Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-02-04

OmcerS OF the wolverine slept on the
verge of waking, but 1t was not until
dawn that the cry of "Sail ho!' sen,
them all hurrying to their clothes
Ordinarily officers of the United States
navy do not scuttle on deck like a
crowd of curious schoolgirls, but all
hands had been keyed to high pitch
over the elusive light, and the bet with
Edwards now served as an excuse for
/ the betrayal Of unusual eagerness;
hence the quarter deck WINS soon alive
with men who were wont to be deet
in dreams ut that hour.
THEY found Carter, whose watch on
deck 1t was, reprimanding the lookout.
NO, SIR" the man was insisting,
"she didn't show nolight, sir. I'd "a
sighted her nm hour ago., sir, If she
had"
We shall see,' said Carter grimly.
who's your reliefY'
l 'Sennett."
Let him take your place. Go aloft,
Sennett."
! AS the lookout, crestfallen and surly,
went below Barnett said in subduel
| tones:
| Upon my word, shouldn't he sur
prised If the man was right. Certain
" there's something queer about that
hooker. Look how she handles her
self!'
The vesse. was some three miles to
windwartl. She was schooner OF the
common two masted Pacific type, but
she was COMFORTING herself in man
ner uncommon on the Pacific or any
other ocean. Even as Barnett spoke
she hceled well over and came rush
Ing up into the wind, where she stood
with all sails shaking. Slowly she
paid of again. bearing away from
them. Now she gathered full head
way, yet edged little by little to wind
ward again.
Mighty queer tactics," muttered Ed
wards. 81 think she's steering her
| self"
Good thing she carries weather
helm," commented Ives. who was. m
expert on sailing rigs. Most of that
type do. Otherwise shed have jibed
her masts out. running loose that way"
Captain Parkinson appeared on deck
and turned his glasses for full min
ute on the strange schooner.
'Aloft there!'' he hailed the crows
nest do you make out any one
aboartl?"
mo, sir" came the answer.
,"Afr. Carter, have the chief quarter
master report on deck with the signal
Tags"
"Yes, SIR"
AREN'T we going to run up to herr"
asked Mcclure, turning in surprise to
Edwards.
And take the risk Of getting a hole
punched In our pretty paint with her
running amuck that way? Not muchw
Up came the signal quartermaster to
get his orders, and there ensued one
sided conversation in the pregnant Ian
guage Of the sea.
what ship is that?"
No answer.
care you in trouble?' asked the
cruiser and waited. The schooner
showed bare and silent main peak.
"Heave to-" Now Uncle Sam was
giving orders.
But the other paid no heed.
We'll make that little more en-
phatic," said Captain Parkinson. A
moment later there was the sharp
crash Of gun, and shot went across
the bows OF the sailing vessel. Has
tened by flaw OF wind that veered
from the normal direction Of the breeze
the stranger made sharply to wind
ward, as IL to obey.
All. there she comesr' ran the COM
ment along the cruisers quarterback.
But the schooner, after standing for
moment all Tapping, answered an
other flaw and went wide about on
the opposite tack.
'Derelict." remarked Captain Parkin-
SON "she seems to be in good shape,
too, DR.. Trendon."
Yes, SIR" The surgeon went to the
captain, and the others could hear his
deep, abrupt utterance In reply to some
question too low for their ears.
Might be, sir. Beriberi maybe.
More likely smanpox If anything o,
that kind. But some OF 'em would be
on deck"
"Whew! A plague ship! said Billy
Edwards. "Just my luck to be order
ed to board her." He shiyered slightly.
Scared, Biily?" said Ives Edwards
had record for daring Which made
this joke obvious enough to be safe.
x wouldn't want to have my pecul-
lar style of beauty spoiled by smallpox
marks said the ensign, with smile
on his homely, winning face. And
I've a bunch that that ship is not a
lucky find for this ship"
"Then I've bunch that your bunch
Is a wrong one" said Ives. How long
would you guess that craft to be!"
They We're now within mile Of the
schooner. Edwards scrutinized. her
calculatingly.
Eighty to ninety feet
Say $50 tons. And she's q two
masted schooner, isn't sbei" continued
Ives insinuatingly.
She certainly is"
We'll. I've bunch that that ship
is lucky find for any ship, but partic-
ularly for this Ship,
Great Caesar!n cried the ensign ex-
citedly. do you think it's hery'
A buzz of electric interest went
around the group. Every glass was
raised. Every eye strained toward her
stern to read the name as she v..ered
Into the wind again. About she came.