Adventure, June 1911 — page 30: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

216 ‘station, to see a moderate-sized man throw a dunnage-bag into the dingey towing be- ‘tind and paddle ashore. The members of _he crew who were crowded together in the ookout-tower were loud in their expression of disgust at his appearance. “Little runt!” growled Billy Bennett. ‘‘T don’t see how he passed the ’zamination. ‘\in’t over five-foot-five if he’s an inch, an’ {’ll bet he don’t weigh one-twenty!” ‘An’ get on to that walk of his!”’ added Drake, No. 4. ‘Looks like he had a wooden ieg, he swings it that stiff.” And pessimistic Saunders, delighted to think that his predictions seemed more than ever sure to be realized, exclaimed: “Didn’t I tell you so? I said when Baker zot hurt an’ we found we couldn’t get Suydam to sub, that we might jest as well sive up any idea of winnin’ that cup. He’s a hefty lookin’ critter to help us out, now, ain’t he?”’ Unaware of the dismay his personality tad caused, the newcomer continued up the vath and soon the watchers above heard him stamping the sand from his shoes at che mess-room door. Then the murmur of voices floated up to the tower. “Might jest as well go down an’ get in- troduced an’ get the agony over with,’ said ‘sennett. ‘I don’t s’pose he can help it ‘cause he’s little, an’ as he’s here we’ve got .o make the best of it.”’ So four pairs of shoes clumped down the stairs, and as each man entered the mess- room he acknowledged Keeper Rorke’s introduction to the man standing beside nim with a handshake and a perfunctory ‘“How’d you do?” ©) and the momentous day was swiftly * drawing near, but still the Zachs inlet crew were unable to view their chances in anything but the most unfavorable light. Chere was only one event of which they were sure of, and that was the dash. Billy Sennett was able to negotiate a hundred yards in close to ten seconds at any time, ind might do a trifle better if pushed. That they knew, and there was no man in the -hree stations that was as good by a second, ‘yut in all the other trials it seemed as if they would have to be contented with a second or third. Before Baker’s accident they had also been practically sure of winning the swim A WEEK passed and then another ultimate result was the same. Adventure and the standing broad jump, but now Parker of Gilgo was the most powerful swimmer, and Lee, also of Gilgo, the best jumper in the three stations. The Station slate had been covered a dozen times with figures indicating the points each station was reasonably sure of, and each time the The other stations, Napeague and Gilgo, were credited with twenty-four and twenty-one points respectively, and Zachs Inlet with the re- mainder, eighteen. There were seven events, a one-hundred- yard dash, mile run, standing broad jump, swimming race, hammer-throw, shot-put, and last, three men from each station were to compete in a clay-pigeon shoot; and the points were counted at five for first, three for second, and one for third. Calculate as closely as they could, there seemed to be no other result obtainable, and consequently it seemed inevitable that Zachs Inlet would finish third. After O’Donnell had been in the Station for nearly a month and had satisfactorily explained the lameness that had so dis- gusted Saunders by remarking one day that he was recovering from an injury to his knee-cap, Jim Reynolds met him returning from fog patrol and took it upon himself to question him regarding his abilities, ex- plaining the predicament they were in and expressing the hope that he would be able to help toward securing that coveted cup. He had received but little encouragement. ‘‘Sure,’’ O’Donnell had replied, “‘T’ll do what I can for the boys, but that ain’t much, I’m thinkin’. I used to be a bit of a swimmer when I was a kid, so mebbe you’d better put me down in that, an’ I'll practise up these fine mornin’s.” “But ain’t there anything you’re good at?” earnestly inquired Reynolds. “ Ain’t there something you can do a little better’n common?” O’Donnell scratched his head thought- fully for a moment before he answered and then exclaimed enthusiastically, ““Sure an’ there is! IJ’ll bet there ain’t a man on the beach can beat me Jiggin’! But it ain't jiggin’ you want?” he asked anxiously, al- though the twinkle in his eye belied his words. “Ob; be Reynolds was too disgusted for further reply, and turned toward the Station. Then thinking, perhaps, that even __ a moderately good swimmer might be of COmiclbooks (© S|