.
I There was nothing more to be done
q the boat rode fairly steady, and one
n man could easily keep her clear OF
A water. The others disposed them
a selves as best they might, occasionally
/ exchanging word or two, but mostly
n staring about at the expanse of sea
q Leayord hung On to the tiller, while
v held to Vera's hand, and we spoke II
low voices for each other alone.
q "What a mistake we made when W,
chose this VOYAGE" l SAID regretfully
@ ut has brought only hardship ant
L peril"
II do not regret" and her eyes gazet
It frankly into mine. "Truly l do not
. There was no other way for us to know
and love. Robert. II this was the end
% I should be glad Of my choice. woul,
e rather 60 down here in these water
E. clasped In your arms, than to be com
d PEELED to live on In the world withou
IS you."
Is MY sweetheart; but will no
h imagine such fate. We have strug
d gled on through too much to have tn
10 end come In this desolate ocean. W.
must win-the Newfoundland coast 4
q, not SO far away, and these are sailor
g with US. You trust, and love met"
% "With all my heart"