Charlevoix county herald., 1918-03-22

L Il
had lain by for the ship to go down,
1t was too dark to see them, and sew.
eral deep-voiced "Ahoy" from the cap.
tain brought no response to our ears.
He had swung the boat around to the
surge OF the waves, and what little
wind there was helped us on.
None Of us said anything; was too
busy keeping the heavy oar dipping
In time with the man aft, and perhaps
SO were the other oarsmen. but Blake
was quiet because he was peeved, and
he did not understand. The offer of
his heavy jacket had been rejected by
Isabelle. adding another hurt to his
feelings. Then, too, he had lost his
ship, and that. is somewhat important
to young captain.
! wished Isabelle had taken that
coat. had none to offer her, having
overlooked all apparel save trousers
over my pajamas, and these not only
needed for appearances, but, like ev-
cry other bit of clothing in the boat,
save and only Isabelle's dressing
gown and the captains a-jacket.
they were soaking wet. Blake had
been careful enough to throw his out
er coat In the boat before he leaped, a
thoughtfulness that stood him in good
stead now, for the tropic night was
not tropical. was shivering rowing,
and ! guessed that Isabelle's teeth
were achatter.
However, it was the last OF the
night, and soon streaks of gray dim
med out the stars and gave shape to
the waves, making them seem quite
appallingly large and threatening to
our small boat. Then the sun bobbed
up out of the sea ahead Of us, and
Immediately began its functions of
tropic day, drying out wet clothes
and forcing my bare feet into the
shadow of the thwart.
From being too cold, / became too
hot. and also had blisters forming on
the palms Of both hands. I had not
rowed since my college days, and I
began to think Of the brig manacles,
and bread-and-water without malevo-
lence.
Blake stood up in the stern as the
sun came up and tried to find some
thing of interest on the horizon-bor-
dered sea, looking long under his
hand in every direction. smoothing
doing" he said as he returned to the
tiller, and the words struck me as be-
ing quite unnautical. l tried to think
what would have said in his place,
while my back ached at each stroke of
the oar.
One Of the seaman gave in first; he
wasn't in love with Isabelle. Gap
TAIN" he said, and he stopped pulling;
so did /; I'm bit weak in the shout
ders. May We rest?"
why. certainly, Mr.. Clifton" Blake
responded, and / knew then the sea-
man was not a sailor. 81 forgot you
are not used to an oar. Rest oars"
Reedley gave a great sigh of relief
and began to hum Billie" / dropped
the oar, then lunged for it and caught
II before it slipped quite into the sea.
Clifton asked if any one had cigar
cite, which nobody did, then asked
the captain If he knew where we
were.
I'VE are not fifteen miles from the
coast of Lower California, off San Lu-
cas-" he replied. 1--WE can make land
in a few hours pulling. When you're
ready, lads"
WASN'T ready at all. Isabelle made
q diversion by asking If she might
take the seat in front of the boat,
meaning, of course, the bow thwart.
She asked me, but I let the captain
answer. Certainly" he said gruffly;
then, as she started forward, Trim
boat"
felt sorry for Captain Blake. He
was being as decent as any man could
be, and this young lady's strange and
sudden distaste for his company was
inexplicable. I wanted to tell him
that Isabelle and ! were engaged,
shout it at him down the length of the
boat, but that would not do either. ]
still had the same reasons for not
tangling her up with me, so gave her
only the courtesy Of helping hand
a. she passed to her new place, with
q private added pressure on my own
account.
For half an hour more we rowed,
when Blake discovered a streamer of
smoke on the horizon to the north,
and after study of several minutes,
put the boat about to get into the
course of the approaching ship. She
came up rapidly, and we could soon
see the tunnels and hull Of a steamer
that must pass close to US unless she
shifted her course. 1t was much bet
ter being picked up than to row into
the inhospitable coast of the Califor-
MAN peninsula, not considering Bills
tering palms and aching backs.
"She's somebody's private yacht"
said the captain, rigging his handker-
chief to Reedley's oar for a signal,
"ald that means she may make any
port or none; but we can have her put
US on the Nanaimo." l thought. with
an inner grin, that he wouldn't trans
ship me In irons.
REST oars" he commanded, and we
Iou IN ha % h.