The Argosy, August 1914 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

16 the deck-house shaking from cold and exhaustion, when he was revived to iresh interest in his surroundings by a grating crash. It brought him out of his stupor standing. The first shock was followed by an- other, and still another. He knew in- stantly what had happened. Three years at sea had taught him the symp- ‘toms of a vessel’s grounding. As he rushed out of the door his only ques- tion was as to what kind of bottom she had brought up on. Not that it made any great differ- ence whether it was ledge or sand-bar. In either case it probably meant speedy breaking up, and the end of John Gar- rett Follansby, one-time gentleman. But curiosity often survives even the most desperate circumstances. CHAPTER V. JESSICA HOOPER. AY the first lull in the three-days’ gale Jessica Hooper proclaimed her in- tention of setting out for home with- out farther delay. The protests of her friends were powerless to dissuade her. “T told grandfather Id be back on Tuesday,” she declared, “ and here it is Friday. What will he think?” “You're simply crazy to think of sailing twelve miles in this sea, Jess,” said Amy Harms, whose’ guest she had been since the preceding Saturday. She was a dainty, slow-moving blonde, in striking contrast to her “ company,” black-haired, dark-eyed, whose every motion suggested a life spent in the open. — “T'll show you,” replied Jessica, rising. “My bag is packed and I’m off. Come down to the harbor with m6 Perceiving that her friend was bent on departure, Amy bundled up in sweater and raincoat, and the girls started: for the water-front. The abatement of the storm had lured all the regulars to the town THE ARGOSY. wharf, and the opportunity of offering advice to the girl who proposed to sail her catboat alone across the twelve miles of water between New Galilee and Barratry Island was joyously ac- cepted. “‘There’s a powerful sea outside, gal,’ warned Captain Eb Spencer, shaking his gray head dismally. “If you was my daughter you wouldn't be starting out no such weather as this, let me tell you.” “Where's the danger, Captain Ib?” the girl gave him back with a laugh. “A fair wind and just enough. Why, I don’t believe there’s more than fifteen miles an hour to it this min- ute.” ““ Mebbe not, mebbe not,” said the old man. “ But you'll hit rough water going across. Still, the Polly Ann—” “You helped build her, Captain Eb.”’ “Yes, and -she’ll. stand as much rough work as any of them. Your grandfather and your father and I drove every nail that’s in her, so we ought to know.” A wrinkled old woman with a shawl over her head had drawn near and felt that it was time to add her com- ment, which ‘took the shape of an epigram. “Them as lives by the sea must be ready to die by the sea,” she piped in a cracked voice. Jessica turned to her with the laugh- ter still in her eyes. “It’s as good a way as any to die when you get ready to die,” she re- marked. “I’m not ready yet, but you can think of me to-night sleeping in my own little bed on Barratry, Aunt Abbie.”’ “TI ain’t seen you to ask how erandpa’s getting along with them Simcoxes and Whittleses,”’ put in Cap- tain Eb. “ Had any trouble yet? ” “Not much, Captain Eb,” the girl returned, a shadow of trouble crossing her face. ‘‘ At least—well, not any to speak of.” “Tell him from me to keep his eye COMMICGLOOOKS (E@