The Columbus journal., 1910-03-09

SollnGS WlthOilt- Sacre, l wonder
wat Zc devil was up now"
We both sat. breathing hard from
oar late eXertiOnS. listening ahxiOuSly,
yet with vastly differing emotions,
hope animating ME that this was to
prove a capture. Or At least, that some
chance discovery by the officer visit
ing us would result in the. release of
the women below. But DE Nova was
IN IN agony OF apprehension. the full
peril of his position clear before him.
We heard the bare feet Of the hurry
Ing sailors patter along the deck. the
striden: voice of Tuttle issuing 4 few
final commands. and the faint sound
OF oars in the water alongside. The
offcer came slowly up the ladder. and
my heart sank as | heard him laugh
careleSSly to the mates greeting.
could distinguish the sound of his
in some way ii impressed me with the
thought that the fellow was young, a
midshipman, possibly. who would
prove mere putty under Tuttle's ex-
pert handling. The two went down
thc companiOn-steps together in ap-
parently amiable conversation, and
We could heard the low murmur of
voices as the crew hung over the rail
jesting with the men-o-war's men in
the boat below. My eyes met De
NOva's in the semi-darkness. and he
grinned. showing his teeth.
Messing YER dangerous, monsieur"
he said. easily. '.Ze Of fox he fool
Eat kid
l attempted no response. my mind al
ready sufficiently heavy from appre-
hension. Oh, for just a word, merely
an opportu-ity to cry out our story be-
fore it was forever too late. De Nova
must have felt the struggle within me.
for he stretched his legs across the
narrow passage leading to the door.
and I saw his hand thrust into his
coat pocket. Underneath his genial ve-
neer he was one to act upon occasion.
absolutely careless of the result. So I
waited in silence. my teeth set hard.
my hands clencheG. as the last YES
tise of hope oozed slowly out of me.
They were scarcely ten minutes be-
low. coming up chatting in rare good
fellowship. the officer clinging to the
rail. his feet on the ladder. while he
completed some story he had been
relating with much gusto. Then We
heard plainly the dip of oars. growing
gradually fainter in the distance, feet
pattered on the deck planks. Tuttle's
voice sounded from the bridge, ami
the vessel began throbbing to the
steady chug of the screws. We were
safely under way again. pressing our
sharp bow into the fog-bank. Unable
to control nv weakness. l buried my
face in my hands.
do not know how long We sat there
notionless. De Nova staring blank!y
at the vapor sweeping past the win |
dow, anG ! with head lowered In de-
pressios- II was Tuttle himself, with |
one arm in an improvised Sing. who
Sid open the door of the charthouse
and looked in upon u.s.
This is your watch yet. De Nova"
he said, shortly. 'and I need to doctor |
aA la Dit. 1ou tS q udul h0l
hitter. Mr.. Stephens" no trace of an |
ger in his voice. but that's about the :
last chance you'll have to kick up q |
shindy on this vessel You'll 60 below, |
sir. an stay there. unless We happen
to need you"
l stepped forth onto the open deck |
in obedience to his gesture.
Then l am no longer even in pre-. |
tended command. but merely your |
prisoner"
Call it whatever suits you best"
he returned. grimly. The result will |
be the same in any case. Well. De |
Nova. what are you waitin' for?"
Il sink maybe you say wat vas it |
Ee navy man wanted?"
Tuttle's solemn countenance broke |
into the Semblance of grin.