SHORT STORY Out to the Sea in Ships By VERNON HoLMEs Joe Langley, captain of the wooden hulk, Northern Light, opened his cabin door to look out into the sea. For a week the leaky ship had been following the Alaskan coast, and he expected to arrive at White Island before sun-set. Rogers, the first-mate, walked up to the captain and pointed southward. “Ship at our star-board, sir,” he replied, ‘““Mike says she’s been following us for days.” “Full hurried mast back then, into the Rogers. That must cabin, locking the be Perry’s door clipper trying to beat him. Hurrying to behind us to the a small safe island.” in the Langley room, he opened it and withdrew a roll of maps; unrolling the smallest of them, he laid it on the table and pinned down the edges to examine it. A slight sound from behind caused him to peer around the room. Seeing nothing, he again bent over the map. Then a light step on the floor and the soft creak of a door caused him to turn like lightning, his hand reaching for his automatic. He was too late, for he found himself gazing at the muzzle of a large Colt, and into the eyes of a girl who held it. “Jean Perry!”’ gasped Joe, his face blank with astonishment. “How did you get on this boat?” “TJ came on at Nome last night when you docked for supplies, but right now I want that map. The White Island gold belongs to dad, and you can’t have it, Joe!’ She moved forward and grasped the map from the table, watching Joe closely. “Taking the map won’t Alaska can’t stop me.” oe i + —— oe b “Nice , that claim.” Perrys in Well you’re miles from the main course, Mr. Langley,” replied the girl. ‘We have claim on that mine, but dad wants to keep you from the island to prevent bloodshed.” a of him, isn’t it?” sneered no good, Joe. girl. ‘Well, I know y you’ll where never that leave gold is and this ship Pp until all the your dad § gives me The girl laughed, then to Langley’s horror she threw the map through the porthole. ‘I’m sure this old map you stole won’t bother you any more, now that—” She was interrupted by a series of loud knocks on the door, then a deep voice called out: “Motor boat heading this way, captain.” Then silence other than that of retreating footsteps. The girl glanced through the porthole, then tried her escape through the door. She succeeded in getting partly through before Langley quickly and fiercefully caught her arm. White with terror she turned and threw the gun in Langley’s face; with a groan he staggered back, covering his face. For a moment she gasped at what she had done, then wheeled just in time to elude Rogers who came around the cabin. The first-mate was too surprised to catch her, and not until Joe staggered from the cabin did he move. But she was too alert for him. ‘Racing to the ships side she climbed the rail and dived into the sea. ey -: ne = - ~ ——_* t me ae “No! government do you motor Rogers watched the girl come up and start swimming away from the Northern Light, toward a boat coming toward her. Cursing, he turned and ran toward the cabin. The inert form of Joe blocked the doorway; Rogers stepped over his body and in a moment came out with a rifle. The girl had not reached the boat, as the occupants were coming slowly fearing gun fire from the ship, reached the railing again. Several of the sailors had seen Rogers coming from the cabin with and Mike ordered them to run for fire-arms. Rogers was watching the boat closely when Mike’s voice ordering the men to get their guns. Cupping his hands to make his voice carry, when he the rifle, he heard he called out: boat “Get that out-board motor and chase that bunch out there; the girl has the map.’ The was quite close now and he could make out two men seated within. Picking up his rifle he took quick aim at the two and fired. One of the men staggered and rolled to the bottom of the boat. He was about to fire again when a shot rang out behind him. With a look of surprise Rogers turned and saw Joe raised on one elbow holding a smoking gun. The gun boomed out again and Rogers stumbled backward against the railing; a sudden lurching of the ship threw him over the railing and for a second the first-mate balanced on the edge before the tipping of the ship rolled him into the sea. The captain of the Northern Light crawled to where into the sea just as the girl was climbing into the boat. Rogers had fallen from the railing looking out His hand went to his face where Jean’s gun had struck boat began forehead, him, but he smiled to pick up speed. as he felt the gash on his and he laughed softly as the distant “Perry needs that gold for Jean,” he murmered to himself. The boat was now rapidly moving away toward a speck on the horizon. “It’s worth all the gold in the world,” he continued, “to see a girl with courage like that.” of 114 fe