The Bismarck tribune., 1931-12-11
LIE stood a moment or two longer.

LIE stood a moment or two longer.
then glided away down the deck
so softly that she was not aware Of
it until he had gone. That was
curious! Without stopping to
think. she kicked OF her slippers
and slipped silently along the wall
after him.
At the first gangway she climbed
quickl, up to the sun deck and hur.
ried along to take refuge in the
shadows under the lifeboat perched
there. Peering cautiously over the
edge she saw him leaning over the
taff-rail, looking down at tho little
dinghy bobbing about in the uneasy
sea.
Looks like a storm coming up"
A voice Just beneath her caused
her to Jump. The Fly also must
have been startled. for he swung
about quickly.
Out Of the shadows almost under
Mary's nose the sailor on deck
watch appeared and strolled over to
the rail to Join him.
storm. eh?" He turned back to
staring at the sea.
The sailor apparently was lone
some for someone to talk to. and
was not to be easily repulsed.
"Yes, sir. It certainly looks like
we were in for a good one. See
that black patch over there? That's
one forming or I miss my guess.
You can actually see them form out
here sometimes. The breeze has
gone down. too. and that's always a
sign. And the barometer's drop.
ping. Don't believe It will be much
Of blow coming from that direc.
tion. though. sure wouldn't want
to see much wind. with us stuck
up here on this reef like this"
"How are you coming on that
radio?" the other asked Grossly. as
il making the youth beside him
directly responsible for 1t.
But the sailor continued cheerful.
Sparks told me there wasn't .
chance to get It working. Some.
body's jimmed It proper. He thinks
we'll just have to stick It out here
until some fishing party comes
along or the ',atrol comes around
to check up ON the light. Captain
said we'd wait another day and
then IL no one showed up he'd send
couple of men along the keys in
/, the dinghy"
"You mean you could make It to
Key West 80 miles - in that?"
De Iona pointed down at tho small
tethered rowboat humping awk.
wardly about beneath the stern.
"Sure. II the weather held good,
When you got tired Of rowing you
could Just beach her on Z key and
take q rest. They're only q few
miles apart. And farther in you'd
be bound to pick up q fishing party
that would take you on in to gel
help"
"Why hasn't someone tried that
before this?" De Iona demanded
''We've been out on this reef in this
damned sun for four days"
well. you see. this is the only
good boat. That cockleshell ur
there (Mary held her breath as they
turned to look up 1t the lifeboa1
behind which she was concealed]
isn't any good-that is, for much
OF . row. And we'd have to take
the only two pairs Of oars ws have
II storm should come up and the
party had to get over to Fort JET
ferson It would be ticklish bushes,
In that tub"
Crouched under the boat. she hat
been too intent on tho conversation
to notice the little black cloud o.
which the sailor had spoken, which
had grown until It covered half th,
western sky. An occasional spur,
Of wind ruffled the sea, which other
wise lay classify quiet under tn.
moon.
THE two men apparently becam,
= conscious Of the approaching
storm at almost the same moment