Adventure, August 1917 — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

174 I?” protested Hop. “Let’s try to get a wink of sleep and forget it.” “I’m not thinkin’ about a sleep,” said O’Leary, taking the cue of cheerfulness’ from Hop. ‘What I’m thinkin’ about is a smoke. I’d give my pants for a smoke right now.” “No use,” said Hop. makings they’d be wet. lend you a match?” O’Leary sighed. ‘Well, go on and sleep,” he muttered. “T’ll stay awake and keep these kegs from rollin’ on you.” But after two hours in the dark with no one to talk to, O’Leary fell asleep himself. He awoke cold and stiff in his wet clothing with Flynn shaking him. ‘“‘We’ve bumped into something,” the boy said excitedly. ‘Whenever she pitches I can feel her scrape.” “If we’ve dragged onto a reef it’ll be good night,’ said O’Leary, too sleepy to guard his tongue. “There she goes again,” said Hop, “but not so bad. First time she did it, it woke me up.” “Maybe it was just hit or miss and the worst is over,” said O’Leary hopefully. “Tf she slides off into deep water we’re safe enough, for even with this wind, the anchor will hold when it gets to the reef.” This was just what happened. Driven by the force of the gale the hulk slid across “If you had the Besides, who’d the reef into deeper water and then dragged the anchor and chain deep into a firm hold on the rocks. There was no sleep for the two men after that. They could hear the surf pounding on the beach so close that it made them shiver, and each wallowing, vicious snap at the anchor chain made them more and more anxious for daylight and rescue. ““She’s holdin’,” said O’Leary for the twentieth time, after a short excursion on deck, ‘‘and it seems to me that the wind’s fallin’ a little. How does it sound in here, Hop? Just the same as it’s been all night?” “T don’t know,” said the other wearily. “T’ve been expecting her to go to pieces for so long that I can’t tell any difference in the noises she makes.”’ “T can,” said O’Leary, easier. The wind’s not so bad. sky’s gettin’ a little brighter, too. “she’s gettin’ The I’m Adventure gettin’ so hopeful that I’m beginnin’ to wonder what I’m goin’ to say to the captain when I see him.”’ Dawn came in another hour, and with it milder weather. O’Leary and Hop drank some more of the water and ate a liberal ration of the hard tack while they watched for the tug. The Panther was nowhere in sight. “The Old Man’s done what I told you he would,” said O’Leary. “Let’s get the dye on deck and be ready for her when she comes.” There were three barrels of the violet dye, and two others that Hop could not make out. While they worked the tug appeared, O’Leary took off his jumper and waved it. Half an hour later they were in hailing distance. “Can we get alongside?” shouted the officer in charge through a megaphone. “We're in ten fathoms,” answered O’Leary, “but there’s a bar before you get to us.” Cautiously the tug nosed in toward them with the leadsman taking soundings at each ship length. O’Leary and Flynn watched the maneuvers anxiously. If the tug came alongside them it meant that the dye could be transferred easily, while if they sent a boat to take them off, a’ lot of explanation would be necessary before the deck officer would allow them to transfer their find into the small boat. “By the deep six,” sang out the leadsman. Then “five,” and finally ‘‘four.” “It’s a miracle how we ever got across,” said O’Leary. ‘It’s a wonder we didn’t stick and break up. If she shoals any more the tug’ll be turnin’ back.” ““By the mark seven,” leadsman. “That’s better,” said O’Leary. ‘“They’re over. You stand by to take their line and I’ll get aboard and do.the parleying.” av young officer in charge of the tug, and his opening request had been rehearsed carefully before he made it. ‘“We’ve found some valuable stuff aboard this old packet,” he said, ‘‘and we’d like to have permission to take it aboard.” ‘“What is it?” asked the officer. ‘You two men ought to be glad to get out of this thing with your lives, without bothering about anything else.”’ sang out the O’LEARY did not know the cComicldsook CO S|