The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-12-14

Swinging THU over his -ahoulder. ham.
pered by the narrowness OF space he
struck again and. again, with all his
strength. until suddenly the lock gave.
and the door burst open.
y He stepped cautiously forward, with
hands outstretched, and his cropping
hngers came in sudden contact with
the cabin wall, which he followed.
circling to the left In this manner n.
succeeded In finally locating the door
opening out on to the deck, and
weaved his way across to the right.
hand stateroom door. It was locked.
the key gone. He must break a way
in; but first he must explain to her
80 as to spare her the sudden fright
OF such an assault. He raped sharply
on the panel
miss Coolidge: you are there, are
you not2'
YES; who is that2" almost a cry OF
delight I'm the voice. "YouAyou have
voice I know"
II am Matthew West; but do no,
ask questions. now. The yacht is goinp
down, and 1 must break this door IN
TO release you. Stand back while +
smash the boards. You hear and un
derstandT
"Yes-yes; lam safely away; hav,
no fear"
A lanterns fiickering light revealed
the weapon he required-a heay,
hatchet, and he snatched It up and
began to splinter the wood with well
directed blows. He worked madly
feverishly. swinging the sharp blad,
with all his strength and skill. goug
ing out great splinters of wood. ant
hnally forcing the lock Ito yield. H
sprang eagerly through the opening
the hatchet still in his grasp, ant
faced her.
An instant both paused, and ther
she cried out In sudden relief .Ob
IL Is really you, Captain West. I know
now. What has happened? How dH
you come to be here?"
Not nOw," he insisted. "Uon't no,
me now. Just come as quick as yor
can. There is no time for anythin,
hut action. Quick; let me take youl
hand"
She permitted him to draw he,
'"'""Sh 'he uoOr on 10 the black de
serted deck. West, bracing himsel,
to the sudden plungine, managed r.
reach the rail. He drew back. sick q,
heart mt the sight of the waves Ian
ping the side almost on n level with
the sloping deck on which he stood.
The sight brought him home as never
before, the drear deadly peril In which
they were. He would find some means
of rescue. he must! He was back in
stantly, grasping her arm.
Quick" he cried. "-ou knew this
yacht; what small boats did she car
ry?"
"Only the one; the .other was SO
warped 1t had heen taken ashore"
WAS there no life-raft2 There must
surely be something of that kind"
Yes, there is; remember now. It
Is forward there, near the engine-room
hatch"
The deck was already sloping to
port in dangerous degree, and West
was compelled to- cling to the rail, as
they slowly made passage, forward
through the darkness He located the
life-raft mt last, securely fastened, to
the side of the deck house, and, ieay-
Ing the girl to hold herself upright
as best she could, began to hack 1t
loose. Working with feverish impa-
thence, he realized suddenly that his
companion had deserted the place
where he had left her and was also
tugging and slashing at the lashings
OF the raft. These finally yielded to
their blind attack. Without the ex-
change of word the two grasped the
sides and showed the thing hard down
against the port rail.
"Wait now," he cried exultantly.
"Stay behind, and brace yourself
against the hatch-cover. I'll get under
meath and lift. Once on the rail the
two of us must shove 1t free over
board"
She understood instantly, and, with
single swift glance at her dimly re-
Vealed figure, West Strengthened up,
bearing the full weight on his shoul-
ders, every muscle strained to the ut
most, as he thus pressed it over inch
by inch across the wooden barrier.
Suddenly the great unwieldy mass slid
forward, poised itself an instant on
The rounded rail- The yacht rolled
sharply to port, ninging both on to
the deck together, but sending the
raft crunching overheard clear of the
side. West grasped Natalie, and
dragged her to her feet, but, even as
he held her in his arms, ready to leap
out into the black water, the shudder-
Ing vessel, with a last despairing ef-
fort, partially righted herself and
staggered OH.
"Can you jump to the raft from the
rail?" he asked. 1T is either that, or
the water. Are you afraid to try?
"Afraid-no. Hold me; yes; that
way, but-but what are you going to
do"
"Follow, Of course; but I shall take
to the water. There are no oars here.
Nothing to use as substitute for
them. I'll have to swim, and push that
old ark as far away as possible. Are
Won ren6y?"