The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1918-07-13

, taken. However. l grant your reques
4 now. although doubt IL he show
i even gratitude. McCann!"
q He lifted his head, and stared at
but without changing attitude.
Here Is your ration. You do not de
serve bite. nor would you receive an.
through me. You owe this to the lad,
catch it now"
He picked the half biscuit up from
the bottom of the boat. where 1t fell al
his feet. and began nibbling at it. like
famished dog. There was no sign OF
thankfulnesS in his action, and he con
tinued to glare at us with one eye open
In sullen insolence.
The sun blazed down upon us out
of clear sky. glistening along the
foam OF racing waves, but, as noon ap-
preached. the southern sky became
misty. the clouds increasing in den
sity until we could see only a few
hundred yards beyond our bow. 1t
was not a storm cloud and brought
with it no fear Of disaster, but COM
pletely blotted out the horizon, and
gave a dark. sullen gloom to the sur
rounding waters.
1t must have been three O'Clock when
Mccain suddenly gave vent to a
startled roar, strengthening to his
knees, and pointing straight ahead into
the smother. stared. but saw nothing
except the grotesque forms assumed by
the whirlinS mist but Vera leaned out
over the side, shading her eyes.
what is it," I asked sharply.
Make report, man.
"A ship yonder!" he shouted. but
without turning his head. II saw 1t
plainly enough, but it has gone now"
Il see it, Mr.. Hollis!" the girl cried
excitedly. fright out there through
that lane Of mist-it's big steamer ="
straight ahead?"
"Just a little this way-there! Won
can see her now!'
did, a mere glimpse, instantly Oh
scured, but visible again a moment
later. Mccain was on his feet ees.
ticulating wildly.
"Now, D. your" he shouted "nut
us on board there, and I'll show Won
who I am. You brute, l dare you to
put us on board"
"Sit down." I ordered. "Now, keep
still. and stand by with that rope. ri
put you aboard all right, but until l do.
you will obey what l say, or 20 into
the water"
took my eyes off him, and stared
at the vessel, conscious instantly that
something was wrong She was ap-
a big steel freighter, four
thousand tons guessed. her water line
a heavy cargo. and her bows
red with rust where the black paint
had disappeared. The foremost was
broken off at the tops, remaining a
great splinter, and where the bridge
ana wheelhouse ought to be there was ,
piled mass of wreckage, showing
black above the bulwarks. A wheel .
lad been rugged aft on the poopdeck. }
md there alone l saw evidence of hu- ,
nan beings on board. One fellow stood ,
the spOkes, while another ;
eaned motiOnless against the rail fac :
ng forward. Neither one saw us, al
hough l swung my hat, and sent a
ail across the intervening water. The
irl glanced back into my face. :,
"What is the matter with them, Mr..
iollis?" she asked. us something g.
,rongy" =
II am afraid so; their foretop mast :,
down, and it looks as though 1t had :,
mashed the bridge and wheelhouse :
hen it fell. They have rugged up an =,
mergency wheel aft. Can you make :;
ut her name?"
1.-THE Indian Chief of Philadelphia" :,
mo regular unexpectedly a tramp.
never saw tunnels painted like that -,
efore, and she shows no flag. How =,
yer, any port in a storm" :.
l stood up. following my hands. -
"Ahoy there! Indian Chief, ahoy 7" =:
The man leaning on the after rail -
rned. and gazed down at us, shading =
s eyes. and the heads Of half dozen
hers bobbed up above the forward =. =.
llwarks. l could see the fellow aft :"
ainly now. broad. stockily built
an. with extremely red face, wearing -
erals. and wooden shirt, open at
e throat. In appearance there was
thing Of the officer about him, vet
was his voice which finally answered yo
hail. sending a deep, roaring note III
ross the waters. We
'Hullo. there. Who are yer? From
me ship close by?" NV
I'VE are passengers from the Amerf- VI
yacht Esmeralda, sunk in collision r
nights ago, and have been afloat
pr since Can Won foko nc hoo.ao, | ii