The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-04
CHAPTER FoRTY-FOUR


). JUPITER was the first mar
~ on deck. Although it was past
MS usual ea-ly retiring hour, he still
was dressed.
ne was there when Captain Hen
urlcKs came hurrying down from the
bridge, and together the two mer
retired to the port rail. Bates anc
Mary followed.
What's the matter, captain2'
Bates inquired somewhat nervous
~. He had a landsman's inordi-
nate fear of an accident on sea, ano
even Mary felt a childish impulse
10 rush to the captain and cling Il
ms hand until the danger was over
We're fast on a reef" Captain
hendricks was explaining to Mr.
Jupiter. Shes apparently not hurt
the engineers say she's making nc
water below-but she seems to be
well stuck"
Can you get off by yourself?" Mr.
Jupiter asked.
We'll have a try at it tomorrow
morning. I'm afraid, though wei
have to have tug out of Key West
TO give us a pull"
do what you think best" Mr.
Jupiter answered mildly.
n
II shouldn't have come in to-
night" the captain continued, "but
the moon made it almost like day
and I've been around here so much
/ thought could make it even in
a fog.
This channel isn't used except
for small fishing craft, and appar-
emily some of the buoys have drift
ed over. See that mid-channel
buoy there?"
He pointed to what looked like
an upturned funnel to Mary. 1t was
floating almost in the shadow the
ship cast on the water.
"Nid-channel buoy, and it's stick
ing right up on top of reef with
only about five feet of water over
it! Fortunately we were coming in
slow, just barely turning over"
Just where are we?" Bates asked.
Just a half mile from the OLD
pier at Ft. Jefferson where 1 in
tended to, make fast. In another
five minutes we'd have been there.
That's Dry Tortugas there couple
of miles off the starboard beam"
They turned to look, and the ray
of the big lamp swept across their
faces and off into the moonlit night.
I'm going fishing in the morn
ing, then" Mr.. Jupiter said cheer
1ully. How about, Bates?"
Fine"
WED better be getting a little
sleep. Ought to be out by any
way. They bite better early in the
morning. Everybody back to bed
now. There's nothing we can do to
help, and we'd only be in the way"
TINE day that followed was one
Il of unutterable tedium for those
left behind while the fishing party
cruised happily about.
Mary sat in deck chair, a book
In her lap, watching the unexciting
labors of the distant fishermen
\ through a telescope loaned her by
the captain. 1t was not very en-
PERTAINING, but it was better than
nothing.
The burning sun drove Bruce and
Louise downstairs, where they
played interminable games of soil
taire. De Iona prowled the ship
like a Gagged animal. He had run
out of cigarets long since and his
nerves were all a-jangle.
He roved from one end of the
ship to the other, leaning on the
rail and studying the prospect in
every direction. They were all very
much the same, which must have
been discouraging.
He avoided the landward side,
Mary observed, but whether this
was due to her presence there, or
to the view-which consisted Of
CLASSY sea out OF which old FIT. JEFF
ferson prison reared its ugly head
she did not know.
Presently, to give him the range
of the boat, and also because his
restlessness had begun to get on her
nerves. she resolved to go below
and take a nap.
She met steward with tray,
headed for Dirk'S Stateroom, and
stopped him. She rearranged it a
bit to make it more inviting. Then
she had the steward wait until she
wrote a note. 1t was only three
words.
Mary pulled a book from the rack
on one side of the salon and sent
that along, too. She promised her.
self that she would drop in and see
Dirk after he had lunch.
NNCE she heard an alteration
~ out on deck. De Iona was
berating a steward because he had
locked up the liquor cabinet, at Mr..
Jupiter's order, as it turned out.
Mary dismissed it from her mind,
until a violet knocking at her door
forced her to take notice of it.
De Iona was in a towering,
white-hot rage.
whats this. all about?" he
snarled. Am a guest on this damn
fishing-smack or am not? Why
can't I get service from these deaf
mutes you've got for walters on this
tub?
Il want drink, and I want it
now, do you hearl Tell this cub
to toss out that key! What does he
think am, a baby?"
Take your troubles to Captain
Hendricks. He's in command"
Mary replied.
Eyes? Well, there's something
else I want to know-why doesn't
that radio operator send my mes
sages?"
Doesn't heP"
mo. If he did, I'd have had an
swers before now. What's happen
ing to my trunks? Damn it, if that
hotel seizes them, I'll hold you re-
sponsible!"
Mary smiled Shakily.
"You flatter me. AS I said be-
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