New Britain herald., 1925-05-22

suddenly We don't seem to be gettns any nearer to it."
 Daniel McRae did not reply, His black eyes held a curious gleam as they swept he line of the horizon. He seemed to be thinking of something that could not be put into words 'I don't know, sir he replied lamely But wonder, too.'
 If we could only get one look-Just oner' cried Captain Gorhnm. We would see things we never dreamed of; I'll lay to that"
 He ended with a shrug of his broad shoul' ders and fell to examining broken block, running his finger through the patent bush ing of the sbeave with slow deliberation as though his thoughts were far away. But he did not continue the conversation and the matter dropped until nearly the end of the voyage, when it came up with entire uneIpectedness.
 Day after day the Maybelle cnt down the distance between herself and her home port. Oddly enough considering the time of year--it was now December-the weather continued steadily favorable and the prevR lent westerly winds had in them a south erly shift that helped a good deal The makeshift iib held stanchly and, together with the huge billowing mainsail, helped the brigantine to foot fairly fast, As time went on they came in sight of Sambro near the entrance to Halifax Harbor and the voyage was practically over.
 Martin Gorham gazed with curious emo ton at the rocky headland. from which be knew his arrival was being reported to Citadel Hill, nearly q score of miles up the harbOr. A snowstorm had begun to beat in their faces and the thermometer had dropped to a degree or two below zero Probably it would be late in the afternoon before the Maybee tied gafely to her wharf, But early or late old Martin knew the women folks would be there to wei come the crew that had sailed away with him few weeks before; and the thought was distinctly depressing What could he say to them? And as he wondered his gaze swept over the white-capped ocean, which held so many of his friends in its embrace.
 Presently there came hail from the pilot boat, and Fleming the pilot, came aboard, mufHed to the eyes, his keen hard bitten face alight with pleasure at sight of two old friends Another man in his position might justly had railed at ffte for giving him a brigantine on such day instead of an ocean liner. but Fleming, who came of famous pilot stock, was one of those who play the game for the games 1I mt fDr tha it.
 Now, casting practiced glance about the vessel, he seemed to take in the situation in a flash Some voyage that, Martin '" he said with a slow shake of his head Not boat nor an anchor left!'
 '1'n be glad when 1 see the wharf" old Martin replied
 ''l'll be glad, too, |" said Fleming in turn. Shes beginning to blow great guns and we're on a lee short" He went to the wheel, took it from McRae's hand, Jock eyed the brigantinc few minutes 10 gee how she answered her helm and then looked doubuully over the vhitcnNd ocean dimly visible through binding snow Best take another reef in your mansail, Martin" he said quickly
 Minutes passed and Tho Maybelle slowly worked her way toward the distant wharf. Fog bells were calling hoarsely through the gloom now and the air had grown unbe- lievaby cold. The bow, whipped by foam, became mass of ice, against which the sea slapped with a grinding noise as though it. too, had turned solid Yet still Fleming held her to her course with grim persist cnce. until prudence compelled him 10 come about. And so, the pilot jockeying the brigantiue as a rider race horse the morn ing wore on and the Maybclc had barely gained mile UT two of the many that lay before her.
 Martin Gorham was now at the wheel. hi.
 es half blinded by snow and ice. his hands delcatcly responsive to Flemings call That they would reach their wharf after hard struggle he had not the faintezt shadow of doubt. Meantime, he rather enjoyed the sense of conflict born of the storm. But it was strange. he reflected. that. despite his efforts, he had not been able to win over the rim. Of one thing he was certain: the thing could not be done by mathematics. He had tried that in Santo Domingo and the result had been disappointing And nov be nut the thought from him as inc wheel grew harder and harder to control