Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-02-16
CHAPTER XVIII.

as he stood before her.
mo; l must GO" said Peggy con-
fusedly. 81 thought you might be
nervous about the storm-and"-
"And you came to let me out?" Mon
ty had never been so happy.
Yes, and l don't care what the 9th.
ers say. 1 thought you were suffer
ing But at that moment the boat
gave lurch which threw her across
crashed against the wall, and he held
her a moment and forgot the storm.
When she drew away from him she
showed him the open door and free
dom. She could not speak
"Where are the others?" he asked,
bracing himself in the doorway.
ooh, Monty" she cried, 1--WE must
not go to them! They will think me a
traitor"
"Why were you a traitor, Peggy?' he
demanded, turning toward her sudden.
ly.
"Oh-oh, because 1t seemed so cruel
to keep you locked up through the
storm" she answered, blushing.
And there was no other reason?" he
persisted.
Don't, please don't" she cried pite-
ousy, and he misunderstood her emo
ton. 1t was clear that she was merely
sorry for him.
"Never mind, Peggy, it's all right.
You stood by me, and I'll stand by you.
Come on; We'll face the mob, and I'll
do the fighting"
Together they made their way into
the presence of the mutineers, who
were crowded into the main cabin.
"Well, here's a conspiracy" cried
Dan DeMille, but there was no anger
in his voice. How did you escape?
was just thinking of unlocking your
door. Monty, but the key seemed to be
missing"
Peggy displayed it triumphantly.
by Jove!" cried Dan. This is rank
treachery. Who was on guard?"
A steward rushing through the cabin
at this moment in answer to frantic
calls from Bragdon furnished an elo-
quent reply to the question.
1T was simple" said Monty. "The
guards deserted their post and left the
key behind"
Then it is up to me to pay you
$1,000"
Not at ALL" protested Monty, taken
aback Il did not escape of my own
accord. | had help. The money Is
yours. And now that l am free" he
added quietly, "let me say that this
boat does not go to Boston"
Just what | expected" cried Van
derpool
"She's going straight to New York."
declared Monty. The words were hard
ly uttered when q heavy sea sent him
sprawling across the cabin. and he con-
cluded, ''or to the bottom"
Not so bad as that" said Captain
Perry, whose entrance had been some
what fastened by the lurch of the boat.
"But until this blows over | must keep
you below" He laughed, but he saw
they were not deceived. THE seas are
pretty heavy and the decks are being
holystoned for nothing, but l wouldn't
like to have any of you washed over
board by mistake"
The matches were battened down, and
1t was a sorry company that tried to
while away the evening in the main
cabin. Monty's chatting about the ad-
vantages of the North cape over the
stormy Atlantic was not calculated to
raise the dropping spirits, and it was
very early when he and his shattered
guests turned in. There was little
sleep on board the Filter that night
Even if it had been easy to forget the
danger, the creaking of the ship and
the incessant roar of the water were
enough for wakefulness. With each
credible that it could endure. 1t was
such mite of a thing to meet so furi
GUS an attack. Through the night
the fragile little craft fought its lone
ly way, bravely ignoring Its own weak
ness and the infinite strength of its en-
envy. To the captain, dashed to the
bridge, there were hours of grave anx
iety-hours when he feared each wave
as it approached and wondered what
new damage it had done as it receded
AS the wind increased toward morning
he felt sickenlng certainty tnat tnt
brave little boat was beaten. Somehow
she seemed to lose courage, to wave
bit and almost give up the fight. III
watched her miserably as the disma
dawn came up out of the sea. Yet
was not until 7 o'clock that the crasl
came which shook the passengers on
of their berths and filed them witt
shivering terror. The whirlng of tn
broken shaft seemed to consume tn
ship. In every cabin it spoke witt
horrible vlvidness of disaster. Tn
clamor of voices and the rush of man.
feet which followed meant but on
thing. Almost instantly the machiner
was stopped-an ominous silence in tn
midst of the dull roar of the water AN
the cry of the wind.
1t was terrified crowd that quickl
gathered in the main cabin, but it wa
. ...fn.