Part 4 (1/2)

While they talked about other matters, Evelyn Cliffe sat in the stern of the tiny sloop, enjoying the sense of control the grasp of the tiller gave her, and the swift rush of the polished hull through the sparkling foa her nerve and skill to the loungers on the beach, ere, for the most part, fashi+onable people fro man upon whoh he had much to recommend him, and had shown a marked preference for her society, Evelyn had co that he should admire her seamanshi+p, and it was, perhaps, in the expectation ofhim afterward that she had dressed herself carefully She ell-cut blue serge that emphasized her fine pink-and-white color, and matched her eyes; and the sold hair

As the breeze freshened, she forgot the spectators, and began to wish she had taken a reef in theHitherto she had had somebody with her when it was necessary to shorten canvas; but it was unlike a sport to turn back because of a little wind She would stand on until she had weathered the point and was out on the open Atlantic, and then run hoot heavier, the foa it when the boat dipped her bows in a sea Then the spray began to beat upon the slanted canvas, and whipped Evelyn's face as she braced herself against the tiller

The boat was sailing very fast, plunging through the sparkling ridges of water; there was so in her speed and the way the foam swirled past Evelyn had an adventurous teh to find a keen relish in outdoor sport Now she was ainst the blue Atlantic co on their crests The point was falling to leeward; it would be a fair wind ho a quick glance astern, she saw that the figures on the beach had grown indistinct and small She felt alone with the sea at last, and the situation had its charm; but when she fixed her eyes ahead she wished that the rollers were not quite so large She had to ease the boat over theusts, and then it was not easy to get the wet rope in

When the point shut off the beach, she saw shefor a patch of smooth water, put up the helht; the rope bruised her fingers as it ran through the over with a crash Evelyn saith alarle to the canvas Soood She could lower the mainsail and run home under the jib

When she left the hel to and fro and the spray flying across her Evelyn loosed the halyards, but found that the gaff would not come down Its end worked upon a brass slide on the s now looked aard It was blowingup, and the sail she could not shorten ot the sloop round, but, as the gaff was jambed, she would not steer a course that would take her to the inlet, and Evelyn remembered with alarm that there was some surf on the beach She could swi ashore froh broken water Still, it was soet nearer; she was on the way to land, there were boats on the inlet, and soht notice that she was in difficulties No boat cawith the sloop

When she was near enough to signal for help it would be too late

A small steamer lurched at anchor not far away; but Evelyn could not reach her: the sloop was like a bird with a broken wing and could only blunder clu wind In another quarter of an hour she would be in the surf, which now looked dangerously heavy

While she was trying to nerve herself for the struggle to land, she saw a boat leave the steahy, and there was only one man on board, but he waved his hand as if he understood her peril, and then rowed steadily to intercept her This needed judgment: if he miscalculated the distance it would be impossible for hi to help Sheher craft before the wind If she jibed, bringing the big sail violently over with its head held fast would result in a capsize

Five hy was close at hand, lurching up and down, lost fro the combers

Theher with caution, easing her when a roller with a foaht he would not miss her boat Her heart beat fast as she put the hel speed as she caside, and the s began to happen so rapidly that the girl could not remember exactly as done; but thethe narrow deck, got a few feet up theaft to the helhy in tow and only the jib set

They were alongside in a few minutes, and he seized a rope that so's hauled up on the beach for painting, and I'hy, now the sea's getting up,” he said ”You'd better coht”

Evelyn hesitated, for she suspected that it would take soed spar It was not an adventure her mother would approve of, but as she could see no way of reaching land, she let the way

CHAPTER IV

THE ”ENCHANTRESS”

On reaching the stealanced with curiosity at her rescuer He was a tall, lightly built man, dressed in an old blue shi+rt, paint-stained duck trousers, and ragged canvas shoes, but he had an easy h clothes Evelyn liked his brown face It had a hint of force in it; though noatching her with a half-a handsoood iirl

Then she looked about the vessel The deck, finely laid with narrow planks, was littered with odd spars, rusty chain, coal bags, and pieces of greasyon She was a very sriht she had been built for a yacht Her narrow bea counter suggested speed A low, lead-gray funnel stood just forward of thethree or four feet above the deck, occupied part of her length The brass boss of the steering wheel bore the name _Enchantress_ The after end of the house, however, was built of iron, with raised lights in the top, and the ha and the pointed re with refractory metal After one exclahts

”Mack,” he said in a warning tone, ”there's a lady on board”

”One o' they half-dressed hussies froht ye had lad that her boating costume was not in the extreme of fashi+on, for sleeves and skirts were severely curtailed then, but she waited with some amusement

”Coht her on board

”Here's a job for you”