The Elbert County tribune., 1918-04-05

The sun blnzed 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 dem
sity until we could see only a few
hundred yards beyond our bow. 1t
was not a storm cloud, and brought
| with 1t 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 whirling mist. but Vera leaned out
over the side, shading her eyes,
what is itT l asked sharply.
Make a report, manr'
"A ship yonderl" he shouted, but
without turning his head. II saw 1t
plainly enough. but 1t has gone now
Il see 1t, Mr.. Hollis !" the girl cried
exeitedly. Fright out there through
that lane of mist-it's big steamerl"
''Straight ahead?"
Just little this way-thereI you
can see her nowi''
1 did, mere glimpse. instantly OBJ
scured, but visible again a moment
later. McCann was on his feet, ges-
ticulating wildly.
"Now. d you'll" he shouted, "put
us on board there, and I'll show you
who am. You brute, 1 dare you to
put us on board"
"Sit DOWN." ordered. "Now, keep
still, and stand by with that rope. Pll
put you aboard all right, but until do,
you will obey what 1 say, or go into
the water"
/ took my eyes Off him, and stared
at the vessel, conscious instantly that
something was wrong. She was ap-
parently big steel freighter, four
thousand tons guessed, her water line
showing u heavy cargo, and her bows
red with rust where the black paint
had disappeared. The foremast was
broken off at the tops. remaining
great splinter and where the bridge
and wheelhouse ought to be there was
black above the bulwarks. A wheel
had been rugged aft on the poopdeck,
and there alone saw evidence of hu-
man beings on board. One fellow stood
gripping the spokes, while another
leaned motionless against the rail fac
ing forward. Neither one saw us, al-
though 1 swung my hat, and sent
hail across the intervening water. The
| girl glanced back into my face.
"What is the matter with them, Mr..
Hollisr she asked. SIS something
wrong?" l.as
Il am afraid so; their foretop mast
is down. and 1t looks as though 1T had
smashed the bridge and wheelhouse
when it fell. They have rigged up an
emergency wheel aft. Can you make
out her name?"
'1The Indian Chief Of Philadelphia"
mo regular unexpectedly tramp.
I never saw tunnels painted like that
before, and she shows no flag. How
ever, any port in a Storm
l stood up, following my hands.
"Ahoy therei Indian Chief, ahoy I"
The man leaning on the after rail
|
his eyes, and the heads of half dozen
others bobbed up above the forward
bulwarks. 1 could see the fellow aft
plainly now, broad. stockily built
man, with extremely red face, wearing
oyeralls. and wooden shirt, open at
the throat. In appearance there was
nothing of the officer about him, yet
1t was his voice which finally answered
my hail, sending a deep, roaring note
across the waters.
"Hullo. there. Who are yer? From
some ship close by7"
"We are passengers from the Ameri-
can yacht Esmeralda. sunk in collision
two nights ago. and have been afioat
ever since. Can you take us aboard"
Passengers, you say? All of yer
passengers?"
Eyes"
He turned. and spoke to the man
grasping the wheel, tall, loose -jointed
fellow in straw hat and pink shirt.
There was a moments argument be-
fore he returned to his position at the
rail.
Il dunno as yer would be much bet
ter off along with us than yer are thar
in the dinghy" he called indifferently.
"For. in manner O. speakin'. we're no
more than wreck. 1 reckon thar
amt no one among yer who knows how
to navigator"
stood up, following my hands to
make my voice carry more clearly.
'That Is not very sailorlike speech
my FRIEND" / shouted, yet striving to
conceal anger. But as you put hu.
manity on those terms, I'll answer you
1 have been in the merchant service
and commanded ships"
: well? Is that so? Sail, or steam n
LA A