Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

THE DERELICT, prowably worked quite a distance from us during the night. I sheuld net be surprised if she lost us altogether.” . Fhorpe studied her. “You are not the least bit afraid, are your” he asked. | Her eyes looked quickly into his. “ Why should I be?” she replied simply. ‘We may be picked up at any time. If we're not—whry, as neither of us is over- fond of life, what does it matter when: or how we gor” “ But isn’t there some ome—have you no one else to think of?” . Katrina smiled sadly. “ There isn’t any ene. My father was all the famiy I had, and he—he died, several months ago. I’ve been very lonely—” She broke off short and bit her hp. “Pm alone, too,” Fhorpe said nesingly. “Te looks as if fate had carefully selected WS, at any rate!” Katrina shrugged. “If yow call it fate. Ie the mean time, there is something for ws to do. There are those sheep in the bridge-casing, and there—there’s Captain Buchanan. We'll have to make a canvas shroud—” Her breath caught, and she turned away, ber bosom heaving, that he might not see her emotion. “Il attend to that,” Thorpe told her She smiled weakly up at him. “ Fle was the last tie I had, # I cam go so far as to call bim a tie. He was my father’s dear- est friend.” : Thorpe looked out over the horizon; them he sighed. “I’m actually needed by some one,” he nruttered to himself. Aloud he said: “ May I make a suggestion? You look ghastly done. Won't you go lie down a while and try to sleep? Fl attend to several little things in the mean time. Fhen, wher you feel better, we can—”’ “Yes!” Katrina interrupted with a little Susider. ‘(I am tired. Ff’ try to sleep. But if I oversleep, please call me. I wish to do my share of the work.” She turned and went to her room, there to throw herself down on the bunk and go . Immediately to sleep. Thorpe climbed down to the for’ard-well deck. The Barbuda was not shipping any 6A , water now, but she was wet. Walking was a matter for caution against slipping. As he approached the bridge-easing a pitiful, low bleatmg greeted his ears. He opened the door and looked in. Of the dozen sheep listed on the manifest as “live stock for Grenada,” there were only three not dead. The others lay in con- torted positions about the pen which Chips had built for them. Thorpe managed to drag the dead bodies to the rail and get them overboard. It was the quickest way to get rid of them. When he had finished his unpleasant task he looked after the living animals. He found a bountiful supply of fodder for them, and after feeding them and giving them water he cleaned up their pen as well as he could. It was strange work for hands that had never so much as dusted off a desk before. There was one other matter to attend te before Katrina awakened. He did not know where to find canvas, however. The linen- closet door was. unlocked, and he went bs, hoping he might find what he sought there. But there was not a sign of canvas. He did, however, find something that would answer his purpose. This was one of the long mattress covers of heavy ticking, measuring about seven feet in lemgth and the width was that of a bunk. CHAPTER ‘VIL. THE SAVOR OF LIFE. ak t was late afternoon when Katrina ap- peared on deck agaim. She looked ~. refreshed from her sleep, although the ‘bruises on her forehead had become ugly blotches. Her eyes immediately questioned Thorpe’s, and he nodded his head. “ ¥ did the best I could,” he said simply. “ You—you—did not forget weights?” ‘“No. I found some things in the engine- room.” a moment, then said lightly: ‘“ You’ve had nothing to eat since that luxurious meal of cheese and crackers. early this morning. I’ve been digging around and have managed to get together quite a repast. May I suggest that we eat?” ; Katrina smited gratefully. COMIGCMOOOKS. COM