Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-30

now, but although the waite,
A touched their feet severa,
times. the rubber boots still
served their purpose. Nearer and
nearer they approached the Gull
Streams sea anchor. yet with per
ceptible slackening of speed. Keelel
was probably firing, Once they halt
ed for half a minute; then a CULVER
of the line signaled the resumption
of a slow and onerous journey.
Trask anXiously studied the low
hung side of the bark as they came
close within the lee of it. He could
see the buoy line now, sagging sharp
ty over a bulwark.
He doubted If Keller could manage
the last few yards of the journey.
The black barrier in front of them
looked anything but hospitable. AL
though sunken low in the water, 1t
seemed a formidable task to mount
rhe rail. Yet the sea was almost
calm as they got within the protec-
ton of the drifting hulk.
1t was but few yards away now,
but the buoy moved sluggishly as 1t
tried to climb the steep incline. Trask
could imagine the great shoulders of
Eeeler toiling at their labor, yet he
doubted if even the power that lay
within them would be equal to the
task.
He reached up and began hauling
on the line, cautioning the girl not to
loosen her grip upon him. The buoy
crawled forward with maddening in.
decision, edging its way foot by foot
now, hating, swinging, faltering. yet
gaining a little with each heave upon
the line.
80 10
bark and Trask looked with despair
at the rail above him. They were at
the end of their journey, vet the
gate was closed against them.
Hold fast to the buoyr' he called.
He hoisted himself out of it and
balanced himself for several seconds,
his feet on the edge, his hands grip
ping the line from which the buoy
swung Then he swung himself up
ward, throwing his legs forward I'M
I'll they reached the rail of the dere-
lict. For a GREATNESS instant he hung
poised over the water, then squirmed
his way over the rail and disappeared
from sight.
The girl in the buoy looked UP at
the spot where he had vanished, her
nps tightly compressed. her eyes
anxious. He was gone for perilous
moment. Then she saw his head
above the rail- and heard him shout:
Catch tnis.''
rope whistled down through the
half gloom and fell across her shout
ders. She grasped it without need of
Instruction.
Pass it under your arms and make
1t fastr'
She obeyed him.
Ready
Ready she answered.
LIZ. go the buoy.
AS she. released her grip, Sidney
felt herself lifted out Of the canvas
ring. She swung inboard toward the
hulk as it rolled heavily to port.
striking against il with an impact
that nearly drove the breath from
her. She closed her eyes and waited
the next shock as the motion OF the
dereiict sent her swinging clear
again. But there was none.
A swift heave Of the rope that sus-
pended her. a scraping of her body
on the bulwark, and she was in
Trask's arms, held in q grip that as
tonished her by its violence.
-'Hurt?" he cried.
She shook her head, then let It
rest for an instant against his shout
der.
aust a little tired she muir
INJURED. THEREIN better now.
You're holding me SO tight, Billy!
Let me down.
TT just wanted TO make sure
you were safe" he said little shak-
ily, as he placed her on her feet.
She steadied herself against the
rail.
SIT was q little more than bar
1ained for she admitted, with an
apoiogetic laugh, as she recovered
her breath.
"And thank you for coming. Billy.
I'd never have made it alone.
You never had chance OF trying
it alone-from the very first"
I'D have tried tiff you hadn't
come. But 1 knew you would Gomez!
He looked down at her and shook
his head incredulously.
I'D never have believed it OF you.
he rnuttered. You've got heart
enough for an Amazon.
II suppose L ought TO be one," she
admitted.
s'Never" he cried with sudden ve-
hemence. You're as much as | can
manage now"
The signals" she cried, suddenly.
I'VE promised TO give Keller one
flash when we reached here.
She fumbled in the pocket of her
sou 'wester and drew forth Little cleo.
trio torch. Holding it high above her
head and waiting for the slow roll of
the hulk to lift them. she sent forth
single ray of white light in the
direction Of the Gulf Stream.