Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 67: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

f Fish for the Gunner For a moment he thought of putting about and returning. He had strong doubt of his ability to make the rock in that den- sity. But this doubt was quickly dispelled by the reassuring thought of Fog Rock’s whistle. He knew it could be heard at two miles. This, he estimated, gave him a four- mile-wide stretch to head for; and if he brought up anywhere within that four-mile stretch he must hear the whistle. Two hours later, for the fifth time within a half-hour, Blackie stopped his engine and lay to, listening. Not a sound, other than the smooth purring of the Dolly Dean’s en- gine and the swish of the water parting un- eder her sharp-pointed prow, had he heard _he north or south of the rock? since leaving Felgo Bay. West northwest, or two points to the north of the course proper, he had headed nearly all the way out. Had he, he won- dered, in thus trying to compensate for the southward push of the current, overshot to the north; or had he, despite the northerly course he had steered, nevertheless been forced to the south of his destination? Was Had he come far enough west? Fifteen knots was the Dolly Dean’s speed. Three hours he had been under way. Allowing for the re- tarding effect of the current and for the stops he had made to listen, he estimated he could be very little more than or less than forty miles off the coast. The joker was, he was outside of the two- mile hearing radius of Fog Rock’s whistle. Not far outside of it—that he knew. But in what direction? For ten minutes he sat there listening and speculating. It was nothing more than a guess, he decided. The only chance of lo- cating the rock was to go circling around till he found it. | Just as he was about to execute the de- cision, however, he heard a faint, low, horn- like honk. It was so faint, however, and of so short a duration that he was unable to establish its bearing. Watching the com- — card intently, he strained to hear. In thirty seconds it came again, this time much louder. It was to the south of him. He had overshot, and was north of the island, he concluded; and while he had been stopped and lay to, listening, the current had carried him south to within range of the island fog-whistle. Then it was that he was brought to a full realization of how powerful was the south- ward pull of the current. Fora while he lay to, listening, the frequently repeating whistle grew louder so rapidly that in seemingly but a few minutes it was honking from out of the fog right over his head. And then, when it seemed but a hundred yards distant, the whistle began to die off to the east of him. He started his engine and went ahead _ slow, bending over the steering-wheel and peering searchingly into the fog, with left hand gripping the top spoke, ready to throw her hard over either way. Suddenly he heard a rushing of water. The next instant it splashed in his face. As he swerved to the left, a slowly churning propeller passed by on his right. Up along- side of him loomed the dark hull of a ship. r= the skipper of an inbound tramp > looked down from his bridge and wondered what wild, whimsical lunatic Blackie might be. “The rock? What, Fog Rock?” he re- FOR the second time that morning plied through a megaphone to Blackie, who ran along under the port wing of the bridge. _ “You're about five miles south of it, my lad. What are you doin’; lookin’ for them two Navy men?” “Five miles south! What two ‘Navy men?” Blackie stammered, between sur- prize and curiosity. “Why, two o’ them wireless lads on Fog Rock went fishin’ a couple of hours ago an’ got their mothers’ monkeys lost in the fog— so Fog Rock is yellin’ by wireless. Last they seen ’em was about eight bells, just be- fore the fog settled, about a mile off this side o’ the rock. “T’m lookin’ for °em—steamin’ back and forth, and gradually workin’ north. They say they ain’t got a power-boat on the island. Guess we'll pick ’em up a little north o’ here. Want to come aboard?” Blackie deliberated. “T don’t know, captain.” —- Then after a moment’s pause he added, laughing— “T started out from Felgo for the rock, and got my mother’s monkey lost too.” ‘Better come aboard. Your boat’ll tow — alongside all right—I’m only makin’ four or five knots in this fog. pick up them two fellers all right. Then I'll drop the whole shebang o ye off at the rock.” The skipper then directed his voice. _ DOOKk 65° I think we'll | 4 d Ve it 7, w ’ 4 et Biwi eh A-aby *! i Aueer® JAS VAAL HE vet mT ; ‘ ¥ yY ris i y TAL 3! OL BA) ed fu , : . eae law, ‘i, a . v . é he Yb | eee bbe? bd ‘ ; ‘ oe ae Ay it) o LZ : : % 7 7 ; i’ TTA Pte ; ada yer 7t Y 4 dA ie : ’ wt T. ij ete YR ee Pe e~ > Sees.