Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-03-16
CHAPTER XVIII. tcontinueao


where he was to meet me that even
ing and take me on board.
II guess you don't imagine. mister,
that | have taken you as third mate OF
the Eliza Tibbetson out of Il sudden
liking for Your handsome face. The
fact is. as L daresay you can guess. we
don't want no third mate on board the
old hooker Two mates have served
her up to the present time and | guess
two will serve her as long as am her
master. No. sir. I'm told you have got
into Il scrape. through no fault of your
own. With the authorities of this all
fired poiice-ridden nation and I've been
paid Il good round sum- don't mind
saying it to you--to see YOU out of it.
IF you are arrested before we can I'll rar
out of port. that's your affair. / can't
conceal you on board. But once out Of
the harbor. they will be smart men that
take you from my Guartei-deck-or il
they DO. l calc'late Uncle sam may
Lave something to say to it. How does
that suit you:'
said that it suited me perfectly. and
thanked my new friend: but | could see
1.al lie very imp arfectly comprehenned
the situation. However. | did not see
that it was any business Of mine to en-
tighten him: and, after making an APP
poin;mcnt for 6 O'clock that evening,
when IL beat was to he in readiness to
take us Oh board. left him.
In order to save appearances. | pro-
vl,teh myself With an old seachest and
SClnr articles Of sea Wear. and spoke
freely of my having signed articles for
a voyage to America. ] had a pretty
=, 1,:., 80,
due time. probably that very day.
reach the ears CT my friend, De Noil-
left and it seemed to me that the con-
syruction he would probably put upon
my movements was that the American
harnue was to take me part of the way
to the secret prison. l felt tolerably
cetain that he would cause the vessel
TO be followed. if that could be man
aged, and l thought it most likely that
he would have something to say to me
before she sailed AS for the conspir
,.torS. | could not myStlf see how their
plans could be forwarded by my leav-
ing ST. Petersburg in the Eliza Tibbet
son. but | supposed that | should be
enlightened on that subject later on.
We went on board that evening. Thn
barqnc had her cargo slowed away
SllNl WIS 1ctuN l'II StN. Ijui, just i'S-
fore the order TO hoist the anchor was
given. a police boat put off from ono of
the qliays that line the Neva, and sig
RALLIED for lis to stop.
Capt. Tucker gave me a look. but
said nothing and presently the police
boat was alongside. She had come, os-
tensibly to search for a criminal. sup
posed to have shipped as a seaman on
Nd S.f lint RI
that the object Of her visit was to
make sure that had not returned to
the shore 4 meaning look | received
from the officer in charge Of the party
confirmed ne in this belief: butTseeing
that l was, to all appearances, one of
the officers of the Ship, he contented
himself with putting Il note into my
hand 1t was a note from De NoilleH.
containing a not too-politely worded
warming as to the consequences Of
playing him false. 1t was evident that
his suspicious had reawakened: and
thinking that it was better. in view of
tne uncertainty of the future. to make
81 civil repy. stepped up to the officer
who had given NE the note. and. max
ing a feint of looking around to see
that we We're not observed. l whis-
pered to him: "Tell the official who
gave YOU that note that I thank him
Tor his warning. but it was unneces-
sary. as I know what am about
With this somewhat enigmatical
message the police departed. and we
proceeded down the river. Darkness
fell. but l thought it better not to turn
in. as | did not know what was in
store for me.
| was on the poop shortly after IL
that night. when suddenly cry was
heard almost under our bows and a
light flared up.
In Il moment all was commOtion
Orders and curses We're beloved in the
same breath. Men ran here and there
to be ready if it should be necessary
to shorten sail; the wheel flew round
and. running to the ships side, found
that a goOd-sized boat. with four OIL
five men in her. was rushing through
the water alongside. Two Of the men
in the boat were holding on the main
chains of the barque, at the Imminent
risk Of pulling their little craft under
Mater.
Then third man seized the chains
and. with cat-!ike suppleness, swung
himself aboard.
"What! 1t is you. is it?" said the
skipper, peering into the strangers
face by the help of the ships lantern
which he held up to view him by. 81
thought I'd seen the last of YOU"
81 want my friend-at once. Is he
ready?' said voice which I knew al
once to be that of Won Mitschka.
sob, you want him, do you? Wall
this is rum start! l guess it Amt 81
much the police the young fellow ha:
cause to be afraid of-at least, the!
seemed quite conf1ential-like, them an(
him, this evening"
In spite Of the darkness. I saw Vo1
slitschka start. But it was no time fol
explanations.
Il am ready to CO. said. springine
forward to the boat.
The skipper laid a hand upon m!
arm. b,t the chief pulled him away
and said, in n whisper: at was agreed
that he was to do no duty. You car
tell Your owners that he never joined
4 the ship. Anyhow, you have been pait