Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-03


darkness to where Runnells. who
after stopping the engine, had
sprung forward from his seat, was
now cropping around beneath the
pie Oh luggage.
"A reef. chr cried Captain Fran
els Newcombe, cooliy. Well. We
got over it. We're in deep water
again. Carry on"
Runnelrs voice came back full of
fear.
We're done. we are" he mumb!ed.
Il stopped the engine the minute
she hit. but she had too much way
on her-thats what carried her
over. She's Dashed a hole in her
the size Of your head. she won't
fioat fiye minutes"
start her ahead again, then"
Captain Francis Newcombes voice
snapped now
1T won't do any good" Runnells
answered. as he stumbled back 10
his former place. She won't any
where near make the shore-it's half
a mile at least
quite So" said Captain Francis
New combe. But, in that case, We
wont have SO far to swim"
The engine started up again.
1t amt as though we didn': know
there was reefs"-RunneIls was slut
tering his words-"only we'd figured
with our light draft We wouldn't
any more than scrape one. anyhow,
and IL wouldn't do US any harm.
But she's rotten. that's what she is
plain rotten and putty, And we
must have hit a sharp ledge OF rock.
Gawd. we've a foot OF water in us
Eow!"
Yes" said Captain Francis New
combe, calmly. We'll. don't blubber
about It! Wen get ashore-und
we'll get away again. There's half
dozen skiffs and things of that
sort slowed away in the boathouse
that are never used now. One of
! them will never be missed. and We
can at least get far enough away
from the island by daybreak not TO
DO seen. and eventually Wen make
tho other side. even II it Is a bit of
a row."
Row" calculated Runnells.
/'Ies," said Captain Francis New
combc. curtiy. Why not-since we
/ have TO? We can't steal a motor
! boat whose loss would be discovered,
| can We"
My Gawd." said Runnells.
ne water was SIOSIiHS dlOunu
/ Captain Francis Newcombe's feet:
! the boat had already grown per-
! ceptiblv sluggish in its movement.
| lie east an appraising eye toward
! the land. 1t was almost impossible
! to judge the distance. Runnclls
! had said half mile a few minutes
| ago. Call it a quarter of mile
now. But Runnells was quite right
i in one respect; it was certain now
| that the boat would Scuttle before
| the shore was reached.
How far can YOU swim. Run
nells?" he demanded. abruptly.
1t amt that" choked Runnells.
| Il can swim, all right; its"
| ut was just matter OF whether"
| your body would be washed up on
| the shore. which would he equally
as bad as though the boat stranded
| there for the edification of our
| friend Locke" drawled Captain
| Francis NewCombe. But, since
| you can swim that far and since
the boats got to sink, let her sink
| here in deep water. where she won't
keep anybody awake at night Won
dering about her-or us. Stop the
engine again"
But the luggage" said Runnells.
t"
II Will SILK OUT OF slant quite
| readily. but run q rope through the
handles and lash the stuff to the
/ boat so it won't drift ashore-ycs.
| and ANYTHING else that's loose" said
Captain Francis Newcombe. tersely.
Il can't swim n quarter of n mile
with portmanteaus, Stop the en-
CINE"
strike me pink" said tunnels,
family. as he obeyed and again
stumbled forward to the luggage.
Captain Francis Ncwcombe sat
down aud began to unlace his boots.
The water was nearly level with
the bottom of the scat.
Hurry up, Runnells," he called.
IT'S all right" said RunnelIs.
after a moment.
Take Your boots off then, and
sling them around your neck"
ordered Captain Francis Newcombe.
Yes" said Runnells.
Captain Francis Newcombe stood
up and Invested himself of a light
rainco3t lie had been wearing.
From the skirt OF the garment he
ripped off generous portion. and.
taking out his revolver and flash
light wrapped them around and
around with the waterproof cloth.
The coat itself he thrust into an al
ready water filed locker under the
seat, where it could not float away.
Ready, Runnells?" he inquired.
Yes said Eunnclls.
come on, then" said Captain
Francis NewComhe.
The gunwale was awash as he
struck out. \ dozen strokes away
as he looked back, the boat had dis
appeared He cursed sullenly under
his breath: then laughed defiantly
1t would take more than that to
heat shadow Narnc.
Runnells swan steadily at his
side.
Presently they stepped out on the
shore.
up and down the beach, as he seat
ed himself on the sand and began to
pull on his boots.
We're a bit off our bearings.
Runnells," he said. Il couldn't see
any sign of the boathouse even
when | was swimming in. And |
can't see IL now. Which way o.
you think it is?"
Runnels was also struggling
with wet boots.
We're too far up he answered.
Il thought | had it about right, but
l figured that IL | didn't quite hit
it. it would be safer to he on this
side than the other. so we wouldn't
have TO pass either the wharf or the
house in getting to it,
Good. commented Captain
Francis Newcombe. Wen walk
back that way, then"
They started on along the beach
For perhaps half a mile they walked
IN silence. and then. rounding little
point. the ooathouse came into