The Glenwood post., 1908-10-17

and through the open air port into the
cabin.
voice said grufily:
This is his majesty's ship-of-the
line Britannia. Heave to and I'll send
a boat aboard
The BRITANNIA. exclaimed Ellen
under her breath, Admiral Kephard's
tlagship!"
What could it mean? She rose to
her feet and stepped to the port hole
1t was pitch dark outside She could
see nothing. The moon had not yet
risen. Over her head Capt. Tuggles
was replying.
What do you want with me?" he
cried, roughly.
You'll find out" answered voice
from the darkness, when we send a
boat aboard"
A moment after Ellen caught a
glimpse of the running light of a
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
peaceful merchantman from the
United States, and I'm damned if I'll
heave to for anybody"
Brave Capt. Tuggles! Ellen thrilled
in her soul, but she knew that the
game was up. No merchantmen could
brave war vessel and one flying an
admiral's flag at that. with impunity
The next instant gun flashed from
the side of the ship-of-the-line and a
deep boom rolled across the black
water.
IF you don't heaye to-" cried the
voice from the other ship, ''the next
shot'll go into you"
To hesitate longer was madness El
len could hear Capt. Tuggles dash his
trumpet to the deck and the next min.
ute his hoarse voice bidding the watch
swing the main yard. The ship slowly
shot up into the wind and presently
lay still. On the ship-of-the-line Ellen
could hear the shrill whistling of pipes
and hoarse voices calling away the
crew of the cutter. Unless she acted
Immediately she was lost. The ship
of-the-line 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.
"Debbie." she cried, 1--WE changed
my mind"
What do you mean?" asked
Deborah.
I'm going back to Portsmouth"
We'll, 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. Tuggles to heave 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
are busy, They'll never notice u.s."
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
the room. locking the door behind her
and slipping the key in her pocket.
Then she stepped into the cabin. For
tunately it was empty. There was a
dim light burning from a lantern hang.
ing at the bulkhead Ellen took it
down and opened the door of what she
deemed from her experience was the
captains room, and found she had
made a correct guess. She took the
pretaution to take the key out of the
door, insert it on the inside of the
lock and turn it. The captains room
extended across the after part OF the
ship. 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 it was trailing
astern. and fortunately on the side
opposite to that on which the line of
battle ship lay. The Britannia had
drifted ahead and had been hove to
off the starboard bow of the Flying
Star. Ellen's boat was drifting asterr
off the port quarter.
(TO BE CONTINUED)