The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 237: what you’re looking at

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

THE CRUISE OF cruise. Oh, for a breeze! To live and see my daughter happy! It is all I ask.” “TI say, Bayne,’ said Ross, “ you ought to put ’em all wise. Dick oucht to know.” “Oh, I know!” - said “Haven’t I seen it for two past ? ” “ But it’s settled now.” “TI knew it would be. Ill have to think of a wedding present.” “Give us a breeze. That's all the present [ want,” I said. We ate fish three times that day, and at breakfast the following morning we all balked at it. , “There is such a thing as too much Foster. weeks of what you need,” said Ross. “ When | that kaybee brought that first fish on board I thought I could cat fish all the rest of my life. Now, if I ever look a fish in the face again—hello! What’s that?” | There was a gentle movement of the raft, as though the water in which it had lain dormant so long was becom- ing ruffled. We all rushed on deck. A faint breeze fanned our cheeks, and the rippling water all about us told that our calm was over. After a short tme the sail filled and we were again under way. The wind in- creased. Clouds gathered. It began to rain. “JT don’t know,” said Mr. Donaldson, “that we are much better off now. This is going to be a heavy blow.” “Blow!” I rejoined. “ Let it blow! The harder the better! Oh, for a crack- ing breeze! Our troubles are over.” Of course everybody was delighted, and our cheerful spirits returned. “Oh, a sailor’s life is the life for me, [ own I love it dearly!” sang Ross. In an hour the waves became so high that an occasional one swept over the raft. The bow of the bulky catamaran plowed deep into the water. The wind howled through the cabin. I went frequently to see Mary, to quict any alarm she may have felt. We traveled many miles that morn- ing. The effort to keep our footing, and the hard work of managing the raft, exhausted us. At noon the wind was so strong the sail ripped at the tof: THR HANDICAP. 230 “We'll have to lower that sail,” I said. “ We can afford to wait till the storm is over.” Foster went to the ropes that held the sail and loosened them. But the thing did not come down. * That home-made block is stuck,” he said. “I suppose the water has swollen it.” “Won't the rope come through?” I asked. ““ No—see 7” Ross and I were at the tiller. 1 called the professor, and leaving him to help Ross, I went to the assistance of loster. ° We could not budve the sail, and yet we knew that unless we had it down within a short time the mast would break or the sail be torn to pieces. I grasped the mast, and climbed up. “‘That’s right. Cut it loose,” said Foster. “ We can fix it again.” I was at the top, with my knife in my hand, when a tremendous gust caught us, and the mast, breaking off in the middie, fell to the deck, and I went with it. CHAPTER XVI. THE WHITE QUEEN. Ross and Foster ran to assist ine, but I got to my feet without any difficulty. I was bruised, but beyond a few hard knocks I had not sutfered. Relieved from the power exerted by the sail, the raft became more steady. “The devit’s to pay now,” said Ross. “Was I the chump that was singing about a life on the ocean wave? Give mea Harlem flat. If we get anywhere now it'll be because a tug comes after us.” “Tt is not so bad as all that,” added the professor. “ You see we have half the mast left. We can at least move.” “So you could if yon lived in a Har- lem flat,” said Ross. “ Most people do after they’ve tried it.” “Don’t let’s get woozy,” put in Fos-— ter. “ The kaybees will get us plenty of fish.” “Did you say fish? ” demanded Ross. ““T can’t eat any more fish. The water is about gone, and unless it rains all the time we won’t have any to drink.” awa (GO) ElOOO (GO) awa