The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-04-30
CHAPTER XII
(COntinued)

| HC pidCS pIONeu 10 Dc f1lllt
hamlet, st. Guignon, only few
houses standing under back
ground of sloping hills at the far
end of a small landlocked bay.
Farther back the chart showed a
road running nearly parallel to the
coast, touching ST. Pol first and
then other villages, and at last Nor
laix.
We talked it out at pretty con-
siderabl length and settled:
First, that we could do nothing
much till nightfall. unless they
came out again, which was not to
, be expected. We must. of course,
watch for that, lying handy under
! easy steam off and on.
Secondly, We must reconnoiter:
| someone must sneak near enough
to spy on them, and, without being
seen, try to get at their game
Thirdly, if she held her ground
We must cut her out some time in
the night. 1t was a bold move;
they might show fight, and we
might get into serious trouble with
IL
be organized war in neutral waters,
grave breach of international law.
What l am most afraid of is
that they should give us the Slip
get ashore and run for it,"
They couldn't take the captain,
not by force in broad daylight, and
he wouldn't be likely to go of his
own accord"
True for you, Snuyzer. I'm in
hope they'll just stay where they
are, thinking to weary us out. How
ever, they may stay little too
long, Now Pm for the shore, and I
shall take joe"
The major was away for good
hour, and he came back alone. He
had left Joe to watch, with one
or two signals arranged to keep us
up to the time of day. If the yacht
moved her berth he was to wave
his cap; If she sent boat ashore,
his handkerchief, and so on.
We got no sign from him the
whole of that afternoon and even
ing. The time passed quickly
enough, for the major and l talked
all the time of what we thought to
all the time of what We thought to
do and how we should do it. The
boljest plan pleased us best, and
we meant to row straight for the
yacht with all hands, picking up
Joe by the way, board her, and
trust to luck and bounce for the
rest.
Night came about s o'clock, dark
and starless. 1t was best to get to
work right away, and we were to
start about 9. But a little before
that We heard shots and the noise
of a rumpus, faint but distinct, in
the distance.
We waited half an hour and were
on the point of starting out on an
expedition when we heard a SOUND
of oars approaching.
What could it mean?
Then came a low 'HOllOa! Jacob
Silverton ahoy!" in Joe's voice;
and he was soon alongside, in a
boat that belonged to the Fleur de
Lis.
While he waited among the rocks
he had still kept his lookout on the
yacht, he said Although it had
fallen dark, he could make out her
hull on the water plainly; there
were lights, too, aboard, with
streaks and reflections strong
enough to show up parts of her.
Suddenly he saw a figure drop
ping out of the stern into the
yachts dinghy, which seemed to
have been put there on purpose,
and which, anyway. was quickly
cast airift, for it fioated slowly
and silently away. The tide was
making into the pay, and she must
have been caught on the current,
which carried her in-shore. Half
way to the land the figure, which
had no doubt been crouching in the
bottom, out of sight, got up onto
the thwarts and began pulling like
mad.
ole soon made up his mind. He
must know more about this boat
and the man in it; so he got up
onto the top Of the rocks, where
there was better surface, and ran
all he knew to the head of the bay,
following the sound of the oars
and getting squint now and again
of the black smudge of the dinghy.
He came upon it at last, high and
dry on the shore.
But the man was gone.
ole was smart nipper; he knew
what he'd got to do, AMI that was
to pass on his news to us. The
quickest way would be to row out
in the dinghy; SO he ran her back
into the water and pulled out to
sea, coasting the far side and Civ
ing the yacht ia wide berth.
When almost off it a fierce fight
broke out aboard. Six-shooters
were let off, several shots, pretty
quickly followed by yells AMI
curses. Joe saw that the disturb
ance was heard on shore; lights be-
gan to dance about in the village,
and the alarm was given.
They'll soon have the gend-
armes on their backs. Now's our
time. Well take the dinghy back;
it will be an excuse for getting on
board" said the major. "Sharp's
the word, skipper. Man the boat
every soul you can spare, cast loose
and give way"
A shore boat was already along
r;ln r,bap uyn rot IN tho Vanbt. III