Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-02-23

give you time enough not to make a
fool of yourself"
They were brazen words, upon my
life! When I pointed westward to a
loom of smoke upon the horizon scarce
~ bigger than a mans hand-when I
did this. and spoke in the same breath
OF a warship, then, surely, the ingenuity
OF suggestion could go no further. As
tor the rascally Russian, l saw that he
was struck all of a heap. His eyes had
already old him that the yacht White
Wings carried machine guns and a tor
pedo tube. Perhaps he argued that
even If he raced for it, we could sink
him before the Diamond Ship so much
as sighted him; and this was to assume
indicated the presence Of Imloth's YES
Sci. and not of a British warship.
The game is up" l resumed. land
your friend is about to pay the price
of 1T! If you wish to contribute your
share, go on and join the fun. I don't
suppose the police care much about
such ritfraff as you AVE on board here.
them back to Cardiff. and let them
find new ships. You are thinking Of
the honeywell, if you can fill my
bunker yonder. l will pay a long price
for the stuff you carry-down on your
table in English sovereigns."
At this. he regarded me very Curl
SSAys "A NalA AACo0 - OlICIl ODSLlIItlC
In suspicion. The fellow perceived his
advantage. n could have pressed it.
"Oh! said he, linen you are short
Of coal?"
w are short of COAL" I rejoined, my
frankness astounding him; the others
nave none to spare, and If we buy none
OF you. we must run to Porto Grande.
In n case, you will carry this cargo
back to Europe and be arrested when
you step ashore"
I found the Russian to be a low-wtt-
ted, covetous fellow. not greatly to be
~overdrawed by threats, but exceeding
~ susceptible to the substantial
facts Of money. In the end, I
bought what coal we could carry from
him at a price which 1 would cheer
fully have doubled. And. inded, 1 do
work 1 eve did in all my life. To
cut off Imroth's patrol. to fill our own
bunkers with his precious steam coal,
carried at such a risk from Cardiff,
to send the tramy steamer back again
whence she came-even the matter of
fact Larry could find no word to fit
1t. AS for my poor friend Timothy,
his emotions We're altogether too much
for him.
"Docther," said he, IT doub YOUR
salvation, M that's the truth of it.
Say that we are goingc back to dine
on Imroth's ship, and I'll believe We
entirely. 'Twould not be more wonder-
full thar h a which these poor old
eyes are showing me-"
told him not to make a fool Of
himself, but to serve his turn as SEN
tinel. While we brought the yacht
alongside the collier and took in coal
from her. Treachery might yet be
planned against us, though / doubted
it. We posted an armed guard upon
the bridge and stripped our forward
guns of their covers-the swell ran
kindly n the sea was like a mir
ror. Hardly believing their own eyes,
but obeying me nevertheless, our good
fellows set to work like niggers and
filled our bunkers with the precious
stuff. 1T had been at seven bells of
the morning watch when they began:
1t was three of the afternoon before
they had done. The coal chutes with
which the tramp was provided to fill
lmroth's bunkers now filled our own
admirably. | paid the Russian captain
honestly, II sent him at all speed to
the eastward when the business was
done.
Return as you came and keep your
mouth shut" I said. 81 will answer
for You to the police, should the need
arise. IT will be your own fault if
it does"
He thanked me with some civilty.
and I could see that he now considered
himself a very fortunate fellow. To
be frank, I had dismissed hin utterly
from my mind half an hour after he
cast off; and the excitement Of the
deaf having passed, 1 called to our
and there We held a council, vital be-
yond any in its significance n it's
earnestness. For now must we decide.
instantly n finally, what steps must
be taken to save my little Joan from
the devils of the Diamond Ship. How
were we, the crew of a puny yacht.
to bring that great hive of rufians
What hope had we of any assistance
from h British or other governments?
This is what we discussed when we
had lighted u cigars and the tea was
poured out. And this is much how
the talk went:
Myself-"We must first consider the
threat. I believe hat they are capable
both of torturing and Of killing Joan
Fordibras if they are driven to it..
But they will only do SO in an ex-
tremity. She is their hostage. The no
ment that they harm her. they have
done all that they can against us.
II she be subject to insult meanwhile.
we'll. they have to deal with one of
singular courage and resource. It is q
callous argument but that much we
must ignore. My own idea is to lead
them to the belief that we are watch
ing them. # they run for South Amer
lea. we shall fall in with ships bound
for Rio and Montevideo. The mails to
the Argentine have the Marconi instru-
ment. We can hardly fail to catch
one OF them. I would rather burn
this yacht than turn back now"
McShanus-"The docther says the
lady must put up with their insults.
but We car see the blood going and
coming from his cheeks while he says
1t. I honor him for it. We want to
get the girl off the ship and not to
lose 1mroth in the doing Of it. IT'S