Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-01-26


and | ventured to call out. that the
rowers might be guided to- the right
spot The light went out, or was hid.
den, in a moment and shortly afer-
wards the boat, manned by four men.
with fifth sitting in the stern sheets,
shot up to the pier. l was soon on
board Of her, and the man sitting i'll
the stern gave my hand squeeze that
made me recognize him as Won Mitsch-
ka.
) The boats head was now turned to
the north, and we went off at a good
rate of speed, favored by the wind,
which was increasing i'm strength ev-
! cry minute. For more than an hour
; the men rowed steadily on. and all the
, time my companion and l did not eN-
change a word, beyond an occasional
remark about the weather. When we
! had got quite out of sight of Brier-
wick we turned a headland. and saw
! in the bay beyond small brig. very
long for her beam and lying very low
in the water. 1t was evident that she
| had been looking out for us, for 40
! sooner had we rounded the headland
; than q stir was visible on board of her;
the yards We're manned and the sails
were shaken out.
''rhere is the vessel that is to be
your home for the present. said Won
NIitschka, pointing to the brig.
AS he spoke. heard the rattle of the
! rattle of the WindlaSS, prOclaiming the
fact that she was getting up anchor.
we reached her just as she was begin
ming to move through the wafer and
sprnng on board. l was Immediately
| led below, while the sailors set to
| work to secure the boat to the dayits
and hoiSe her to her usual place at the
ships side.
/; l found the vessel roOmer than one
would have supposed, judging from
her sea-level. The main cabin was
plainly but comfortably furnished and
Il substantial meal Of sea-fare was
placed on the table. Right at the stern
We're four cabins. One of these, Won
Mitschka told me. belonged to the skip
per. another to the mate. while he oc-
cupied the third. The fourth was dos
tined for me. 1t was sufficiently large,
and the berth. With its clean. white
sheets. looked very inviting to a man
who. like me, had been up all night.
Better wash your hands and have
what you please" said Won NIitschka.
you will sleep all the sounder for it.
And l may as we'll say now that YOU
must make the most of me as a com-
panion While the voyage lasts. as it is
forbidden that you should hold CON-
muniration With anyone else Oh board.
This is for your own sake, as much as
ours
Il don't see why you should say
that l rejoined: "but am very we'll
pleased that l have you to talk to, and
l shall make a point of obeying orders
so long as l am on board. l suppose
it is forbidden to ask how long the voy-
age is likely to last?'
+, "It depends on the wind" said the
| Nihilist, evasively. LAS you see, this
is only Il sailing vessel and we cannot
count upon getting to our destination
by certain date in the case of sail
ing ship, as you can when you are o.!
board a steamer
! ut seems rather strange to me-
ventured to remark, when Won A1itSch-
ka and 1 We're seated at our supper
breakfast that your Committee pre-
fer to depend upon the services of Il
sailing vessel, when Il steamer would
be so much more serviceable. Occa-
sions might arise when speed would be
OF the utmost consequence to you"
You can hardly suppose that We
! have overlooked that. my dear Mr..
Heath" said Won Mitschka, with Il
smile: 'and the fact is that we have q
small steamer at our disposal. but for
ordinary purposes we prefer sailing
/ vessel, as being far more likely to es-
cape suspicion. No one would sup
pose that the Susannah, steady going
old maid of vessel, with an unbroken
record of a moderately-fast and I'M
eventful voyages, would be engaged in
any nefarious enterprise. She could
sail past the most watchful cruiser,
when anything in the shape Of Il steam
er would infallibly be boarded. Be
that speed is much of an object to us.
On the contrady we take things, as q
rule. in very leisurely fashion,
The greater part of the next day l
spent in my berth. When l got up and
went on deck we were out of sight OF
land.
The brig presented the appearance of
an ordinary merchantmen. "A quaint
tN or small DifGelS. Sucn as are uSeu
for the carriage Of light perishable
goods, covered with tarpaulin, en-,
numbered the deck amidships. A few
sailors were lonnging about the fore
castle: some We're mending sails; one
burly old salt was at the wheel; and d
man with gold-laced cap, whom
took to be the skipper. but who turned
out to be the mate, was walking the
quarterback. Him l saluted, but re
ceiving n surly response, l made no at
tempt to speak to him, but continued
my stroll along the deck.
had not gone far however, before
l was stopped by sailor l had come
near the main hatch, which was open
and the man minated, by unmistaka
bic gestures, that would not be al
lowed to approach it. Turning on my
heel, I sauntered towards the stern
and, without thinking what / was do
ing. went up to the pinnacle. But be
fore l had time to examine the com
pass. the officer l have mentioned
sprang On me, and forcibly pulled M
away from the spot.