The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-10-20
CHAPTER 20

Channel. II was not q blanketing
fog: the wind st.ll blew and the
sea stayed hard and rough. II was
just enough to shut down the visi.
bility. 10 soak the boat and It's oe-
cupants. and 10 chill ones very
bones. The motor labored: the boat
pushed slowly on. climbing, dip
ping. side-slipping.
Tim was steering. he couldn't
trust the compass in its rusty old
gimbals lie was making pre-
tense at steering. On the seat
above the lockers lay Morley. white
and drawn. with his head Graded
upon a pile Of old engine waste.
His uniform swelled out where the
wound had been stanehed with
clothes and handkerehiefs. The
bilge water sloshed about under
foot. The boat was leaking heavily
in the wide mid-chsnnel seas. and
from time 10 time Tim used a bent
tin can 10 bail her out.
He was looking ahead thought
fully. watching the mist settle. He
might be heading In the right d.
rection-and then again he might
not. There were compasses that
you could read only by making a
wide correction. There were other
compasses that you had better not
try 10 read at all. There were old
engines that II wouldn't help 10
monkey with. There were boats
that leaked faster than you could
bail. He shrugged. The chill had
entered his marrow.
Then he thought Morley was
looking at him. Most OF the time
Morley's eyes had stayed shut.
Now they were vaguely. halfway
open. and Tim felt they were
searching him.
You okay?"
Morley NODDED weakly. Quite. -
Tim felt a need 10 make some
sort OF conversation. Funny that
the guy who owns this tub didn' I
leave a bottle of water or some
thing lying around"
Morley shut his eyes again. Per
maps that Was what he had been
searching for. They thudded on
silently. Then Tim heard the ex-
plosions growing dry and irregu-
lar. The cylinders puffed. after
several turns they popped then.
with a final wheezs. they failed
entirely. Tim YEARLY said. Now
what's wrong ,"
"old age. primarily" Morley
said But II also sounds very
much az II you were out OF petrol. "
With a disgusted look Tim went
aft. took a small stick and meas
ured the gas. When he came back
he said. That's the trouble with
all your allies. Morley. They don,
prepare.
Morley smiled vanly. Perhaps
they didn't expect a retreat"
Night fell. cold and wet. They
were noundering about some
where In mid-current, and the leak
was gaining Morley zy propped
VI against the spiintered eoaming
looking hollow-eyed and feverish
Tim rested grimly between spells
OF bailing with the battered TN
can. He stared At the motor. He
kicked II furiousiy. and then wen,
back 10 bailing.
Al one point Morley struggled
and raised himself UP. Listen" he
whispered
Tim stopped bsiling. They both
strained 10 near. Above the slap
ping Of waves against their AIDE
and the siuiclng Of water in their
bottom they thought they could
diuly detect throbbing. Al first
they were not quite sure that they
we're not listening merely 10 their
own heartbesis. They peered into
the fog: no lights were 10 be seen.
But the throbbing. mgffed. regu-
lar. deep. Kept Increasing Tim
jumped up. Hey be yelled.
Help
II vas loud noV. and swelling
with every instant Halo" Nor
ley echoed weakly. This way"
Nov they saw the huge dark
shadow moving Help, Help"
Tim yelled frzntiezily. II vzs bear
ing down on tnem-no-shezriag
at high speed through the darkness
To stsrboard Of them, and now. al
the throbbiBg reached It's peak.
Tim wildly turned 10 Morley. Can
you manage it--together?
Morley pushed himself Up. Trey
made a supreme effort. Help.
Hey. TniE way