The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-12-16

sculling. TO keep the skis head up 10
the waves. But the weight OF the
cable whirled the little craft around,
a wave rolled in over her counter. and
half-dlled her: the succeeding wave
completed the job and rolled the skin
over and The Squarehead was forced
to swim back to the Chesapeake. He
climbed up the Jacobs ladder to face
a storm Of abuse from Captain Scraggs.
The cable was hauled back aboard
with difficulty. owing to the submerged
skin at the end Of II. Captain Scraggs
and The Squarehead leaned over the
Chesapeake's rail- and tuggod furious
ly. when the wreck came alongside, but
all Of their strength was unequal to
the task Of Fighting the little craft by
hauling up on the light rope attached
to her thwart.
For ten dollars more each me an
Mac'li tail on to that rope an do our
best to right the skiff. After she's
righted. I'll ball her out, borrow new
oars from this here bark. an help Neils
row back to the Maggie with the
cable" Mr.. Gibney volunteered. Cash
in advance, as per usual"
You're a pair Of highway robbers,
but I'll take you" Scraggs almost
walled, and paid out the money;
whereupon Gibney and McGuffey
tailed" on to the rope and with rau-
cous cries hauled away. AS a result
of their efforts, the thwart came away
with the rope and the quartet sat down
with exceeding abruptness on the hard
pine deck Of the Chesapeake.
Il had an idee that thwart would
pull loose" Mr.. Gibney remarked.
"Well, what're you goin' to do nowr
Il amt licked yet-not by joyful"
Scraggs snapped. "Halvorsen. haul
down that signal halyard from the miz-
zenmast, take one end Of it in your
teeth, an swim back to the Maggie
with 1t. Well fasten a heavier line
to the cable, an haul the cable aboard
with the Maggie's winch"
You say that so nice, Scraggsy, old
hopeful, I'm tempted to think you can
whistle 1t. Nells, he's only askin' you
to risk your life overheard for nothing.
'Tain't In the shippin' articles that a
seaman's got to do that. If he wants
a swimmin' exhibition make him pay
for it-through the nose. An II
was you. I'd find out how much O. this
two thousand dollars t0wage he's goin'
to distribute to his crew. Pers'nlly
I'd get mine In advance"
"Adelbert P. Gibney," Captain
Scraggs Kissed. There's such q thing
as drivin' man to distraction. Hal
vorsen, are you with meT
"Aye bane-for saxty dollars. Hay
bane worth a months pay for take
dat SWIM"
"You dirty Scowegian migrate. Well,
you don't get no sixty dollars from me-
Bear hand and We'll drop the ships
work boat overheard. guess you can
tow signal halyard to the Maggie,
can't you, Neils?"
Neils could--and did. Within fifteen
minutes the Maggie was fast to her
| prize. Now Wen cockbill the an
Choir" quoth Captain Scraggs, so Nc
Guffey reporting sufficient steam in the
donkey to turn over the windlass, the
anchor was raised and cockbilled, and
the Maggie hauled away on the hawser
the instant Captain Scraggs signaled
his new navigating officer that the
| hook was free Of the bottom.
1.-THE old girl don't seem to be max
in Roadway in the right direction" Nc
Guffey remarked plaintively. after the
Maggie had strained at the hawser for
five minutes. Mr.. Gibney, standing
by with hammer in his hand, nodded
affirmatively, while the skipper of the
Chesapeake, whom Mr.. Gibney had had
the forethought to carry out on deck
to watch the operation, glanced appre-
hensively ashore. Scraggs measured
the distance with his eye to the near
est fringe of surf and it was plain that
he was worried.
Captain Scraggs," the skipper of
the Chesapeake called feebly, "Mr.
Gibney is right. That craft Of yours
is unable to tow my ship against this
wind. You're losing ground, inch by
inch. and it will be only a matter of
an hour or two, II you hang on to me,
before I'll be in the breakers and q
total loss. You'll have to get sail or
her or let go the anchor until a tug
arrives"
Il don't know thing about sailin'
ship Scraggs Quavered.
II know 1t ALL" Mr. Gibney cut in
but there amt money enough in the
world to induce me to exercise that
knowledge to your profit" He turned
to the master Of the Chesapeake. "For
one hundred dollars each, McGuffey
an I will sail her in for you, SIR"
"rll not take the risk, Mr. Gibney
Captain Scraggs, If you will follow my
instructions we'll get some sail on the
Chesapeake. Take those lines through
the leading blocks to the winch"
The engineer Of the Maggie came ur
on deck and waved his arms wildly
Lego" he bawled. I've blown GU,
two tubes. It'll be all can do to &c,
home without that tow"
Jump on that, Scraggsy," quoth Nc
Guffey softly and cast his silken en-
~~.t.