The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-11-18
BY GEORGE MORRISON

Second Mate Peckham lay back in the stern sheets of the longboat and squinted his eyes against the pitiless glare of the equatorial sun glinting on the coppery surface of the Timor sea. With his right hand he grip- ped the tiller, in the crook of his left arm nestled Nan, silent and un- complaining.
 Forward, under the shelter of the spare sail stretched across the bows, crouched Larsen. For hours he had barely moved, his mad glance fixed rigidly upon the two in the stern.
 The second mate regarded him Speculatively. The sailor had un- doubtedly gone mad. Three days be- fore, just as the subtropical night had closed in with a rush, the Clare more, out of Melbourne for the Cele- beS, had rammed submerged dere- lict and sunk in 6 matter of min- uteS.
 Peckham, rowing in the darkness, had managed to pick up Larssen from @ floating hatch cover and had found Nan padding aimlessly in cir cles few minutes later. Of the rest of the crew he had seen no trace; the morning had disclosed 8 vast and empty sea.
 I'm hungryl" moaned Larsen. His voice in the Soundless immen- sity of the ocean sounded like the crack of doom.
 "You'll find some more of those sea biscuits in the locker on your left" directed the mate. Even if they are soggy with sea water, you'll have to make out with them"
 q need some real food. I'll die," the sailor mumbled. Nevertheless he opened the locker and brought forth the biscuits and alphabetically commenced gnawing at one.
 You might throw a couple of them back here," the mate said, "but you stay where you arel" Larssen was dangerous.
 Only this morning, driven by in- sistent hunger, he. had suggested killing Nan for food! Now Peckham dared not close his eyes lest the insane seaman come aft and fnur- der them both. Three days without food was enough to breed strange fancies.
 He picked up the hardtack from where the sailor had tossed them on the footboards and offered one to Nan, who silently began munch- ing upon 1t, and broke of 8 small piece of the other and allowed it to soften in his mouth before he chewed 1t.
 At noon he sighted the sun with the seXtant from the stern locker, and with a pair of dividers marked of on the map their approximate position. Yesterday he had decided upon their destination If they lived to make 1t.
 Papua lay to the north, but 1t was nearer to one of the inhabited coral atolls dotting the Malay archi- pelago. Luckily, there was one within two days sail which lay in the steamer lane from Shanghai to Brisbane. If they could only hold out out for two more days!
 The wind held steady, though 1t was slight, and Peckham main- tained his course through the day and half the night. Strained to a point of exhaustion, he dozed, to be awakened by @ cry from Nan. He opened his eyes to find Larssen poised before them, stubby bowie knife upraised in the act of strik- ing Nan.
 You maniac" shouted the mate, "get forward where you belongl" His foot lashed out and Larssen crashed heavily against the foot of the mast and lay there painting heavily. too weak to rise.
 Peckham took the pistol from his blouse and held 1t in his left hand while he steered after that. I'm master here yet" he warned the sailor, land you'll do as I say! I am responsible for her, and have my own notions as to what is going to happen to her."
 The sailor crept back to the bows and nursed his sore stomach.
 i've got to have some food; those salty biscuits I cannot eat," he ex- plained. "If we don't kill her all three will die!"
 The mate considered @ minute in silence. "It would cause you to become sick and die anyway" he attempted to reason with the crazed