The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-01
writers would demonstrate their

power"
And did they?"
Most marvelously."
Again Macleod was silent for q
space.
Under the circumstances, Mr..
Clyde. don't you think 1t would have
been better II you'd told me about
this?"
Mr.. Cameron was very anxious
that no one should know"
The captain comDessed his right
knee with his locked hands.
All the same" he said, he'd never
have been spirited off this yacht II I'd
a known what was in the wind"
This statement annoyed me, and I
resented it
What could you have done?" I
asked. Il was with him almost con.
tinuously"
There came a strange, half-medita-
tive, half-bold look in the mans eyes.
and was wondering what it portend-
ed, when, quite ignoring my question.
he began speaking:
you see there oughtn't to be any
misunderstanding between you and
me, sir. This Is too serious a busi-
ness to be bungled because am only
captain Of this yacht and you are the
owners friend. So, If speak plainly,
sir, you'll understand why, and not
think me disrespectful"
l smiled to reassure him, still puz-
zled, and added:
Go straight ahead, captain. You
are perfectly right"
WELL" he began, "Ill tell you. Mr..
Clyde. Your story, as you told it to
me, has some weak points In it. You
say, for instance, that you were with
Mr.. Cameron almost continuously.
Now I'm not mentioning the little
while you were in here, early In the
evening, but during the last quarter
OF an hour before you gave the alarm,
you weren't with him, either"
l stared at the speaker for an in
stant In absolute dumb amaze.
II don't know why you say that"
said, at length, more hurt than an.
gered. II told you that from the mo-
ment last spoke to him, seated be-
side him there on the after-deck. un-
til / turned from the rail and found
MIN. gone, not more than two min
utes elapsed. And that was Gods
truth"
You said you were listening for
what you thought sounded like a mo-
tor boat, didn't your"
II did"
"And you were leaning over the taft.
rail. looking for 1t. weren't your"
II was.'
"But you didn't see it?"
mo, ! didn't see It; and couldn't
hear 1t after the first few seconds"
The captain had fixed a gaze on me
that seemed aimed to penetrate to my
souls fiber. After my answer he was
silent a moment. Then he said:
Where were you, Mr.. Clyde, when
that boat--motor, tug, or whatever
she was-crossed within ten feet of
the dory we are towing?"
Had he struck me in the face I
could not have been more dumfound.
ed.
What do you mean? ?" were the only
words that came to me.
Il mean that the craft you have
been talking about came up and went
astern OF us, ten or twelve minutes
before you gave the alarm that Mr..
Cameron had vanished under your
eyes. / was on the bridge and saw It
myself--just a black shape, without
lights, and her exhaust muffied, Just
as you say. You tell me that you and
Mr.. Cameron had been sitting there
fer three hours, at least; that you
heard seven bells strike; that It was
not more than fifteen or twenty min.
utes after this that you got up and
went to the rail, and that you only
stood there two minutes"
IL told you all of that. and every
word is the TRUTH" l insisted, vehe-
mently.
And yet" he retorted accusingly,
and yet-eight bells had struck be-
fore you gave the alarm"
| had not thought Of the time. In
my panic 1t had not occurred to me,
OF course to ascertain the hour and
minute. But Captain Macleod knew.
At sea they work by clock. At eight
bells the watch had changed.
MY dear fellow" | exclaimed ris.
Ing, you certainly cannot Tor a mo
ment sus H-ct lar of completely"
He stood up, too; imperturDable.
"l just want those things explained,
that's ALL" was his reply.
And | can't explain them" l told
him, candidly. you say you saw the
boat. | didn't. You say it was after
midnight when l came to you. 1t
may have been. don't know. 1t
may have been nearer twelve, When l
went to the rail. My impression is
that 1t was not. I'll admit 1t Is mys-
IL