, 1924-10-01

hurry. Do you know where to 60, Miss
Archman?"
Nellie was leaning forward, striving
desperately to pierce the darkness.
NO" she gasped. "I-I-everything
is so dark"
Lucky for us it is! They'd u us
down in no time If they could see us"
me captain looked behind him. port
your helm," he cried. Hard aport !
Quick !"
Nellie did not understand, but she
obeyed the order instinctively and the
BOAT swung round at a right angle
just in time, for as 1t veered its side
grated against a point of rock, and
Nellie saw with a shudder that what
she supposed was a bank of clouds was
a line of low, overhanging cliffs that
edged the shore.
STEADY" ordered the captain.
Now, Carr. two strong strokes and
then lie on your oars and keep quiet"
The boat shot forward with renewed
impetus; then slowed somewhat as the
oars ceased to drive 1t on. But 1t did
not stop. Carr, watching the stars
above the line of cliffs, saw that it was
still moving quietly. I'VE seem to be
in a current" he muttered, almost in
audibly, in the captains ear.
1--WE are. There's a six-mile current
along here, taking us right along. It'll
take us to the place where our party
landed today. If we can get there be-
fore the moon gets over the top of the
mountain we'll probably get away
Watch for the break In the sky line /;
you won't be able to find 1t any other
way. And now we'd better keep
quiet"
The moon shone wildly on the Ell
Rio, but the pursuing boats had passed
into the heavy shadow of the island
and the mountain and were invisible.
The fugitive boat dyifted silently,
guided by the rudder and now and then
by a cautious, almost inaudible move
ment of Captain Bunker's oars.
Abruptly Nellie moved ~uneasily and
looked behind. They're coming this
way" she murmured.
The confused noises Of the p%ursuers'
oars had separated themselves. One
set had grown louder. Between the
strokes the sound of the others could
be heard more and more family. Un-
doubtedly the boats had separated and
one was seeking for the fugitives in
the right direction. And 1t was fast
coming nearer.
Cautiously Captain Bunker urged
the skif on, moving his oars SO silent
ly that the others could scarcely hear
them. Even the drops from the blades
ON the return stroke fell 80 short a
distance they made no sound.
We've got to keep silent" he whis-
pered. "If they hear us they'll catch
us quicker'n lightning. Watch for that
cash in the cliff. We ought to be
mighty near It now"
The pursuing boat was very near.
Feverishly the three in the skin
scanned the ragged line Of cliff that
was beginning to show more plainly
against the sky as the moon. still ris-
ing behind the mountain, cast its sheen
over the sky.
Suddenly Carr moved. There 1t Is"
he muttered.
A cash, rapidly widening, showed in
the sky line. With a swift but eau
tious stroke Bunker headed the boat
Inward.
But Nellie leaned forward with a
gasp. Suppose they are going in.
too" she painted. Suppose they think
we are trying TO join motherf"
"Then they'll catch us. unless we get
ashore and hide" said Captain Bunker,
as he lay back on the oars and heaved
nightly.
Inward the BOAT shot, into a blacker
gloom. Floating silently between the
rocky walls the three dimly saw the
pursuing boat dash across the moutb
Of the cash and heard, above the rat.
tie Of the oars, the voice OF the cox.
swain melting the men to greater eff
forts.
Quickly the sound died as the boat
shot past the edge Of the cash. Then
Bunker drew a long breath. Touch
and gol" he said. plunging his oars In
the water. Come on, CARR They
can't heal us now. Careful. Miss Mel
lie, watch the sky line and try TO keep
us In the middle OF the channel"
Nellie obeyed. She detected the be
ginning OF the curve In the course Of
the detection of the sky line md
steered the boat around the curve and
into the straight way to the beach.
Then she uttered a cry. They're
here" she breathed. Mothers here T.