Montana oil and mining journal., 1937-11-27

giant symbol Of worldly importance had
had 70 knuckle under to him. In 8
situation where only manhood counted
ne had proved himself the natural
leader. No wonder Carols eyes warmed
him with their admiration.
His was no chancy supremacy either
4 he demonstrated that TO her and the
others when the boat was free OF water
/ RawSOn and Kearne expected to be re-
dered Bunt and Proctor 70 take rest.
1 Rawson, his soft hands blistering, the
sweat Of an INDUCED body picking him
/ under the tropic sun, flared out, in
siSiing again on his rights as a pas
senger.
j There aren't any passengers any
more" Gatrie said tersely only men
/ to do mems jobs. It's time you and the
others graSped that. III re-Scheme
watches now, taking In all men-keep
your stroke. RawSOn."
Damn you. I'm not taking this, -
Rawson shouted. starting from his
seat, but Brokers great hand grasped
him from behind and slammed him
back on the thwart.
Take your orders and put your CUTS
into it, you big louise" Brooker snarled,
"or I'll swipe your head off"
Rawson and Kearne. all the passen-
gers, saw the ferocious anger in the
eyes of the stokers. They knew the
game was up. Rawson bent sullenly on
his oar, the rest submitted 10 Gatrie's S
contemplate position without q mur-
mur. Gatrie had clinched his position.
He was top-dog by sheer force Of char
acter And Carol saw 1t. AS she sat
close to him on the steering bench,
She whispered:
You're stronger than them all
you're so terribly strong, Mr.. Gatrie."
Isn't 1t the sign of real man?"
he smiled at her, and as her eyes
agreed, "And, anyhow, my names Bill"
William" she laughed softly, 'is
better suited to conquerors."
Perhaps he was too exultant. He
drove himself and the rest OF them
all day and most of the night to stamp
his power on them, though possibly
he was also eager to make the main
land before the weather worSened. Any
how. he forgot that even dictatorS must
sleep.
He was jerked out Of doze by the I
crash of the boat not onto the rocks, 1
but into mangroves. They were q low I
growth, and Bunt, who was at the I
tiller, had not seen them against the /
JltChllESS DClOEE tlAC AdAoE AdMn
It was an absurd wreck. a clumsy
among Shiny tree roots on
a mere mud islet but wind and steep
sea made the disaster complete. The
BOAT was ripped wide open by the roots
md sank like stone. Gatrie, starting
)ut Of sleep, instinctively grabbed at
he nearest female form. sure he was
aving Carol It proved to be Mrs.
Shrady; the cub steward Proctor had
rot Carol clear at the first impact.
AS he swan Gatrie heard Brooker
and knew sharks had got
linn. That made him lose his grip and
lounder frantically through Shiny roots
hat felt like the clutching hands Of
Ievils. Incidentally he dropped Mrs.
,hrady, whose screaming advertised
he fact He heard RaWson's voice |
houting, "All right All right We're
)oking after you" also heard stoker
uffaw at seeing that he, Gatrie, was
he draggled and incompetent life
aver.
That so took Gatrie aback that he I
TODD about sheepishly while Rawson I
his role of big man rising to !
ne situation. BY the time Gatrie had
ulled himself together and thrust into
ne rescue work to reassert himself,