Part 26 (1/2)

On board the _George Was.h.i.+ngton_ every one felt extremely sorry for this beautiful girl. It was a frightful misfortune to be so stricken at her age.

”She is certainly insane,” said one of the pa.s.sengers, who had known Hargreave slightly through some banking business. ”Hargreave wasn't married. He lived alone.”

After the second day out Florence was permitted to wander about the s.h.i.+p as she pleased.

A good many of the pa.s.sengers were mightily worried when they learned that the wireless had in some mysterious way been tampered with after the boat had made the open sea. It was impossible to put about. The apparatus must be fixed at sea.

[Ill.u.s.tration: EVERYONE FELT EXTREMELY SORRY FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL]

And when finally Norton's wireless caught the wires of the _George Was.h.i.+ngton_ he was gravely informed that the young lady referred to had leaped the rail off the banks at night and had been drowned. She had not been missed till the following morning.

CHAPTER X

It was perfectly true that Florence had cast herself into the sea. It had not been an act of despair, however. On the contrary, hope and courage had prompted her to leap. The night was clear, with only a moderate sea running. At the time the great s.h.i.+p was pa.s.sing the banks, and almost within hail, she saw a fis.h.i.+ng schooner riding gracefully at anchor. She quite readily believed that if she remained on board the _George Was.h.i.+ngton_ she was lost. She naturally forgot the marvel of wireless telegraphy. No longer may a man hide at sea.

So, with that quick thought which was a part of her inheritance, she seized the life buoy, climbed the rail and leaped far out. As the great, dark, tossing sea swooped up to meet her she noted a block of wood bobbing up and down. She tried to avoid it, but could not, and struck it head on. Despite the blow and the shock of the chill water she instinctively clung to the buoy. The wash from the mighty propellers tossed her about, hither and yon, from one swirl to another, like a chip of wood. Then everything grew blank.

Fortunately for her the master of the fis.h.i.+ng schooner was at the time standing on his quarterdeck by the wheel, squinting through his gla.s.s at the liner and envying the ease and comfort of those on board her.

The mate, sitting on the steps and smoking his turning-in pipe, saw the master lean forward suddenly, lower the gla.s.s, then raise it again.

”Lord A'mighty!”

”What's the matter, Cap'n?”

”Jake, in G.o.d's name, come 'ere an' take a peek through this gla.s.s.

I'm dreamin'!”

The mate jumped and took the gla.s.s. ”Where away, sir?”

”A p'int off th' sta'board bow. See somethin' white bobbin' up?”

”Yessir! Looks like some one dropped a bolster 'r a piller overboard.... Cod's whiskers!” he broke off.

”Then I ain't really seein' things,” cried the master. ”Hi, y'

lubbers,” he yelled to the crew; ”lower th' dory. They's a woman in th' water out there. I seen her leap th' rail. Look alive! Sharp's th' word! Mate, you go 'long.”

The crew dropped their tasks and sprang for the davits, and the starboard dory was lowered in s.h.i.+p shape style.

It takes a good bit of seamans.h.i.+p to haul a body out of the sea, into a dancing, bobtailed dory, when one moment it is climbing frantically heavenward and the next heading for the bottomless pit. They were very tender with her. They laid her out in the bottom of the boat, with the life buoy as a pillow, and pulled energetically for the schooner. She was alive, because she breathed; but she did not stir so much as an eyelid. It was a stiff bit of work, too, to land her aboard without adding to her injuries. The master ordered the men to put her in his own bunk, where he nearly strangled her by forcing raw brandy down her throat.

”Well, she's alive, anyhow.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: FLORENCE STEALS OUT IN THE NIGHT TO JUMP OVERBOARD]

When Florence finally opened her eyes the gray of dawn lay upon the sea, dotted here and there by the schooners of the fleet, which seemed to be hanging in midair, as at the moment there was visible to the eye no horizon.

”Don't seem t' recognize nothin'.”

”Mebbe she's got a fever,” suggested the mate, rubbing his bristly chin.