Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-02-02

taken, they always find a scapegoat in
these cases. I warn you that If you
persist in this violation CT"
Have you done?' beloved the lieu
tenant. II am going to search this
ship"
MAY ask what for?''
You will know soon enough
| could not understand why shrewd
man like Won Mitschka was prOlOnging
this useless controversy, until it struck
| me that he might be trying to gain
time, though could not conceive what
good that would do him. So thought
1t could do no harm to add gentle pro-
test of my own.
II presume, SIR" said, with my chin
| in the air, that it is no part of your in
| structions to insult British subject,
| who happens to be a passenger on
board this vessel, by searching his per-
son and property, without as much as
saying what you are in search of? For
in that case, assure you that this is
not the last that will be heard of it,
| The lieutenant looked me over in
rather contemptuous style, and finally
said: at will only be necessary to in
spect the Herr's cabin. With his prop
erty and himself we have nothing to
do?'
He then left the cabin abruptly, and
soon returned, followed by some of his
men. A systematic search of the ship
then began; and soon came to the
conclusion that Won Mitschka was
fighting against time. Hardly a lock-
er was opened without a protest and a
rummaging for keys. In a spare cab
in just forward Of the MAIN cabin, a
sailor had been hastily installed in
hammock, to act the part of the sick
man we We're supposed to have on
board.
Won Mitschka saw fit to protest very
strongly against visit being paid to
the invalid; and, as usual, the more
vigorously he protested, the more sus-
picious the officer became, and the
more determined that at this point at
all events. his examination should be
thorough. But, as usual, it turned out
that the suspicious We're unfounded. A
single glance at the man in the berth
was enough for the liutenant. who
called his men to follow him into the
main deck with very ill grace.
l had followed the search party out
of the cabin; and, as the lieutenant
and his party assembled the companion
ladder, saw a man who had just
come down approach Won Mitschka.
and make a scarcely-perceptible sign.
When I went on deck after the 9TH
ers, I saw that in the meantime the
cruiser and the brig had drawn much
nearer to each other. There was only
a space of eighty or a hundred yards
between them. The boats crew were
on board, except three men, who had
been left to mind the boat.
The lieutenant went forward to the
main hatch, and was about to order it
to be removed, when Won Mitschka
said. courteously: eff you wish to in
spect the cargo, sir. there is Il large
Fart of it slowed ON deck"
II will see what is under the matches
first' said the officer, gruf1ly, and in a
tone that made me think he was be-
ginning to fear that his captain had
been wrong, and that severe repri-
mand might be the only reward of his
zeal.
eff you wish to 90 below. this is the
way" said the chief and he pointed to
the narrow passage that ran forward
from the foot of the companion way.
Again the party descended. and a few
minutes more had been gained.
what is this?" said the officer, strik-
ing with. the hilt of his sword the
wooden wall of the cell which con-
tanned the prisoners.
The words had barely passed his lips
when he was answered by a chorus Of
shouts and cries from the interior OF
the cage.
"Help! Help! Good stranger, 60
and tell the police that we are shut up
here, three innocent men, by these
bandits! Take us out! Take us out,
for the love of Heaven!'
The lieutenant stood as a man struck
dumb, but it was only for an instant.
A look Of intense JOY, of complete sat
isfaction, came into his face. as, bend
ing down until there was not a foot be-
tween his eyes and Won Mitschka's, he
Missed out some words between his
teeth. Then, scarcely waiting to speak
a reassuring word to the prisoners, he
bounded on deck. Won Mitschka and
1 followed him at once.
Springing up to the top Of the bull
wark, in his excitement, and holding
on with one hand to the mizzen
shrouds, the lieutenant waved his hat
around his head and gave ringing
cheer, which was Immediately taken
up by the whole ships company on the
cruiser.
'srhey are here! They are here.
Three Of them" yelled the lieutenant
Won Mitschka walked up to him, and,
giving him a violent shove, deliberate
ly pushed him into the sea.
There was cry from the deck of the
cruiser, and the men in the boat along
side got out their oars to go and pick
up the lieutenant, thinking, merely,
that he had overbalanced himself. But
some Of the blue-jackets who had
come on board the brig saw what had
been done, and they at once advanced
to seize Won Mitschka.
"NOWr' he cried, in a voice of thun-
der.
At that moment saw the bulwarks
of the brig ON the port bow part asun-
der. There was a splash, as Of some
heavy object being thrown into the
water. Then strange, kissing, whiz-