The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-02-01


! Sue Stocking. leaning down, SHOOK
him hard.
Have you lost your ,wits?" she CRIED
angrily. She turned on her father
Hes wet he's been in the wa
ter.
Norman pushed away her hands
His heart thumped from her shaking
tie looked down at his legs. their flesh
creeping still where the body of the
dog had touched them. 81 saw dog T.
ne cried again. There's a boat on
the reef. Dog washed ashore A dog
A hairy dogl Deadl And three
lightsl A live boat. smashing on reef
Saw her, plainl Dog ashore -
Norman stopped, painting, and GOV.
cred his eyes. Sues expression was
merciless. E53C &c no. s
well, I'll be sunk me'sel' r. The
Keepers voice hardened as he glared
at his assistant. He yanked his sou'-
wester down from its peg, hooked the
lantern on his arm, and buckled the
oilskins at his neck. ~ ni
you keep the fire goin' here, gal, "a
ne directed Susan sternly. Get up,
Erickson, and come along. Sutton.
your boat. Your boat, drat YEP
Sutton's face, which had been white
as canvas began filling with color, now
that he knew it was not the Kitty K.
He leaped after Stocking.
BEST take the skiff, Sam1," he
cried as he plunged through the door.
THAT sea'll bust up a power boat
we kin carry in 4 line =. +.
sure, we can do It'll
Captain Stocking came back to the
fog shack, squalling: "You go tell the
coast guard. Erickson RUM Never
mind the phone Lines blowed down
by now. Sutton and l will start in
the skiff |"
"You go with my fatherT Susan
cried. there's room in that skiff for
three"
Norman arose, his knees like milk.
TEL the coast guard?" he repeated
He could not meet Sues hard steady
face. He tried to follow the keeper.
I'D rather go with you, sir. -. ="
"The coast guardr' Stocking shout
ed.
Norman staggered through the door,
that swung banging behind him. A
wind like creations fury thrashed
down from the vengeful north. Nor
man plunged headlong through the
sand. A wall of somber fog met his
eyes. Dimly through it he saw at
last the night lantern in the porch
of the coast guard station, the dark
lookout tower, the black closed mouth
of the bOathouse doors. yellow light
shone In lower window. He tripped
across the flower boxes toward it.
The first man he saw as he flung
open the door was the new number
seven, Ed Baker.
Wreck !" Norman cried.
Baker dropped his newspaper and
stared at Norman unbelievingly. From
the room adjoining, Captain Parish
pushed his sharp choppy face through
the doorway.
"Call !" Baker shouted. "Callr
"Where? Parish demanded.
Ed Baker pointed to Norman. The
assistant keeper was choking for
breath.
"Wreck Blind Mans Teeth
:" he chartered. "smaIl boat, dog
washed ashore"
Captain Parish whipped around, his
jaw tighter.
Anderson" he shouted, "you go tell
my wife, then run for Carlson, patrol
south. Quick, man. Got CALI Get
Shay down from the tower, Baker,"
He gave his orders rapidly. "Where
is this wreck, Erickson? Speak upi
On the Teeth, Ell? Close In? Reach
it with the gun and buoy. maybe?"
He stopped. then gave his own an
swer. "No, can't do thati Agin' the
wind tonight And power o. surf
to bust through launchin' a lifeboat r.
Norman wiped the spray from his
face. In his head rOared frightful
words, sounds. horrid fancies hideous
nightmares resurrected- from his boy.
hood. He heard his fathers old sing
song voice telling terrible stories. St0.
ries of a dog. He heard the wind rat
Ting the handhewn shingles above
the bedroom where he had slept at
home. He saw his mother. saw her
plain as lightning for one CHASTITY mo-
ment. that night old Gustaf beat her
because their boy cried. cried like a
baby over the tale of the schooner
Cortland. 80
I'm short two pairs O. hands," Par.
ish snapped. comes O. leavin' men 60
visitin' with their wivesi You'll have
TO go along with Us, Erickson
need eight men to handle that boat
such night :. you mind the
engine, Bakerl'
The lifeboat bulked astoundingly
large In the confines of her small
| quarters.
Ease off therel" Captain Parish
shouted. watch them blocksl
The big boat moved In her cradle.
slid forward. and upon smooth sure
rollers started toward the shore
against ferocious wrenchings of the
wind The crew held firm hands up-
ON her. Norman gripped the stern.
great roller galloped up the sand.
tripped his legs, yanked the boat,
twisted her spitefully out of the strong
hands that held her. thumped her
| down.
"Heavel' Captain Parish screamed
through the turmoil His mouth
reached close to Norman's ear. The
next wave buried both men to their
| waists.
"HeaveT"
The DO. Shay. on the decking,
| jabhed the beach with a pike pole.
Still another drenching wave.