Adventure, August 1917 — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

The Hunch boat’s crew. He'll cuss us for fools, swear he’ll have us court-martialed, and then do the only thing that’s left him. He won’t toss around out here all night the way it’s blowin’, runnin’ the risk of somebody bumpin’ into him, or him bumpin’ into a reef. He’ll head straight for home, I tell you, at full speed. ‘“‘But before he does that, he’ll wireless the Navy Yard to send a seagoin’ tug out here and pick us two fools up. The tug will get here in the mornin’ by the time it’s light enough for him to do anything, any- how. The tug of course draws less water and can pick us up if we're still afloat.”’ “Then the thing we’ve got to figure on,” said Hop, ‘‘is to keep this old hulk afloat till morning.”’ “That’s all, son, and from the looks of things it’s goin’ to be some job. Let’s get busy before the seas commence comin’ clear over.’ During their investigation of the wreck the two sailors had found a kedge anchor whose lashings had withstood the buffetings of the derelict’s long journey, and with a tangled lead line salvaged from the mess in the storeroom, they found themselves in twenty fathoms of water. ‘““We’re gettin’ in closer all the time,” said O’Leary. “By the time we get the anchor adrift it’ll be time to let her go.” The chain had already been shackled to _ the anchor, and cutting loose the stoppers, they got the anchor clear and ready to shove overboard. ‘Get clear of the chain and take another sounding,’”’ advised O’Leary. “T’ll keep my eyes on the mudhook.”’ ‘“‘EKighteen fathoms,” reported Hop. ‘““Good enough,” said O’Leary. “You take hold of that ring-bolt with one hand, hold me with the other, and the next time she rolls I’ll shove it overboard.” Hop and O’Leary were almost down to the waterline on the half-submerged vessel, and when a wave came aboard, it sucked and pulled at them viciously. Each time O’Leary shoved with all his strength and after three attempts, with the water to help, the anchor went over the side, and the rusty chain rolled out of the hawse- pipe to the thirty-fathom shackle. ‘Suppose she drags,’’ questioned Hop doubtfully. “I hope she does,” said O’Leary. ‘‘It’ll ease the strain on the chain, and with a 173 hundred fathoms out we won’t drag fast. This old tub’s nearly all under water, and the wind gets mighty little hold.” ANXIOUSLY they watched the 4 derelict drift around till she rode = bow on to the seas. The chain rumbled out of the hawse-pipe in fits and jerks till she rode to the shackled end in the bottom of the chain locker. ‘‘What nowe” asked Hop. *“‘Let’s wait a minute and see,”’ counseled O’Leary. ‘‘We’re buckin’ the waves now instead of ridin’ in the trough. If any- thing’s due to carry away, now’s the time.” “Grab something,” warned Hop a mo- ment later. “Here comes a big one.” — Lying flat on the deck the two sailors clutched ring-bolts and held on with all their strength while a roaring foam-tipped wave broke over the bows and hurled a sheet of water down the inclined deck. The two lay still for a moment after the wave had passed. je “Are you all right?” asked O’Leary. “All right,” reported Hop, “‘except my arms are stretched a couple of inches.’’ ‘“‘Mine’s the same,” said O’Leary. “Let’s get inside before another one takes us overboard. I’m thinkin’ if that old sizzler failed to bust anything, none of ’em will.” Climbing into the storeroom they broke open the tin of bread which O’Leary had commandeered from the whale-boat. The storm was at its height, the wind was a yelling demon loosed for ruin, and the white-capped waves dashed in on the up- ended bow as if to finish tearing it to pieces. The vessel groaned and strained and creaked, and for the first half-hour O’Leary cursed himself for a fool and tried to be cheerful at the same time to Hop, feeling certain the wreck would not last out the night. But the derelict with her small surface to the wind and the long chain to ease the terrific strain, held together minute after minute and wave after wave. ‘“‘She’s goin’ to make it,’’ announced O’Leary after an hour. “That’s what you said all the time,” bantered Hop, “‘but half an hour ago you didn’t believe it.” “T mean it this time,” said O’Leary, “‘but I still think I’m a fool. I led you into too slim a chance.” : “I could ’ve balked any time, couldn’t \\ 4 cComiclsoo CO 5}