Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-03-09

.eader despite the newly made captain.
and his mock authority. And he was
the dangerous man with whom I had
to deal.
you say she IS" he remarked with
a drawl; but she's got to hustle IL
she wants to- come up With US this
summer weather. Don't you be too free
| with yoru pistol, doctor, or some Of us
will have to take 1t from you. You're
a clove-hitch. and had better keep a
civil tongue in our head. or maybe
We'll cut it out n see what it's made
of. Now just you come along o. me
and don't make no trouble about il.
Will Rayner amt a goin' to eat you.
and you aim at goin' to eat him. so
step up brisk, doctor, and let's see
you march"
This impudent harangue was hailed
by a salvo of applause. The fellow
himself took two steps toward me and
laid a hand upon my shoulder. He
had scarce touched me with his fin
face. n he rolled headlong into h
scuppers. The same instant saw me
leaping for my very life up the lad
de" to h bridge deck and clutch
in:, there at the rope which opened the
steamers siren. Good God! What an
instant of suspense! Were the fires be-
low damped down, or was there steam
in the boiler? One tremendous pull
upon the rope had no answer for me
at all. Again, and again I jerked the
cord back as though very desperation
would sound the alarm which should
summon my friends and save me from
the rabble. And the men below
watched me aghast, their curiosity,
overpowering them. their mouths
agape. so that when the SIRENS blast
went echoing over the still sea at
last. you could have heard a football
on u decks or caught the meaning
of a whispered message.
The men We're dumfounded, 1 say,
and without idea. This I have ever
observed to be a habit among sea.
men when the news Of any great dis
aster comes pon them or they are
taken in an instant OF erner-
gency. No clown could look more child.
ish then, or any Master Boldface laugh
as foolishly. There they were in a
group below me, some with their hands
thrust deep into their pockets. some
smoking idly; some. looking into the.
faces Of their neighbors as though a
glance would answer the riddle of the
night. And while they stood, the siren
roared a blast of defiance again. as
h voice of a Minotaur of the deep.
warning and terrifying and not
to be resisted. Had I doubted
the vigilance of my good comrades
upon the yacht, l could nave doubted
it no longer. White Wings answered
my signal almost instantly in a higher
note of defiance. in a shrill assent to
that wild roll call, the orator mechan-
ical Of honest friendship. And as she
answered, her siren seemed to put a
reproach upon me, saying, 1.-The yacht
is here-all is well-why have you
doubted us?"
A deep silence fell upon the Dia-
mond Ship when this signal came re-
verberating over the waters. None Of
the amazed seamen spoke a word or
made a movement for many minutes.
I had already put my pistol into my
pocket and k a cigaret from my
case. II I wished the men to believe
that the hour of crisis had passed. I
was under no delusion at all myself.
Fol- remember that I had gone up to
the bridge n stood there, during this
supreme instant of danger. and that,
If l would regain the deck of the yacht,
I must descend the ladder down
through these serried ranks of men,.
and must pass as who was going
from them to the house of an avenger.
to his comrades who would judge the
story and help him to decide upon
the punishment. The rogues' very SAL
walton depended upon my captivity; I
was their hostage, and by me would
reprieve come. If reprieve were to be
hoped for at all. This I perceived
long before 1t had dawned upon the
witless rabble; but 1t occurred even to
them at last. n crowding about the
ladders foot they told me bluntly that
they were aware of 1t.
Guess it's your turn" said the
American. venturing a step upward but
no more. His manner had become
sheepish. I observed. and he spoke with
less turbulence.
MY tufH, as you say, sir" I re-
Joined with what composure I could.
II am now going aboard my yacht.
and there I win decide what is to be
done with you. That will. depend upon
your behavior. ] advise you to remem-
Der az much.''
I lit my cigaret and waited for him
to go on. White Wings was evident
~ quite near to US nOw-I could hear
the throb of her turbines; her siren
hooted repeatedly. The night wal mine
but for an accident. And yet, heaven
knows. 1t appeared to me then that an
accident mus befall me unless e mir
acle interviewed.
That's your yacht. right enough"
the Yankee went on Immediately. "And
80 far as It's her, we're In q Glove
hitch ourselves. The question Is, who's
to put you aboard her. and what shall
we be about when he's doing It? Now,
see here. as between man and nan
you give US your solemn AFFIDAVIT not
to do anything against the ships crew
and you're free to come and 60 an
you choose. That's my first condition
the second Is as you sign the paper
Wha Rayner has drawn up and abide
by it, terms. Do as much az that and
your friends shan't be more willing to
help you. But II you don't do IT.
why, then, look out for yourself, for.
by the Lord above me. you amt got
10 minutes to live"
He came another step up the lad
der. cheered, a It seemed. by his own
tQI0nHlAnCA. n HnR tho nn0n than 0A0nAA