The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1913-01-16

last threat. He was ill when the let
ter came, and we kept it from him
1t was evident to me that the cap
tain d%isapproved, but he held his
peace.
What we're the previous threats?'
he asked, presently.
Nothing Definite" answered
Simply that on certain fixed days the
writer's would demonstrate theil
power"
And did they?"
Most marvelously."
Again Macleod was silent for a
space.
Under the circumstances, Mr.
Clyde, don't you think it would have
been better if you'd told me about
this?"
Mr.. Cameron was very anxious
that no one should know"
The captain comprised his right
knee with his locked hands.
All the same" he said, he'd never
have been spirited off this yacht if I'd
ta' known what was in the wind"
This statement annoyed me, and
resented it.
What could you have done?" ]
asked. II 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 bust.
ness to be bungled because l am only
captain of this yacht and you are the
owners friend. So. if l speak plainly,
sir, you'll understand why, and not
think me disrespectful,"
I 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 o told it to
NE, has some weak points in it. You
say, for instance. that you We're 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
slant in absolute dumb amaze.
Il don't know why O say that" /
said, at length, more hurt than an
gered. Il told you that from the mo-
ment I last spoke to him. seated be-
side him there on the after-deck, un-
til l turned from the rail and found
him 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 you?"
Il did"
And you were leaning yer the taft
rail, looking for it, weren't you?"
Il was"
But you didn't see it,"
mo, I didn't see it,; and / couldn't
hear it 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 we're you, Mr.. Clyde. when
that boat-motor, tug, or whatever
she was-crossed within ten feet of
the dory we are towing"
uo1 hD cfr,,o1x IN Tho f114 7
could not have been more dumfound-
ed.
What do you mean?" were the only
words that came to me.
Il meano that the craft you have
been talking about came up and went
before you gave the alarm that Mr..
Cameron had vanished under your
eyes. l was on the bridge and saw it
myself-~just a black shape, without
lights, and her exhaust muf1led, just
as you say You tell me that you and
Mr.. Cameron had been sitting there
for three hours, at least; that you
heard seven bells strike; that 1t 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"
II told you all of that, and every
word is the TRUTH" l insisted, vehe
mently.
And yet" he retorted a~ccusingly
and yet-eight bells had struck be
fore you gave the alarm"
had not thought of the time. IL
my panic it had not occurred to me
of course to ascertain the hour ant
minute. But Captain Macleod knew
At sea they work by clock. At eigh
tells the watch had changed.
my dear fellow" l exclaimed ris
ing. you certainly cannot for a me
ment suspect me of completely"
He stood up, too; imperturbable.
II just want those things explained
that's ALL" was his reply.
And l can't explain Them" l toll
him. candidly. "You say you saw tn
boat. I didn't. You say it was ate
midnight when l came to you.
may have been. ! don't know.
may have hsen nearer twelve. when