Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

THE OLD ROCKS. grimly. -“ But it’s too late now, we can only trust our anchors and wait. _- Before long a full blown northwest -hurri- cane came howling out of the winter’s night. Only Red Alec and the mate and Little Roary were sober. But there was nothing they could do. “ Will the cable hold?” “Yes, it will hold,” declared the mate. “That cable was made by Dennis More. When he forged it in the smithy at Mac- Nairs he said ‘ some day these links will hold a father and his bairn,’ that’s why he forged it- well. That’s why right now I believe it will not break.” The cable forged in faith held on. But as the hurricane increased something hap- pened that shook the drunkest of them— the anchor began to drag! - “ Christ’s cross be o’er us, our time has come!” yelled Little Roary. Through the blackness of the howling night the Banshee answered to the call of the storm. ~ “‘ What’s before?” “ Where are we drifting?” “ Dinna ken, but we’re bound fer the auld rocks.” That lovely devil, Red Alec, had been continually rubbing clothes with death. Formerly in such desperate straits he soaked himself with strong liquor and by the super- natural powers derived therefrom came through alive and kicking. But this time the dare-devil stood strange- ly silent, muttering to himself and clutching something at his breast. A spirit of hopelessness settled down upon the crew. The very sobriety of the captain chilled their hearts. Where was the blus- tering, hell roaring Red Alec, who laughed at danger and knew no fear? “Yes, his time had come. The hand of fate at last had struck terror even to that strong heart. Like a bride of the sea prepared for her dance with death, the Banshee dragged her anchor, and floated on. Somewhere through the roaring night there came faintly the sound of a bell. The sound of that muffled bell reminded Red Alec that it was the day before New Year’s Eve. To-morrow would bring the New Year’s ball—and the midnight dance, st that he would be there to keep his tryst with Little Raymond. How would it happen? What | 545 Never for a moment did he in would he do? Such questions never crossed — his mind. He knew at last the Banshee was doomed. He knew at last he was a helpless one in the hands of good St. Michael — : Red Alec, the mate, and Little Roary were standing on the poop together when there in the tempestuous night the Banshee found the old rocks st were waiting for her. Without slightest warning her stern sud- denly ran across a ledge of shelving granite. The dragging anchors: held her momentarily pounding in spume and spray. Quicker than thought the three standing together aft climbed over the taffrail and leaped down upon the ledge. Others of the drunken crew started after, but the moment of grace had gone. The schooner was lifted on a soaring comber swinging broadside to the granite wall, smashing and pounding her ribs to splinters. As the sea backed and fell, the Banshee, with a broken spine, wallowed helplessly, like a murdered corpse upon the wave. Then as though some unseen hand were reaching upward, the bow leaped forth, and with a sudden dive she vanished. On that thundering ledge Red Alec guessed and guessed rightly that they were prisoners at the base of grim Cape North. Beneath a howling, hungry ocean. Tower- ing a thousand feet above, a mountain wall of granite. Ocean and bastion rock alike with the spirit of the north, were remorseless and relentless. SA st The three survivors crawled in upon the — ledge to escape from the crashing seas. But Red Alec did not tarry. While the other two were crouching and shuddering with fear, he watched his chance between the seas, rushed across the narrow ledge, and started to grapple his way up the epee side. There was no time for his companions to question. They also set themselves to fol- low. The next crpshing wave found all three high enough to be reached only by the - jighter spray. But even that light spray = comichoo CO