Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

THE OLD ROCKS. speak that way, it feels as if something dreadful is sure to happen to a - “ What if it does?” « Well, I don’t want to see you go away and not come back.” “Tt always said, little one, I didna care when I went away, but first thing you know you'll be making me afraid with a’ this kind o’ talk. Aye, this is a bad line for the skipper who’s just about to take the Banshee out to sea. If I let myself go, I could almost be again like I was when [I was a scared and trembling lad.” “Well, let’s play that we’re a little boy and a little girl again, just for to-night.” “Na, child! If I got, playing at that I’d meet some old time witches that would be sure to come and haunt me when I’m fight- ing tooth and nail at sea against some giant’s might.” “But don’t you believe in our good Saint Michael, the guardian and patron saint of the sea?” There was an anxious sob in Little Raymond’s voice as she uttered this query. ~©©# course I do, down underneath. all, as we get older talk and bluster. I’m one o’ the black sheep o’ Judique. But Yl tell ye truly, little one, for all me blustering I canna begin to unlearn what I first heard as a bairn at me mother’s side in the high white wales of Stella Maris. Yea, I believe in good Saint Michael, but dinna ye tell the secret which I’ve told ye.” “ Oh, I'll keep your secret. But I’m so glad you’ve told me. Because you have told me I’ve got something here to give you, that will bring you back to me, in spite of the old rocks.” The girl withdrew her arm and unfasten- ing the neck of her gown, drew forth from her warm breast a beautiful cross, with two cross bars. “This is the cross of Clan Ranald, that once belonged to the Fair Bishops. It was blessed by them, and it will bring you safe- ly through the water.” With sudden trembling, and a visible emotion that hardly credited him, Red Alec unbuttoned his homespun shirt, and bend- ing over the girl placed the cross upon his chest and clasped the. necklace by which it was suspended. When she had finished 4 We she raised her lips and kissed him; not the kiss Of passion, but the kiss of childhood’s trust and faith. For a few minutes longer they continued. to walk together in silence, At last Red Alec seemed to shake himself out of a stupor. “I must be going, little one.” “ What, so soon?” “e Yes.” ; “T can’t ask you to dance with me to- night,” « No, not after what we have just spoken. But when I’ve brought back your charm, over the Bad Rocks, then will you seaNe with me?” * ‘Yes, and when will that be?” “The midnight dance at the New. Year’s Ball.” Things went wrong on that voyage from the very start. On Friday evening Red Alec boarded his ill luck ship. As he came over the side it was a cold drizzly Decem- ber twilight, with promise of wind and storm. Many a curious watcher on the shore stood gazing on the Banshee, and conjec- turing her fate. the hungry sea. On the morrow the crowds were there gossiping in high excitement, shaking dubious heads, searching with questioning eyes the place where the fated vessel had been moored. But she was there no longer! She had gone—gone fong before the gray and howling dawn. In the mystery of her departure the prophets read another certain proof of doom. On Friday evening in the channel, be- tween the Inner Island and the tiainland a large fleet of fishermen and coasters had assembled in anticipation of storm. The Banshee had run in from MacNairs late in the afternoon. As all the best anchoring grounds were occupied she was obliged to take a berth not far from the long sand bar which extended nearly two-- thirds of the distance across the southern end, leaving a comparatively narrow outlet between there, and the sand-pits of the mainiand. When she came to anchor toward dusk LJ BAL A winter’s offering for Eomichooks.co