The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-03-15
CHAPTER XIII
Gustafs Boat

Gustafs Boat
Captain Stockings equinoxial gal.
ripped a day early across the five
wide inland seas With the gray of
dawn. the wind settled into q tense
unyielding vehemence. taut as q
drawn wire.
Norman had steered with a skillful
rudder since two o'clock. Under the
rocky head of Battle Ak island. with
IT'S stone light tower, he pulled open
the trap to the cabin IAN right?"
be cried
I'm SICK" the physician confessed
terribly sick"
They went ashore at dawn from the
lighthouse dock Up the beach the
surfman on watch al Battle Ak coast
guard station thrust his head out of
the tower window ITS the Corri-
gans that's hurt One boy died in
the night. Best stop in and rest
minute. I'll call up the town :.
it's two-mile walk agin' the wind.
There's coffee on the stove"
Thanks" the doctor answered,
(which wayf They'll give me coffee.
You stay here and dry of. Erickson"
Norman slept three hours behind the
stove In the Battle Ak kitchen. At
two O'Clock Mccarthy tramped in
"AIl set?" he asked. SORRY 1 was
so long, Erickson. Awful to see chill
dren hurt that way. I'd take 'em
over TO the mainland to the hospital
If ii weren't for this storm.
He waved toward the window.
"Nobods takes of tonight" the
keeper said.
Nobody? 1 have to 60 back. I've
another emergency case waiting over
there"
You can't go In thisI" He laughed
at the doctors ignorance. "Nothin'
the size o. that tub out there could
keep afoat. Blows making harder
every minute"
Mccarthy looked across inquiringly
at Norman.
"What about it?" he asked.
I've gas enough" Gustaf Erick-
SON. son answered. I'm ready"
The keeper became angry. Il won't
leave your he cried. "Tll leave no
man go drown of my pointI"
"We won't drown" the doctor as
sured him, -Erickson's a seaman"
A seaman! Norman buckled on his
sou'wester and slicker and stepped
out to the blasty beach.
You're crazyT' the ight-kee per
screamed.
The doctor ran after Norman. sri
stand outside with you this time" he
shouted
Gustafs boat spun, burrowed under,
mounted high Unexpectedly, shook
herself like mettlesome horse, slid
astern off the hunched backs of roll
ers. An hour they worked southeast.
Then Norman's ear bent toward the
cabin. His planted feet measured the
thud of the engine
shes missing" he cried TO Ne.
Carthy, -engine's missing!"
He lifted the trap Ia the cabin roof,
dragged the doctor after him and
damned the hatch cover back on. At
that moment the engine sputtered and
stopped. The boat, with mischievous
antics, thrashed across the seas She
dfved, her blunt, unIovely bow bur-
rowing closer and closer TO the bot
tom.
And with no reason, for no apparent
cause, she leaped up each time and
rode free. Down In the cabin Nc
Carthy of Copperhead sprawled on the
deck boards, holding with fingers that
ached and bled.
Had the night on deck been dark
here below the biackness was solid
Norman flung over the fywheel. The
motor gave small gasp the first time
and stopped. unreasonable as death
"It's the sparkT' he screamed to-
ward Mccarthy. Those wires
They're loose somewhere. Give me
hand? A hand, : sayl"
McCartLg's head brought up with
a thud against the engine block. and
the doctor collapsed
"No time for him now" Norman
muttered-
He sought the tool box. Rummag-
ing In the neavins dark, he found the
fash lamp and poured its beam on the
engine. The wiring hung useless, so
far as be could see. On it. he
wasn't a mechanic; wasn't mechanic
any more than ht was a seaman.
What was be doing out mere on the
lake In a storm for which Parish
daren't spare q man?
Ii dill no good to make one wire
fast. Each time be thought ii tight,
his own body, lurching forward.
swept away at least half of his work.
Twice be stopped entirely and waited
for the whole iaunch TO turn over.
waited for the first jtts Of water that
SHOULD tell him be was sinking.
Sinkingi Who could think of sink
ing? This boat would hold Gustaf
Erickson had built her. Somehow his
mind felt respect fo; any boat his
father had built She was sound Ev-
cry plank and rib, every riyet-butt,
soundl She had never goLe GOWN
with Gustaf He had died ashore, died
wet, but on land There was proof
of good boat
His foot tripped near the engine.
STOPPING down, be felt square OBJ
jet.
The battery boxl What fool he
was! No wonder she wouldn't start
The box was out Of place he never
had thought Of the batteries. He
wedged them back where they be
longed, working now In the dark. by
the sense of touch in his chill bruised
fingers
The engine sputtered- with small
clucking noise as If surprised at IT.
self He erankpd the wheel asain