The Ordway new era., 1908-10-16

. faint hail that came down the VIM
and through the open air port into tht
cabin.
/ A voice said grufily:
This Is his majesty's ship'ot'the
| line Britannia. Heave to and I'll seho
a boat aboard
"The britannica" exclaimed Ellen
; under her breath. Admiral Kephard's
flagship"
What could 1t mean? She rose to
her feet and stepped to the port hole
Il was pitch dark outside, She could
see nothing. The moon had not yet
risen. Over her head Capt Tuegles
was replying.
What do You want with me?" he
cried. roughly.
You'll find out" answered voice
from the darkness. when we send n
boat aboard"
4 moment after Ellen caught n
glimpse OF the running light OF n
large ship slowly closing upon the
Flying Star Other lights cleaned
from port holes here and there. bring
| ing the huge liner In fair view.
This is the high seas answered
| Capt. TuGgles. with great spirit. I'm
a peaceful mcrchantman from the
United States, and I'm damned II I'll
hcayc To for anybody"
Brave Capt TugGlcs, Ellen thrilled
in her soul, but she knew that the
game was up. No merchantmen could
brave a war vessel and one flying an
admirnls flag NJ that, with impunity.
The next instant n gun flashed from
the side Of the ship-of-the-linc and a
deep boom rolled across the black
water
II You don't heave to-" cried tho
voice from the other ship. the next
shotll so into you"
To hesitate longer was madness. FL
len could hear Capt Tugglcs dash his
trumpet TO the deck and the next min
ute his hoarsc voice bidding the watch
swing the main yard The ship slowly
shot mp into the wind and presently
lay stlll. On the shipof-the-line Ellen
could hear the shrill whistllng OF pipes
and huarse voices calling away the
crew Of the cutter. Unless she acted
Immediately she was lost The ship
ofthc.linc could have overhauled the
merchantman only for her
She turned from the portfolio to find
Deborah. who had been awakened by
the cannon shot. standing half dazed
at her side
'DcbbIc." she cried. I've changed
my mind
What do you mean" asked
Deborah
Tin going back to Portsmouth"
Well, I'm glad you've come TO your
senses at last"
Yes, said Lady Ellen. there's a
ship out there which has Just ordered .
Capt Tugglcs to hcave to. to stop his /
ship. that is. We must escape her"
Whose ship is it?"
Il don't know. 1t may be French.
man. or pirate. or At any rate. our
only chance is TO get away while they |
lr" busy, They'll never notice us"
How will you do it," asked Debo.
rah. ASK Capt. Tuggles to set you
ashore
Never said Ellen.
Selling Debbie by the hand. she left !
h' iooii' IOthluE tne uOOr Denlnd her ,
and slipping the key in her pocket.
Then she stepped into the cabin. For
tunatcly it was empty. There was a
lin light burning from a lantern hang.
ing at the bulkhead Ellen took II |
down and opened the door of what she /
deemed from her experience was the |
captains room. and found she had |
made correct guess. She took the |
precaution to take the key out of the |
door. insert II on the inside of the |
lock and turn 1t, The captains room
extended across the after part of the
snip. The stern windows were large
and she and Deborah could easily pass
through them. Her one hope was that
her boat had not been abandoned
Sure enough. there 1t was trailing
asern, and fortunately on the side
opposite TO that on which the line-of-
battle ship lay. The Britannia had
driited ahead and had been hove to
OF the starboard bow of the Flying
Star. Ellen's boat was drifting astern
OF the port quarter
CTO BE CONTINUED1