The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-09-04

no was eSeleiming with the utmost
enthusiasm and delight 'Lenore.
Il will be regular party-a Joy
ride such as we never took before"
For n moment they wcro silent
lost In their own musings Tho
wind off tho Sound signalcd to
them At tho windows rafting
family like ghost hands stretched
with infinite difficulty from some
dim. far.otf Hereafter IL had late.
ly blown from Bering Sea. and
perhaps Il had a message for them.
Perhaps Il had heard the soon'
ful words they had SPOKEN of the
North--ot tho strange, gray, FOR.
gotten world over which il had
lately swept-but there was no
need 20 tell them that they He'd.
A few days moro would find them
venturing northward. and they
could find out Tor themselves. But
perhaps tho wind had note Of
grim. sardonio laughter az II sped
on in It's eeaselcss journey.
~
Ned planned 10 rise early. but
sleep was heavy upon him when
no tried 20 wakcn. IL was after
10 when no had finished breakfast
and TyRs ready 10 begin active
preparations for tho excursion. Hia
first work. OF course. was TO see
about hiring a schooner.
Ten minutes rido took him to
the office OF his friend. Rex NHrd.
vice president OF great marine.
Quitting establishment. and five
minutes conversation with this sen.
tleman told him all no wanted to
know. Yes. as u happened. Nard
knew OF a corking craft that was
az that moment IN need OF n char
,crer. possibly just tho thing that
Cornet wanted. Tho only difficulty.
Nard explained. was that It was
probably much better schooner
than was needed for casual eXcur.
slona INFO northern waters.
This particular craft was built
FOR q scientific expedition sent out
by one OF the great museums.
Nard explained. "ft isn't Just y
gisherman's scow. She has a nifty
galley and snug little dining sa.
loon. and two foxy little state
rooms for cxtra.tony passengers.
Quito an up-s,aEc little boat. Com.
Portable as any yacht you ever
saw"
"staunch and scawnrthy7'
Man. this big.spec,aclcd OUTFIT
that had u built took Il clear Into
the Arctic saa--aftcr wairua and
polar bear and narwhal and musk
or. and she's Suilt right. I'd cross
tho Pacific IN her any day. Her
present owners bought her with
tho idea OF putting her into coastal
service. both passengers and
freight, between various OF tho 1T
tie far nothern towns. but tho gen.
eral exodus out OF portions OF Alas.
ka has left her temporarily without
Job"
How about cargo space7-
Il don't know exactiy-but II
was big enough for several tona Of
walrus and muak OK skeletons. so
Il ought TO suit you"
What do you think I could set
her for7"
II don't think--I know. was
talking 10 her owner yesterday
noon You can get her for 90
days for s5.000-S75 per for a
shorter time. That includes tho
services Of four men. licensed pilot.
first and second engineer. and a
Niger cook: and gas and oil for
tho motor"
Ned stood up. his black eyes
sparkling with citation, and put on
his hat. Where do l find herr"
Hunt UP olo Knutsen, NJ this
address Nard wrote an instant
on a strip OF paper. The name
Of the craft IS the charon."
The charon! My heavens.
wasn't he the old boy who piloted
the lost souls across tho river
styx? II I were bit supersti-
tious--"
You'd be- afraid you were headed
straight for tho Internal regions.
eli? 1t does seem TO DO tempting
Providence TO rido In a boat with
such name. Fortunately the
average man Knutsen hires for his
crew doesn't know Charon from
Adam. seamen, my boy. arc the
most supcrstitious crowd on earth.
No one can follow the sea and
not be superstltious--dont ask me
why. II gets to them. some way,
inside"
Sorry ! can't stay TO hear lee.
ture on tho subject" Ned turned
toward tho door. Now for Mr..
Knutsen."
Ned drove TO tho designated nd.
dress. found tho owner OF the
craft, and executed a charter after 10
minutes OF conversation. Knutsen