The Ordway new era., 1913-02-21
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went to the rail. Ny impression Is
that It was not. Ill admit It is mys-
terious. The whole awful thing 10
mysterious"
My candor seemed to relieve him.
well. Mr.. Clyde" he said. with
equal sincerity. maybe was out
spoken. but l wanted to know what
you'd say to the points that were
puzzling me-"
you did perfectly right" told
him. AS you have said, there must
be no secrets between u.s." And then.
as resumed my seat. asked: what
about the fisherman? He hasn't evad-
ed his guard. has he7"
Macleod sat down again too.
Hes in where I put him, now" he
answered with shade Of reluctance,
"but-I'm not sure; its almost as
mysterious as the other-but l could
for'ard hatchway and go sneaking aft
while was on the bridge"
When was that?" pressed, eager
~.
About . quarter Of twelve"
what did you dor
Nothing, Just then. waited. And
while was waiting I saw that black.
spooky craft come out Of the dark.
and go skimming astern Of US. A
little after eight bells came down
from the bridge-I stopped there for
Just a minute to have a word with
Brandon when he came up-and then
went myself to look after Johnson
and the man I'd set to watch him. The
fisherman was in bunk sound asleep,
and the man swore he had been lying
there snoring. for the past two hours.
Who was 1t came up the ladder twen-
ty minutes ago" I asked. He looked
at me as II he thought was gone
suddenly loony. Before the watch
changed" he asked. nodded. Not
a soul came or went he said, since
been here"
And the boat without lights"
questioned. did you inquire about
her? Who else saw herr"
II asked the lookouts; but-well,
no. sir-and that's very strange to me
neither Of them saw her. gave
them both . rating. II they weren't
asleep don't see BOW they could
have missed her." W.
The thing was growing more and
more battling. Macleod was the last
man to be accused Of imaginative fan.
cies. He was thoroughly in earnest in
what he had told me: and yet for
neither of his statements had he the
smallest confederation. For my own
part was sure that, at the time he
mentioned, no vessel Of any dsscrip-
ton had passed anywhere Fear US.
What did you make the craft out
to be-"
well, sir. couldn't say exactly.
She was in sight only a minute. com.
ing in range of our own lights. She
looked more like a tug than anything
else: but she had more speed than
any tug ever saw. She hadn't the
lines Of a yncht."'
she wasn't a pilot boat?"
"Oh. no. sir. New York pilots don't
cruise this far east, and the Boston
pilots wouldn't be SO far away from
home either"
offered the captain a cigar, which
he declined. filling his pipe in prefer
SASS. "ASh A5htOo u SA6Ai my oSh
I asked:
II suppose you have some theory.
Macleod. You don't seriously think
1t was suicide?"
As usual he was BLOW to answer.
After a thoughtful second. he said
I'D be sorry to think that. Mr..
Clyde. Taking into consideration what
you told me about the threat, and
connecting that boat with 1t, 1t
looks" and then he paused, thought
full again. ITS not in possibility" he
went on, after a second. that they
could have plucked him off with line.
But II that fellow I saw going aft-Oh,
Lord, no. sir! It's past me to see a
way out. All the same. we are keep
ing that craft in sight, and If we can
only get thirty knots out Of the sibylla
again, we'll find out what she Is and
what her business is. before morning"