The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-02-09
CHAPTER xIv--(continued.)

CINE room and we raced straight ahead,
not q man uttering a sound, not a
light showing aboard us. Holding on
In defiance of prudence and respon-
sibility we drove the yacht into the
very shadows of the great unknown
ship we had tracked so far. To say
that we stood within an ace of de-
struction would be to treat of our Cir
cumstances light. A word amiss might
have destroyed us so utterly that not
man of us all could have tod the
tale. There, towering above us, was
the great hull OF this floating mystery.
the massive outline of a vessel built
upon the lines OF an Atlantic steamer,
yet carrying four masts and funnel
so low that one might look twice To
detect it at all. Flashing lights from
stern to stern, we could almost count
the men uron the decks OF this phan-
tom Of the nigh seas--men wearing all
varieties of dress, some the garb or
fashion, some that of ordinary work
/, men, a few in the uniform of sailors.
And what a hive of activity those decks
appeared to be! How the fellows were
running to and fro, changing their
positions every moment. taking their
stands now in the shrcud, now high
upon the fo'castle, an agitated, expect
ant throng. turning, as il were, one race
| to the steamer which came to relieve
| them, and by which news OF their
| safety or their danger might come.
| Their very interest, however. became
our confidence. Taking my place with
| the forward lookout l conned every
feature OF the great ship and I'M
pressed the facts of ii upon my mem
ory. No thought of peril troubled me
now.
I scanned the decks, say, as quietly
! rs one surveys a ship that must be
| docked. noted the black shapes of the
yelled guns, the wretched, haphaZard
armament amidships, the unsuitabllty
OF the great hull TO tho purposes now
| indicated, the seeming absence or all
| order and method and even leadership
upon it's decks. This monstrous, float
| ing haven Of crime and horror-no
sailor had chosen II for it's present
| purpose / made sure. In lighter mo-
ment could say that II had once been
| a second class cruiser, and now $1,000
| for q witness to an age which adueo
raking masts to it's warships and eyed
askance the supremacy of steam. Inn
roth. it might be, had purchased this
shin from a government that had no
| further use for it. He had gone to
| Chill or the Argentine--a second
thought said to Italy, for this vessel
had more than a smack Of Italian de-
sign and practice as we knew 1t IN
the last days Of canvas and the nrst
OF steel sAnd he had bought this relic
at his own price, had maintained lts
| engines added new masts for disguise
and so adapted 1t to that master
scheme whose aims rose so far ABOVE
this evidence Of realization. All this, J
.Ay, my swift survey, showed me. But
The supreme question 1t did not answer
There were women to be discerned up
ON the deck of the ship; but not the
figure of, Joan Fordibras. or her the
night had no news TO give me.
We lay at this time. suppose, some
200 yards from the great ship, a little
astern Of her, and ready, need II pe
said, to bound away into the darkness
/ should the need arise. Our daring u
l ,,either to be set down to courage mol
d foolhardiness. It was plain that every
| man on board Valentine Imroth's
sanctuary had eyes but for the ap'
preaching steamer. ears but Tor tine
news it should carry. Absolutely con
| spectacle with that air OF assurance
and self-content which any secret
agent of a good cause may assume al
the moment of his triumph. Ny owr
4 doubt and trouble could hardly b'
shared by the honest fellows about me
or lie it were shared, then had they tht
good taste to make light OF It. Indeed
they were upon the point of persuadint
me that IL 1t were Joan Fordibras
had come out to seek. then the sooner
I get me back to Europe the better.
"There's no Joan upon yonder ship
said old Timothy in big whisper
'Td as soon look to find the Queen o.
Sheba there" =,
do think Mr.. McShanus is right. They't
never take lady among that riff ran
I don't see how it would serve them
anyway. We must credit General For
dibras with some feelings, II the otne
has none. He's taken Miss Joan t.
Europe, be sure of it.
I could make no answer, Tor m!
reasoned opinion had that obstinate
decmatism which must attend tn
logical idea IL logic be Of any worth
ali. It were better, / thought, not t.
discuss 1t, and for that matter, Their
were events enough to take a man.
mind from the graver doubts. The re
lief steamer had by now drawn 81
near to the other that loud cheers wer
raised between them, boats put or II
haste from the Diamond Ship, ant
boats from the newcomer. We hear'
greetings exchanged--in French, II
German, in Italian. Instantly almost
a great business OF making ready u
unload a cargo out there In mid-At
lantlc began. / pciceived that the tw
ships were to be caught together %.
immense grapplings, and so held Whll
the affair of discharging was done. o
what the patrols cargo might be,
could only surmse. She would brinl
the invaluable coal. of course-els
could not the water be distilled aboar'
the rogue--coal and food and new
and. II might be. new ruffiians who ha
escaped the justice of Europe or Africa
This, I say, was surmise. The i'm
mediate test of 1t my eyes carried n
further; for CHANGING to look again
hazard toward the greater vessel,
detected a solitary figure at the tan
rail and instantly recognized my littl
Joan, standing apart from all tina
ruffiian crew. and looking wistfuli
toward that very place where Whit
wings lay in ambush on the waters
And then knew that, had don
well to dare this voyage. and thai
cost what 1t might in blood or treas
ure, would save this child from I'm
roth and that which he had prepare
for her.