Evening star., 1938-02-11

~ Y WATER. it was about miles
to the foot of ChriStopher's
hill: by land. more than g.
IL MacCauley eaSed the launch
down the swollen river until the rae
ing conf1uX merged With the open
sea. then turned the blunt bow north
ward hug2nA the cOastine AS the
sturdy craft rolled With each batter
Ing sideways slap of swelling waves.
Lucky the wind has died down.
he remarked between clenched teeth
AS l0-foot mounds of water fought
against the mastery of his strong
hands for possession of the steering
gear
Lane looked at him closely. DO
vou think vouil he able to land this
crock" he asked. There's a strip
Of coral YOU know
MacCaulev erunted and soninted
throuei, the dripping glass windows
a. the dirty. heaving seas ahead.
Denise shivered from the cold and
damnneSs. Lane saw that she was
uncomfortable. cursed himself for his
thouehtlessneSs, and brought dry
h)anket from a small chest Here, "
he suggested. Wrap this around
yourself"
His hands we're hot as they ac-
eidentallv brushed against Denise S
upturned cheeks She glanced quick
IL a. his face. His skin was unnat-
urallv flushed. His breathing was la
bored His eyes were dlateo. He
looked as though he was on the verge
of collapse, both from exposure and
the wound in his arm.
Chin up" he said thicklv. Well
be there before you know it." He
was keeping himself from the blssfu!
depths of unconsciousness only
through force of will and doeged
courage.
Denise tImred 10 Pearson. who sat
huddled in his corner feeling warm
life trickle from the hole in his back.
He smiled gently when he saw her. and
reflected that it was worth dying IN
see her tender. answering smile. His
face WAS AZ pale as Lanes was ruddv.
and bore the pallor of approaching
death.
The Journey was hldeous. The
boat tossed Lightning flashed Rain.
everlasting torrential rain. pounded
and beat upon the warped planking
of the corklke craft. Thunder rolled
In long, drawn out hatrages. Denise
longed for the moment when she
would again be on solid ground, even
II that ground was peopled by the
aroused aborigines.
At last. after many torturous
minutes had dragged themselves into
eternity, MacCauley swung hard on
the rudder and headed toward land
We'll probably take the bottom off. u
he announced with show of cheer
funess. 80 hold on
He had scarcely finished speaking
when the boat Shuddered violently
and stopped its forward motion. Mac
Cauley swore as he struggled to snake
the launch farther toward the shore
before flood of water filled the hold
and held the hull immovable on the
coral.
Denise felt like closing her eyes
and snatching a few moments sleep,
but something warned her to keep her.
self awake. After few moments
had passed. Lane turned from Mac
Cauley and looked down at her. 20.
K" he said. LAS far as we go. Hop
out"
She was amazed to find that Mac
Cauley had brought the boat almost
to the beach. Lane slipped into the
water, and extended his arms.
Jump" he commanded, and she
stepped to the rail.
MacCauley roughly pulled her back
"Just a moment" he said. and handed
guns and a large box of ammunition
down to Lanes out stretched arms.
This is more important"
Lane had no choice but to obey
and struggled to shore. Denise stared
at the unconcerned MacCauley, too
surprised to do more than sputter
helplcssly
Take it easy. sister" he advised
and went back into the cabin. Come
on, you" he shouted at Pearson. and
turned back to Denise, unbuckling
his revolver belt.
Hold this" he directed. and the
next moment she was sitting on his
shoulder, and he was struggling
through the water to the beach where
Lane was just depositing his burden
He set her down beside the box
of ammunition. took his holster from
her hands, and again slipped it around
his waist.
Look" Lane said quietly. Some
thing must have happened to John
Pearson was standing beside the
hatchWay of the cabin, weakly clutch
ing a rail for support. He had dragged
himself that far and could do no more
His dimming sight caught Denise's
strained face and stirred him to a
last effort.
She screamed involuntarily as his
boyish figure lurched drunkenly across
the narrow deck and toppled headlone
into the turbulent sea. She knew
instinctively that he wasn't coming
up again alive Lanes uninjured arm
was about her, and she buried hel