Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-05-24
NUMBER q.

would nave asked no Detter luck tnau
the helping Of Dom Corria to regain
his presidentship. Now there was Iris
to protect. He would not be content
to leave her in charge Of the first
grimy collier they encountered, nor
was he by any means sure that she
would agree to be thus disposed Of.
He was puzzled by the singular una.
nimity Of purpose displayed by his
Eshipmates. But that was their affair.
His was to insure Iris safety. The
future he must leave to Providence.
And, indeed, Providence contrived
things very differently.
BY nightfall the launch was hun
drod miles west Of the island. Norrie
rot eight knots out of her, but It need.
ed no special calculation to discover
that she would barely make the coast
| Of Brazil II she consumed every ounce
Of coal and wood on board. Were It
not for Hozier's foresight she would
have been drifting with the gulf
stream four hours after leaving the is.
land. AS 1t was, unless they received
fresh supply of fuel from another
ship, they must unquestiOnably take
the suaightest line to the mainland.
During the day they had sighted
three vessels, but at such distances
that signaling was useless. Moreover,
they had to be cautious. Ths cruiser,
trusting to her speed, might try long
cast north and south of the launch's
supposed path. The hours Of daylight
were tortured by constant fear. Even
Iris was glad when the darkness came
and they were hidden.
At o'clock in the morning, by
general reckoning, they We're midway
between Island and continent They
were all wide awake, too weary and
miserable to sleep. Suddenly .t Ng-
horn smote the oppressive gloom. 1t
drew near \ huge blotch crossed
their bows. They heard some order
given in a foreign language, and De
Sylvia whispered:
The Sac GeronimO. The cruiser"
In little while perhaps twenty
minutes. they heard another siren. 1t
sounded different note, a quantity ;
harsh blend of discords. Whatsoever
ship this might be, it was not the Sac
Geronimo.
Coke's grhf voice reached every ear:
This time we're nabbed for keeps
unless you all do as l bid you,' he
said. when the fog lifts the cruiser
will see us. There's only one thing for
1t. Somewhere, close in. Is n steamer.
She's tramp, by the wheeze OF 'er
horn. We've got to board 'er an sink
the launch. IL she's British or Amer
lean, o. r.. as 'er people will stand
by us. II she's dago, we've got to
collar 'er run every whelp into the
forehold an answer the cruisers sig
nails ourselves"
Hozier. who had contrived to draw
near Iris while Coke was speaking,
breathed softly, SO that none other
could hear:
"This is rank piracy. But what else
can We do?"
rs IL wrong! sue dSheu.
"Well-no, provided We kill no one.
We are justified In saving our own
lives, and the average German or
Italian shipmaster would hand US over
to the BrazilIans without scruple."
Iris was far from Bootle and its
moralities.
81 don't care what happens so long
as you are not hurt" she whispered.
"Mr. Hozier," said Coke thickly.
"Yes, SIR"
you've got good eyes an quick ears.
Lay out as far forrard as you can an
pass the word for steerin'."
Hozier obeyed. The discordant bleat
of a foghorn came again, apparently
right ahead. In a few seconds hs
caught the tapping Of a. propeller and
sIlenced the launch's engines.
"We are close in now," be said TO
Coke after a brief and noiseless drift.
"Why not try haili'
"Ship ahoyv shouted Coke, with all
the force Of brazen lungs.
The screw Of the unseen ship stop
ped. The sigh Of escaping steam
reached them.
"Holla! Wer ruft" was the gru6
answer.
"Sink me II 1t amt a German!
growled Coke sotto voce. "Norrie, you
must stick here till sing cut to you.
then open your exhaust an unscir|
a seacock. wot ship is that?" he vocif.
Grated aloud.
Some answer was forthcOming-what
II mattered rot. The launch bumped
into the rusty ribs Of twelve hundred
ton tramp. \ rope ladder was lowered.
A round faced Teuton mate. fat and
placid, was vastly surprised to find
horde Of nondescripts pouring up the
ships side In the wake Of short,
thick, bovine looking person who nell
ther understood nor tried to under
stand word he was saying.
These extraordinary visitors from
the deep brought with them girl and
three wounded men. BY this time the
captain was aroused. He spoke some
English.
"Vas iss diss?" he asked, surveying
the newcomers with amazement and
their bizarre cos
:: !: 9: !: :: :: ::
tunes with grow AS
ing nervousness. H~
We're haf you
cOomed vrom?" E34y0
Coke pushed GSR
him playfully into T
the cooks gallery. HN W E~
'This Is too 8S
easy" he Choir }
tied. "Set about 4 -
'em, you swabs. IV1
Don't hurt any -@AHE{
body unless they M%Eh
az for 1t. Round AMS