BREAKERS AHEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20174, 7 February 1929, Page 16

BREAKERS AHEAD.

A NEW ZEALAND ROMANCE.

CHAPTER XL—(Continuad). For nearly an hour Molly fought grimly, and the colonel, his own bad luck temporarily forgotten, chuckled approval of each sortie and repulse, tho calmly checked rushes and tho series of frantic leaps. Harry j the directing mind behind this display, was nursing the launch carefully. At every opportunity he edged it in nearer to tho other boat, till they were within easy hailing distance. " Stick to him, young ladv," the colonel's excitement had to be translated into an encouraging shout. " He's a fish

■worth taking." Molly hastily rubbed tho perspiration from her eyes. " I wish you could come across and take tho rod, colonel," she hailed. " I'm nearly done. This is a

man's job." ' I'll bo there in a braco of shakes," Colonel Chesterton shouted and reeled in bis line. Billy started his engine, and shortly tho bow of tho colonel's boat pushed in beside the stern of Molly's craft. Disdaining Harry's assistance the colonel sprang across and stood by Molly's side.

'"Can't you manage him?" ho asked, hopefully. " I'm dead beat, colonel." Molly passed tho rod and left her scat. " Had a toughish fight with one this morning, so this big fellow is liablo to get the best of me. I'm so glad you were near." " So'm I." The colonel devoted all his attention to the fish. " Hold up, yon brute! Gad! He's a big ° ne > right." " Eight hun'red poun's—or I eat him. bones an' evervt'ing," Harry interjected. " He's on the run now," tho colonel puffed happily. " Out to sea for him. We'll be with you, my pet. Start her

jigging, Harry." They ran for several miles, then once more the big fish broached, flashing into the air and churning ttio sea to foam in its frantic surface rushes. Molly stood to the wheel and used all tho wit she had to give the colonel the most effective assistance. Exactly at the time that Lenny ■was being notified npon Tainui Wharf that Molly could not meet hirn that day —" Nerves, y'know"—that is to say, at five minutes past four, the beaten monster, pumped to a standstill, was being deftly manoeuvred alongside Harry delivered the quietus, and the colonel, only one degree less exhausted than tho fish had been, dropped wearily back into tho Beat.

" Great fight," he observed faintly. "Almost*got away, that last flurry." "I never could nave lasted with him us you did," Molly cried enthusiastically. " I* had the luck to hook him. but—he's your fish, colonel." " Tough customer, all right, my dear." the colonel was gettina his wind back, and felt at peace with all the world. Curiously, Molly did not resent his affectionate address. They had been comrades in a wonderful fight, and, she reflected, he ■wasn't—slimy. She smiled happily " Are you satisfied for tho day, or do you still pant for fresh fish to conquer." "Enough l Enough!" The colonel sat up slowly and surveyed his fish with affection. " This fellow does me for today—and compensates for many disappointments We'll make for camp, if you're agreeable. And. if you don't giind. I'll finish the cruise with you." " I should be mortally offended if you didn't."

The colonel shouted instructions across to Billy, and, keeping company, the two launches headed for camp. " Now, tell me," tho colonel lit a fat cigar and settled back luxuriously, " what you're doing here by yourself. Unusual ■ for girls of your age to tackle this sort of thing, singlo-handed, too. New Zealander ?"

" Yes, since a week ago," Molly laughed. " Fred—my dad—is the doctor at Tainui. We've just arrived from England." Her voice grew melancholy. " Oh, colonel, you can't imagine how I hate

dish-washing and house-cieaning." " Yes, T can. Bachelor. Fend for myself. Rabid business. Someone's got to do' it, of course. Rut. not me. I took to the club " " Nor me. I've mutinied."

" And gone sword-fishing ?" " That's only incidental. It can't last p.s a profession, I mean." She pondered for a .moment and decided to speak as directly as possible. The colonel was rather direct in his methods and would appreciate the same quality in others. " We've formed a little company." she •went on " I've got two partners. One of them is Curly Searle. His father's a lawyer at Tainui."

" Met the old gentleman out here, Uses a fair rod."

" Well, we want to establish works to deal with the fish you people catch. Make leather from the skins and insulin and tinned meat, and walking sticks They've a factory in New South Wales that docs those things. We're hiring a man from there by cable." "Go on " The colonel was interested, but not altogether favourably. There was a frown on his moist, red face. " There is one difficulty—certainty of supplies," Mollv continued quietly. " Of course, we realise that tho big fish that come down hero from the islands must be conserved for the sportsmen. Othei

wise, if commercial interests take charge, they'll sweep the seas clean." Molly watched the colonel closely to determine how far Harry's coaching would prove effective. "In fact, we-'vo already written to our member of Parliament, asking him to move for regulations prohibiting commercial fishing during late spring and Bummer." The frown left the colonel's face. He looked like ono of those warm-colonred sunsets that herald fair weather " I never expected to hear any female show so much sense." he said warmly. "You've got the marrow of tho matter. Once let the commerce get its claws 111 here, then good-bye to all sport. Goon' Gad' You haven't told rne your name yet." " Molly West Well, you see, that, quite rightly, limits our source of supplies.* We're dependent, during summer, on the catches from the fishing camps "We'd not be justified, would we. in erect ing expensive works, unless we had some definite arrangement to take all the fish sportsmen did not want Otherwise, anyone might come along, buy up the fish, and leave our works idle." " Perfectly correct." The colonel flicked the ash from his cigar. " I'd not invest one penny piece myself, without some sort of guarantee—even to avoid the dishes. Proceed You have my attention." Molly produced a newspaper cutting 1 from her purse and proferred it to her companion. " Read this for yourself, colonel. Then tell me if you think it right that all these fish should bo allowed to waste ?" Colonel Chesterton read the half column to the end, then very carefullv re read Tf „ e -", ho ha(l finished, he looked at ■"lolly Wl "> new interest. The girl was not only a sportsman. She had brains—and used them. Pity sho wasn't a bey. lie cleared his throat. t.,«i n i is *u hins l looks gocd 10 mo '" He handed the cutting over to Molly •« i n mclincd to look «»to ■ Molly'# heart sank. After nil hotrouble and what she had gone through fcte * SUCCM ' W ""'"8 »P ««» yo ° th ° iss- ss u • us 0111011 between them and -■».?

Author of "Outer Darkness" and "Tho To Kooti Trail." (COPTRIGUT.)

By FRANK H. BODLE,

" That still loaves room for rne, I should estimate."

"As chairman oi directors!" Molly's heart sank. " You're tho ono man above all others who could help us to success." "Ilumph!" That was tho colonels own opinion, but lie was careful not. to state it. " I'll come along to Tainui and look this thing over. In tlio meantimo —' "In tho meantime," Molly said swiftly, " thcro is urgent need for hurry in getting our contracts, for all tho fish of all £the camps. There's some sort of foreigner, a Mr. Lenny " " Ilo! Ilo: So that's tho Hebrew prophet's little game. 110 was round here a clay or two back, pushing Ins big nose everywhere and looking wise." The colonel blew out his cheeks explosively. " And now 1 como to think of it, young lady, ho had this very boat Whcro is ho now ?" Molly examined her tcct demuroly. " I'm afraid he's still in Tainui. Ihere was nothing elso to do, so I bought the launch while he was asleep, and just came along to try for a contract, belore ho woke up." Onco more the colonel blow out bis cheeks. A great bellow of laughter rumbled from him. He slapped his sides, then lay back, shaking with delighted merriment. " Gad • And i thought you were a paint and powder missio," he chuckled, when he had caught his breath Never so mistaken in my life. had you in my regiment. You'd ha' done me credit." "lie controlled his emotions with an effort " Well, now, we've got to fix up that contract before the Oriental rouses from his slumber, haven't wo?" "We have," Molly spoke quietly. " Hero and at the other camps." Colonel Chesterton seized her hand and shook it warmly. " We'll do just that Molly, my dear," ho said earnestly. Spoil the Egyptians and so forth. Its a good cause and, well —I m tnclined to think that a word or two from me will help it along." " I'm inclined to think so, too, answered more demurely than ever. In fact, if I hadn't been sure of it, 1 wouldn't have fished so closo to your boat."

CHAPTER XII. MYSTERY OP THE " MAKO." " Leave the arranging of .tho contract to me, my dear," tho colonel said jovially, when they were within sight of tho. camp. "I'll attend to that, before we havo dinner." "Thank von ever so much, colonel." Molly squeezed the big hand warmly. "1 always told my undo—he s in the Dragoons yon know—that you can rely on tho Army "to bo thorough-going sportsmen under every sort of circumstance. Now would you mind if I sit quietlv and think for a few minutes." "Why. my dear girl, whatover's the matter now?' Tho colonel looued anxi ous. "You don't se-« Lenny ashoro. do you ?" "No, but ho's worrying mo," Molly admitted. "He's tho unknown quantity. We don't know what he'll do next. Those boys will hoio him at Tainui to-day—l think. They struck me as resourceful—but ho s bound to be restive " Molly resteu lier chin "n her hand, in her characteristic way and looked thought fully out toward the west 'You see, colonel,' sht went on, soberly, "Freddy, my dad, I mean, is a No. 1 player. He's taught me always to think out every possible move tho other player may take —and the consequences So it you'll excuse me I'd like *o think over all the moves the—Oriental adversary mav take " "Staff work hey V The colonel ooUed at her admiringly 'Co to it. Molly, my Irish rose I'll net disturb you.' Beinc thoroughly pleased wilh himself and all his world, he lit another cigar At that moment, ho would have challenged to mortal combat any person rash enough to hint thai therp was the slichtes* thing amiss with the swc.rd-fishing grounds of New Zealand or the sport to be obtained

there Molly \va a still pensive as they neared the ivharf and, by signs the colonel ordered Han- to keep tho launch out and await developments. The gallant offi.vi watched with interest the plav of emo tions visible on the girl's mobile face. When a smile of satisfactio i crept into

tho downcast eyes and twinkled down to the corners of her mouth, the colonel himself smiled with relief. Molly aglow with triumph—she had sauared her equation—nodded reassuringly to her silent comrade. "Headquarters stuff, eh, mv dear ? Plans for the next offensive matured ?" the colonel inquired, solicitously "■See what you think, colonel." Mollv spoke briskly • sho was quite ready to translate her thoughts into words. "In the first place, Lenny will he very angry. He chartered this launch for a week, didn't he, Harry ?'

"Aie. Four more days to go." "Then I was to meet him at four o'clock to-day. I didn't. He'll get more restless. I told Curly and Jack to string him on—they should manage for to-day. But there's always die chance he may find out I m missing M 3' people may make a fuss "

"What." The colonel's checks showed signs of further explosive activity. "Don't thev know where you are?" "I left them a note to say 1 was quite all right and not Jo worry." Mollic refused to be diverted and returned to Lenny "If ho finds out I've gone he'd likely enough connect me with the trussing Kunch and come after inc. Can ho get another boat, Harry?" Harry shook his head. "No. All Tainui boats up here, fishing. "Think again," Molly insisted. "If there s ono anywhere, he'll be bound to get it Harry did think. "There ol* Moki's tub, but that seven miles down coast from lainui. Ihat to nearest ferrow." "Could he get there on horseback ?" " Aie. Kood road." "Then he'll get it," Molly said with I conviction, "perhaps to-morrow morning. He's simply got to come along to see what I'm up to. Probably he'll bo stirred to thoughts of contracts himself." "So far I'm with you, m' dear." • The colonel puffed solemnly. "That's the worst that can happen," Molly continued, her eves ori the clow of the sunset. " And tho worst's just tho •very thing we've got to be ready for." "Sound strategy." "What will he do next?" Molly continued her musing at eve. "He'll think I would come to the nearest and biggest camp and come here himself. He'll make inquiries and be bound to find we've got a hold on the fish catches Then, not finding me here—ho won't, you know, colonel. I'm going ro move quickly—he'll think I've gone along to the next ono up the coast. Middle Camp. If he's smart, he'll skip Middle (lamp and go past it to the last ono, on tho island, because he'll think I won't have reached that yet. Ho'll try for a contract there, so as to hold at least ono trump, when it comes to the. show-down, don't you call it?" "Apologise again. Tho colonel took off his hat. "Said I'd like to have you in my regiment. Gad! I'd bo proud to servo under you." (To be continued dnily.)