The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-02-02
Judged. upon our port bow, . hight
flashed out brilliantly above a sleeping

Judged. upon our port bow, . light
flashed out brilliantly above a sleeping
ocean.
Plainly directed by skillful hand,
said that trained officer worked the
lantern as they worked II on board q
man-of-war; but as though to deny
that the unknown ship was man-of-
war, the monster searchlisht began
anon to answer as though to dane
ing, drunken measure Of some hand
that wearied Of duty and made a jest
OF II.
I'VE are carrying no lights our
selves, Larry?" / exclaimed, and add
ed, apologetically, THAT goes without
saying"
do you think we dare run up to
her, Larry?"
There would be little risk when they
got tired of their fireworks, doctor"
Well do 1t, Larry. Don't forget
Joan Fordibras is aboard there.
He nodded significantly, and rang
down his orders to the engine room.
perceived that McShanus had come up
from the saloon; he did not speak to
me, as he told me afterwards. under
the ridiculous apprehension which
comes to men in danger that any
speech above whisper is a peril. The
clash of our engines remained the only
sound. / turned to Timothy and as
"A steady hand now--is 1t thaA
Timothy?"
Take grip of it yourself, me
bhoy?"
1T certainly is not the cold hand of
the poets. Would 1t help with the ma
chine guns If need be, Timothy.
whist, could 1t not! Are We not,
speaking over loud, doctor, me bhoy?"
"Oh, come, you think they can hear
US five miles away, Timothy? Shout,
II you like, old boy. 1 hope to God
there will be silence enough by and
by. We are going to have look at
them, Timothy. IT'S to learn the color
Of their coats, as you would say"
Eye are not going within shot OF
their guns?"
Timothy" I said. speaking now IN
that low tone he had desired, IT am
going to learn how it fares with Joan
Fordibras."
holds the lantern, there goes Jack the
Giant-killer. Twill help her to be
sunk, Ean."
IT do not think they will sink us,
Timothy"
"God be good to me, I'm no better
than a coward this night. What was
it I said?"
THAT you were quite Of my opinion,
Timothy"
We laughed together, and then fell
to silence.
So we crept on. mile by mile. Every
eye aboard the White Wings watched
that resting searchlight as though 1t
had been endowed with telepathic pow
ers. and would of itself warn the
rogue's crew. don't think we believed,
for an instant In the good fortune
which followed us. 1t seemed incredible
that they should not keep a better
lookout, and yet the fact so stands.
The resting beam of light in the sky
was our goal We drew upon 1t mo-
ment by moment as to some gate Of
destiny which should tell story fruit
full beyond any we had heard. And
still the Diamond Ship did not awake.
Suddenly, vast, monstrous, blazing,
the fearful eye of light OF the Diamond
Ships searchlight focused upon us for
terrible instant, and then swept the
| whole circle of the seas with its blind
ing beams. Twice, thrice, 1t went
thus-hearts standing still almost as IL
approached us, leaping again as it
passed onward. Then, as surprisingly,
it remained fixed upon the farther side
of the Diamond Ship: and in the same
| instant, far away to the northwest, a
crimson rocket cleaved the black
darkness of the night, and a shower Of
| gold-red balls burst hoveringly above
| the desert waters.
What do you make Of that, Larry"
"Not a signal from any common ship
| sir We don't use that kind Of rocket"
"'Tis the fourth Of July, bedad, or
the Crystal Palace that's fiying!" cried
| Timothy.
Larry" said /, that's on of their
| patrols. 1 rather fancy a man of the
| name Of Colin Ross is aboard her. II
so. Imroth is to receive some shocks"
II wish to heaven they came bv way
no ca ma n a IN
say. Yon is a steamer and he-s goes
| the answering rocket"
He pointed to the sky above the Dia-
mond Ship, ablaze with a spray Of
vivid green radiance, the answering
signal to the distant ship. The nature
| of our own escape now became quite
clear to me- The lookouts over yonder
| had espied the lights of the relief
steamer and had used the searchlight
| to signal her. The great arcs, the
circling beams, were but those pre-
| liminary movements with which every
operator tries the lantern he is about
| to use. No eye had followed their
aureole, I made sure. We had escaped
| observation, simply because every man
| aboard yonder vessel had been looking
ut the incoming steamer, bearing from
Europe news which might be Of such
moment.
| Larry" said, jumping at the idea
Of it, Its now or never. Let her go
while they are at the parley. Til stake
| my life on 1t there is no lookout to
| starboard. Let's have look at them
| when they least expect u.s."
| do you mean to say, sir, that you'll
risk it?'
There is no risk, Larry-if you don't
delay"
II do believe you are right sir Here's
for 1t anyway, and luck go with us!"
1