Part 13 (1/2)

Oh, I reot a cut over the head--one of their hatchet rowled ”Filthy ver pleasant, the schooner's sinking”

VIII A RUN FOR LAND

”SINKING!” exclaimed Wilbur

Moran was already on her feet ”We'll have to beach her,” she cried, ”and we're six -jib, and staysails

The fore and , and under all the spread of her canvas the ”Bertha” raced back toward the shore

But by the time she ithin the head of the bay her stern had settled to such an extent that the forefoot was clear of the water, the bowsprit pointing high into the heavens Moran was at the wheel, her scowl thicker than ever, her eyesthe stretch of water that lay between the schooner and the shore

”She'll never make it in God's world,” she muttered as she listened to the wash of the water in the cabin under her feet In the hold, eainst each other ”We're in a bad way, mate”

”If it comes to that,” returned Wilbur, surprised to see her thus easily downcast, as usually so indomitable--”if it comes to that, we can swim for it--a couple of planks--”

”Swi of that; of course we could swim”

”What then?”

”The sharks!”

Wilbur's teeth clicked sharply together He could think of nothing to say

As the water gained between decks the schooner's speed dwindled, and at the same time as she approached the shore the wind, shut off by the land, fell away By this time the ocean was not four inches below the stern-rail Two miles aas the nearest sand-spit Wilbur broke out a distress signal on the foreht send off the dory to their assistance But the deserters were nowhere in sight

”What became of the junk?” he demanded suddenly of Moran Sheout-side”

Twenty ins to go,” she said, ”she'll go with a rush Juht in the suction”

The two had given up all hope Moran held grimly to the wheel as a mere matter of form Wilbur stood at her side, his clinched fists thrust into his pockets The eyes of both were fixed on the yellow line of the distant beach By and by Moran turned to hiether,” she said Wilburno reply, put his chin in the air as though he would have told her she ether,” Moran repeated; ”but we can do that better than we could have”--she looked away froether,” she finished, and sain

”And yet,” said Wilbur, ”these last feeeks here on board the schooner, we have been through a good deal--together I don't know,” he went on clumsily, ”I don't knohen I've been--when I've had--I've been happier than these last weeks It is queer, isn't it? I know, of course, what you'll say I've said it toto the city and toto the ocean I never knew a girl like you--never knew a girl COULD be like you You don't kno extraordinary it all seems to me You swear like a man, and you dress like a man, and I don't suppose you've ever been associated with other wo as I airl I've known

I and those cutthroat beach-combers with their knives and hatchets Maybe it's because you are so unlike s are as they are with o I was at a tea in San Francisco, and now I'dalena Bay; and I'irl that--that--that I--well, I'ht as well say it--I love you irl”

Moran's frown came back to her forehead

”I don't like that kind of talk,” she said; ”I am not used to it, and I don't kno to take it Believe h, ”it's all wasted I never could love a man I'm not made for men”

”No,” said Wilbur, ”nor for other women either”

”Nor for other women either”

Wilbur fell silent In that instant he had a distinct vision of Moran's life and character, shunning e, lonely creature, solitary as the ocean whereon she lived, beautiful after her fashi+on; as yet without sex, proud, unta untouched and unsullied by civilization