The Argosy, August 1914 — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

NOBODY LOVES A LOSER. remark of the captain’s. Somebody named Spencer at New Galilee had a spare propeller. New Galilee, as he had found out, was twelve miles away. It was only too apparent that he was under suspicion of neglect of duty, if not worse—a neglect which had led to this disaster. It did not occur to him at the moment that timidity was the obvious explanation his companions found for his failure to prevent- the disabling of the launch. On the other hand, that his story had been heard with doubt, if not downright disbelief, was readily apparent. “Captain,” he ventured. “Well, what is it?” The old man gave him.a hostile glance. ‘If there’s a propeller at New Gali- lee, I could go over and get it. Per- haps it’s my fault in a way that this boat was put out of commission. Any- , way—”’ ‘“How’'ll you get across — swim?” Captain Zed jerked back. “ I told you, didn’t I, that th’ Polly Ann’s got t’ do th’ work of th’ launch? ”’ “A man could row,” Jack replied. “You'd find it a stiffer row than you bargained for, young feller,” said the old man. and twelve miles back. And a sou’- . west breeze against you comin’. Be- sides, I can’t spare th’ dories.”’ “Tl get a dory,” Jack persisted. “There’s one on the beach. Suppose I took that? ”’ “Then you'd have Buck Potter in your hair,” Herb Mann volunteered. ‘““He’s big as a bear an’ twice as strong an’ three times as mean.” “Till risk it. Give me a note-to Spencer, captain, and let me try,” Jack pleaded. The captain looked doubtful. So also did his men. A twelve mile row in the calm of the early morning was feasible, but a twenty-four mile row, with a head wind half of the way, was another matter. ‘I dunno,” he said at last. “I'd like mighty well to get that there spare propeller of Eb Spencer’s. But Buck “Twelve miles} there 4] Potter wouldn’t let you take his dory any more’n he’d fly. Even if you could get acrost an’ back,” he added. “Tl manage about the dory. All. you have to do is give me the day and a note to Spencer,” said Jack eagerly. “Buck Potter’s gone out with his gang.” Captain Zed made up his mind sud- denly. “ You kin have th’ day an’ th’ note,” he said. “ An’ if you get back, we won't say no more about this business of last night. But if you don’t come back here with a propeller, you needn’t come back at all, and if you get into any trouble with Buck Potter ’count of his dory, that’s, your lookout and nobody else’s. Is it agreed? ”’ Jack asked no more. While he and the captain went ashore in one of the work-boats, the remainder of the gang used the other to tow the launch up on the beach, it being high tide, for an examination of her shaft when the water should fall and leave her dry. Equipped with the note to Captain Eb Spencer, he routed a pair of oars out from under the Simcox fish-house, launched the dory and set off. His fellows working around the power- boat on the beach watched him depart without a sign. The only comment made among them was Anse Bur- dick’s. = “Td hate to be in his’ boots when Buck Potter finds he’s took his dory,” said he. Captain Zed had insisted on Jack’s taking the Polly Ann’s compass, long since corrected, and had given him his course. Although this was superflu- ous if, as it promised, the weather held fair, for ona clear day New Galilee was discernible from high points on Bar- ratry. Still, it might come in handy. Vision is of restricted range at the water’s level. Jack figured how long it would take him to cross and return. The tide was at flood, and at present the sea was smooth. At four miles an hour he should make New Galilee in three CORMICLOOOKS (C@)