The Mountains

tching the growing smoke-column, "is a worse hot-bed of rumours than a down-east

discovery, which, upon nearer investigation, had dwindled to nothing more t

ee points on th

d Carter, "I'll have something to

r, and all eyes were strained for a glimpse

as you can make her

aye,

said Forsythe, presently. "I can ma

s derelict," muttered Trendon,

or anything of that sort,"

in the clear tones of the

her?" ask

, sir. No one's in

ared and Carter pointe

the captain, replying to a ques

d. For there was not one of the Wolverines who did not expect from this aimless tra

ft t

aye,

make out

h, like a

y on the Laughing L

davits," ans

e drifting about these seas," said Captain Parkinson, thoug

d Barnett. "You can see h

go aloft and keep me po

kout. As he ascended, those below saw the lit

ndon. "I'd swear to h

ld she be?" mu

n the bottom of her," sang out the

aboard, broken only by an occasional

olling in

they

not that I

ipped around a couple of points, swinging the boat's stern to

, sir. I can ma

in quietly. "We should

" suggested Forsy

dwards," am

rds," sai

know?" deman

found her the second time

h of the men are in he

ur people," came the aston

you s

ce, sir. It isn't Ives or Mc

one of the

called the lookout. "Nothin

step for a mast showed that she had presumably been used for skimming about open shores. Of her passengers, one lay forward, prone and quiet. A

w had never before been the sport of wind and wave. A thing of shreds he was, elaborately ragged, a face overrun with a scrub of beard, and preternatu

e with an hysterical expl

decks as the stranger raised his haggard face, turned eyes unseeingly upon th

nsciousness stirred to that voice of authority. Mechanically, like some huge, hideous toy, he raised first one arm, then the other, and hitched himself halfway up on the stern seat. His mouth opened. His face wrinkled. He

their ship, and thei

blow low, w

we gave them was to

ast of the hig

wail, the minor cadence wavered th

arbaree!" c

ed the captain, ex

Zealand, that was. When the fever rose on him he'd pipe up. Used to beat time with a steel hook he wore in place of a hand. The thin

rsythe, looking down on the preparations that

. But before the order came to hoist away, one of the jackies who had gone down drew the covering back from the still figure forward, and turned it over. With a half-stifled cry he shrank back. And at that the tension of soul and mind on

ead body. The dead seaman was reverently disposed and covered. As to the survivor there was some hesitancy on the part of the captain, who was inclined to send him forward until Dr. Trendon, after a swift scruti

self yet," said the surgeon. "

ails

ever. Thirst and exhaustion.

f Billy?" "Was he a stow-away?" "Did you ask him about Ives and

ngly. "How can I tell? Would you h

he returned. Only the captain got anything out of him but growling and unintelligib

en drowned?" the captain had

e man wasn't drowned.

hen how came he

any other conditions I should

s dispatched for the physician. On his way he met Barnett, who asked and received permission to accompany him. The stranger was tossing restle

a little brandy," said Tren

eon held the glass to his lips. The man's

Take it yourself, if

d against the teeth. There was one deep, eager spasm of swallowing. Then

the man, in a voice like

htened up as from a

superior officer sharply, for Barnett had all but let his char

my name--or am I dream

lain enough.

om behind the brush of beard, filling out the deep lines of emaciation, a memory to the recognition of Barnett;

by the Lord!

hing Lass?"

Laughi

ioned him. "See here, Mr. Barnett, you're not going to fire a broadside

questions came. Opening his eyes

y. Then, breaking his own r

off the schoo

as the straining a

then into Barnett's face, and hi

kota?" he

hip," said Barnett. "T

the Laugh

shook

," begge

e stronger," adm

the weak voice. T

e bare outline and make i

ago. She was in good shape, but deserte

nodded

Barnett, and Trendon made a quic

three--four--don't kno

ach other. "Go on," said

d Barnett, "and picked up the schooner the next night, d

f him," whispe

t God, man!" he cried, his agitation breaking out, "

said the surgeo

the sick man's brain. He turned

-the crew--they lef

he mean?" c

ht! You

all lost!" he cried, and fell back unconscious. Trendon exploded into curses. "See

growled the surgeon. "Nice way to t

. The doctor forbade him to attempt speech. But of one thing he

ano?" he

ad," was

, to say something further, but endurance ha

arnest talk with the captain. Presently the Wolverine's engines slowed down, and she la