BREAKERS AHEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20171, 4 February 1929, Page 16

BREAKERS AHEAD.

A NEW ZEALAND ROMANCE.

CHAPTER vm.—(Continued.)

Curly and Jack, to their eyes in accumulated work, had a peaceful morning. Out at the Doctor's residence, the atmosphere was not nearly so calm. In fact, Mrs. West had had, at intervals, three separate and distinct attacks of hysterics. Never, in all her experience of managing people, had such things pened before. Molly, the child she had reared so carefully, had gone off yesterday to sea, on a log, with strfinge young men. That appeared to have been an accident, but this—this latest °^ r agC) was clearly premeditated. She had just gone off, with no thought of asking permission, to an unknown destination, for two or three days, perhaps longer. And slie asked them to believe that she was "perfectly all right." *< j will not—have —it—Freddy, Reclaimed for tho twentieth time. t is unbearable. Children " Eut she insists that she is perfectly safe, my dear," the Doctor ventured Wildly. " I'm inclined to suspect that Molly can take care of herself.' :.J" You take her part ?" Mrs. West's hysteria overcame her onco more and Doctor West, from being an apologetic Husband and father, reverted to the safer xftlo of family physician. the early afternoon Lenny called at {4io office of Searle and Son and asked for tie "Son." " I want to get hold of a water-front property," ho explained. He .was far mores cordial than at their eailier interview. For ono thing, ho had been ctii- time when the lunch bell rang ana tho result had been satisfying and quite enjoyable. " Can you recommend any particular sections, or if not a reliable agent ?" rturly drummed on his table thoughtfully then his faco brightened. " I believo I c»ri, Mr. Lenny," ho announced optimistically. " Tho Town Board has several sections on tho waterfront to bo leased on what is known as tho Glasgow system. Long terms. Quite a good tenure in fact. Let mo see." He consulted his watch. " I'll arrange an interview with the assistant town clerk for lialf-an-hour from now. He's away at lunch at prosent, I imagine. Will that suit? Very Well, I'll take you round at two o'clock. In tho meantime you can havo a look at tho sections: anyone will show them to-you." When his visitor had gone, Curly became /very busy with tho telephone. Curiously enough, he had been mistaken about Jack's lunch hour, which was from twelve to one, though sometimes unduly extended beyond tho allotted spau of sixty minutes. Precisely at two p.m. Curly and his client stepped insido tho barnlike buildthat housed the municipal activities There was a flag fluttering over the outer door, inscribed with the legend''"Polling Booth." Several solemn individuals sat behind a table in the Board room. Two capacious boxes masked tho activities of those seated there—but not completely. One man was biting an apple; another was picking his teeth. No voters were apparent. Loan poll," Curly explained. " Not in there. This way. To tho general office.' AVhen they came upon him. Jack was busily entering figures in a ledger. He turned and greeted the visitors. A business matter, Jack," Curly said importantly. " Mr. Lenny is thinking aßout securing a waterfront section. I tola him I thought the town had a few. You've got plan, I s'pose." Yes,' of course." Jack rummaged nhder the desk, secured a lithographic pi, 14 and scanned it with care. He turned/the plan round for the others to sco. " There's one section left, this one with (lie cross. There has been a re/i)ark.able ruu on our sections recently The public have realised at last that tho lean re is practically as good as freehold and of .'-ourse very much cheaper. You will see tho rental figures marked on tho plsn. Tho rent is payable half-yearly, in advance."

" That section ought to suit me all right. I have had a rough look-over the ground, but you'd send someone along to show;'roe the section pegs?" " 0h : yes."

" By the way, I always like to know who my neighbours are. Who has the sections on either side, Numbers 54 and 361"

' Jack turned the plan over. A typed list was attached to its back. " See for yourself Mr. Lenny," he offered cordially. "That is a complete list of all our sections, holders with the numbers of their sections."

Mr. Lenny saw and staggered back. " What!" he cried huskilv.

Curly.; leant across and read aloud " Section 34. The Sharkleather Company. Section 55, Marine Products, Ltd., Manufacturers of Insulin and Walking sticks. Why, that's rather a coin cidence; you'll all bo together. Didn't 2 understand last night that you were interested in the commercial side of sharkfishing?"

But Mr. Lenny would not wait to discuss the subjects in which he was interested. " I getter think this over," he stuttered thickly. " See you 'nother time." He left them hurriedly. " Oh! Before I go." Curly spoke as one official to another. " Here's the application fees for the company on those two sections. Must be prepared for expansion in an industry like ours." Jack made out formal receipts and handed them, gravely, across to Curly. They stared inquiringly at one another, but not a muscle quivered. Then Jack spoke, almost sadly. " Honest, I b'lieve even Molly would admit we're stringing him along some. Sho told us to keep him int'rested an' amused, 'member ?" Curly nodded with grave thoughtfulncss. " I'm inclined to agree with you," he stated formally. " But mind you, this will have to last him till four, when he gels Molly's message. Oh, well, I expect he'll bo able to amuso himself for a couple of hours. We've done all he's a right to expect for the present. See yon after five. Cheerio!" Sea voyaging by launch, was, Molly soon discovered, much more enjoyable than the same journey undertaken by log. The " Mako '' had a fair turn of speed and the new owner decided that she not going to be a mere passenger; she would take her share in the running of the craft.

" You show mo, Harry," she requested, taking post at the steering-wheel. " I •want to leapi how to do things." She laughed ruefully as her first attempt produced a wake resembling endless repetitions of the letter "S." "I'rr trying to turn you out of your job. Of course, we'll need you when we get started with our "works, but I 6hould like to know how to do things." Harry was patient and the pupil willing and apt to learn. She got the " feel of / + u v ? ry , 800n an(i tho fi^ady courso to which she held her charge won Harry s approval. F ood! " h ° exclaimed heartily, eye y ° U Can Steer thro ' the needle's - "Hardly." Molly was flushed and happy. Then her face grew j thoughtful as she looked ahead into the • dl l ant other thing, Harry, before we go maid"* a public appearance. Have you got dl the sword-fishing gear aboard ? " tll " an ' har P° on an ' seat-all the stuff., Th s proper shark launch. Last season some big ferrows caught from it about. My uncle make him." abreast of Motuwera at the time, and Molly remembered her experiences of 'the day before-it seemed a m?], lenium ago. There are sharks here." she reflected aloud. " I'd like to catch done ** n just to learn how it's s Harry nodded his understanding. " Not many big ferrows here, but we try' flukes " m-' 2finvest lea ted the looker under the seat pioduced a stout lino with shining

(COPYRIGHT.)

By FRANK H. BODLE Author ot " uuter uaritness " and " The Te Koc ti 1 rail.

spinner attached. 110 dropped the spinner astern, paid out the line, then looked around. Some distance ahead, beyond the point where yesterday the log had come to anchor —it, was gone now—black capped gulls were very busy, fluttering down, a screaming (lock, to water-level, rising noisily and skimming onco more. Kahawai chase sprats to the top an' gulls eat 'em. i'hey catch trouble both ways." Harry was proving unexpectedly loquacious. "Wo want kahawai. Ihat the best dinner for the shark. When wo get neat that lot, I shut off the engine, an' wo drift thro' Might hook a kahawai. Try flukes anyway." CHAPTER IX. EDUCATION OF MOLLY. Nearing the scene of activity, Harry lot the engine out to full speed, then shut it off and ran back to his line. Around them, as they drifted, the sea was literally boiling with harried little silversides. They leapt frantically from the water, swerved to one side in mud panic and Uio busy gulls fed well. Now and again the blunt noso and wide jaws of the seahunters were visible. Once, an exuberant harrier jumper] altogether clear and fell oack with a splash, while hordes of small frv scuttled convulsively to either side. "Harry drew in his lino gently, then struck.

" Ilaeremai ehoa " (Welcomo friend), Harry chaDted and hauled in vigorously. " Number one." Ho lifted tho five-poun-der in over tho sido and tho kahawai, greediest fish of all tho seven sea, lay Dapping and snapping in the well. " Never want bait for him," Harry deftly withdrew the hook and flung tho lino astern. "Ho bite rag or shell or metal, auytbing shining an' No nibble for him. Just one rush. Snap! Goo'-byc! Ho's hooked." Ho pulled in another before they had drifted thro' the scliool, then tied his line to a cleat and showed Molly how to start tho engine. " Like that." Iho motor commenced to throb. " Now forward. More. Give her more. She's full Too good! Now bring her head roun an shova her thro' tho middle 'gain. Get tow more."

Again, with engines shut off, tinder the impulse these had given, they drifted thro the school. Two lines were out this time and Harry caught two more fish and Molly, to her delight, another, before they were thro' to clear water. _ " ' Nother time roun', Kipa (Skipper)," Harry suggested. " You start her an' bring hei roun'. Full lick, then stop. You know!'

" Yes." Molly ran below, rc-started the engines, swung tho boat's head round then when near enough, shut off power. This, she thougnt gaily, was the life. Brighton at its brightest had shown • her nothing like this. She was possessed of a sense of power, of mastery, as, easily, she controlled every pulse, every movement of her boat The slavery of plates and dishes the thralldom of tho'broom and bed-mak-ing, were left behind. Her small chin was thrust forward in fighting attitude, as she guided her slowing boat into the maelstrom of scurrying fish. She must, she simply must, make good in this business to which she had set her hand. "Come on, Kipa. Tie wheel," Harry cried cxultantlv. '' Fish on each* line. They secured two apiece that venture, and Harry cried enough. " Shark come," he stated, and pointed to a cruising fin. "That break up te happy home." And so it proved. The school scattered in all directions. The hunters slipped off by twos nnd threes, such as were still hungry, to continue after stragglers of the fleeing host, the greater number to slink swiftly away into dim recesses of security. Bigger, bolder, and more cunning hunters than they were stirring; it were wise to seek other hunting grounds. Molly, watching tensely, felt that it was possible to see tho quiver that ran, light-ning-speed thro that acre or two of ocean. The feel of an approaching danger swept across from cm! to end and raider and raided with one last boiling of the surface, flung themselves into desperate flight. The gulls, hundreds of them, circled upward and drove away to the north, observing eyes upon the sea below. The scene of tho foray and heavy slaughter lost individuality. It was once more calm blue water, unruffled by ripple, indistinguishable from tho sea around. To Harry all this was a commonplace of everyday life and he took small interest in it. The sight of that black fin astern bad told him all that would inevitably happen, and ho lost no time in producing the rod of which he had boasted, hooking a kaliawai securely to its lino and setting the fish to drift. He adjusted the fishing seat and handed tho rod to Molly. * You take him." He settled her in the seat and instructed her in the use of the rod ancs reel. In his own words, Harry " had no truck with wimmin," but Molly had found favour in his eyes. She was thoroughly alive, alert and keen to learn. Her business aptitude in the manner of the purchase negotiations, had inspired his respect. Altogether, he felt, she was a pupil of whom he might be proud. " Bimeby Mister Shark come nosing round " He pointed to the approaching fin. "Smell the, fish Shy at fi£?t, maybe. Then, too quick, bite. You hook liko this.'' Harry struck . " Then, be strong. He gets his angry out, an rush. You hold him, not too tight, but don let him tangle the line. Heel him in quick when he ease 3. Reel like M Mollv struck. " I've got something, sic shouted joyfully. The reel screamed as she applied the brake. "By Korri! That no gonin' shark. Sw.ordfish, might.. Hoi* him, Kipa! Hoi hl The stout rod bent over. Molly braced her feet against the wall of the cockpit nnd pressed heavily on tho screeching brake. Tho pull on the racing line slacKened. , „ „ "Coming up. Wo sco him now, Hany shouted encouragingly. "Reel in, quick. There was a white break in tho blue abeam, then a creamy flurry. A great fish, savage fury in its wild plunge, jumped clear of the water, skittered along the surface and with lash and thrust of tail, swept down out of sight. "Oh, the beauty," Molly cried exultantly and pressed upon tho brake. "By korri! You lucky kipa. Swordfish a'right. You inanago' him ?" Harry was not really anxious. The girl appeared to bo completely master of herself and the situation.

"Yes," Molly panted. "That the way. Make liim feel te hook. He come up again." Five separate times the fish flung him solf clear of the water, twisting and flashing atout in an agony of endeavour to toss out the maddening thing that tore at his mouth and curbed his cherished free d° m - .. r r • ,1 "Feeling tired now," Harry the expert proclaimed. "More hpok, ( hi pa. Makft him bo pusy all a' tim 6. lie started the engine running slowly, Hie fish, plainly very tired, was towing tliem out to sea and northward. An hour and 40 minutes from the strike, the great, fish, played completely out. weak and beaten, was alongside. Harry drove in the harpoon that put an end to its struggles, noosed it fore r*nd aft and lashed it to the side of the boat. "Not the biggest ferrow in te sea, but werry nice fish a' te same," he said with genuine satisfaction. "How you feel, kipa 1" "Why, I'm tired right out and prouder than Lucifer ever was." Molly wiped the perspiration from h<?r face. She was tiembling from head to foot, but her faco snowed how tremendously happy she was Know old Lucy Martin, but I never ferrow." Harry grinned sympathetically. "But my word,, you a' <To be continued daily.)