The Lamar register., 1914-07-22


as | was certain one. at least. of the
under officers would be sleeping below.
My round had brought me to the Sec
ond door on the port side when in the
dim light l perceived something lying
at my feet and stopped down to better
determine its character 1t was the
end of very narrow light blue rib
bon, apparently caught beneath the
door. The door was numbered ''5."
Whether by accident or design. she
had left the one clew l most needed
1 thrust it into my pocket, but the soft
touch of the silk seemed to bring back
to me Il sense of caution. l knew the
door was locked and assured myself
there was no space beneath. II l was
to communicate with her other means
must be employed. What? This was
the second stateroOm on the port side.
Judging from my own, the width of
each room would be about six feet.
There ought to be no difficulty in locat-
ing her portfolio from the deck above
nor in attracting her attention.
The one thing i desired now was to
re-establish myself fully in her conf
dence. assure her I was at liberty on
board, able and willing to be Of serv-
ice. This necessity overshadowed ev-
erything else. II could discover
means of communication we could
plan hopefully, assured of co-operati ton.
This seemed possible, the way to its
accomplishment open. Swallowed from
observation by the thick butt of the
after mast, l wrote a few lines hastily
on the back of an envelope, thrust it
tv,N<, 81
companion stairs.
A glance sufficed to convince that l
was alone and unobserved The deck
was unobstructed aft. except for a
small boat swung to davits astern and
the cabin transoms. These last were
elevated some three feet. but consider
able space separated from the rail. I
slipped into this opening on the port
side. crouching in the dense shadow
until again assured | was alone. My
position afforded as good Il view for
ward as the darkness would permit
and likewise enabled me to see into
the dimly lit cabin below. l was not
watched or spied upon. For the first
time began to feel free.
With a glance below at the unoccu-
on the distance until convinced that
had safely located where the portfolio
Of No. 8 should be. l leaned over
seeking to trace its outline by some
reflection Of light from within, but the
receding side OF the vessel bafiied me-
Yet assured that 1 must be correct in
my measurements, I marked the spot
on the rail and began search for some
means by which I could open COM
munication with the girl below.
The dag locker was astern, and
standing on 1t I could feel inside the
boat swung to the davits. It was
small. light boat. fashioned like a cut
ter, a good seagoing craft for its size.
Two oars and short mast. together
with IA roll of canvas. were slowed on
top Of the thwarts and secured by
lashings. ! cut one of these and drew
forth about three fathoms of line, suf-
6ciently pliable for my purpose. The
boat hung ready for launching. the
falls easily unlocked, and two pair of
hands would be sufficient to lower II
into the water. There was locker
forward was unable to reach. but
two water kegs. filed. were strapped
believe the craft was fully equipped
for immediate service. My mind filed
with a daring hope by this discovery.
fastened the note to the end Of the
cord. weighted 1t with bunch of keys
and crept back to where had marked
the rail. Inch by inch ] paid out the
line. leaning well over. At last my
ears detected the dangling of the metal
lie keys against the glass. and by
manipulating the rope. managed to
make them sound with clear insistence.
/ repeated the effort several times be-
fore there was any Response. Then the
port seemed to be opened cautiously,
although no CLEAN of light shot forth.
She had evidently extinguished her
lamp before venturing to answer the
signal, but felt her grasp on The cord
Then 1t was left dangling ns. inst the
closed port leaving me to infer that
she was reading the hasty note.
My line was again hauled taut. but
as Strengthened up, prepared to haul
up the returning message. l saw the
shadow of a man passing across the
cabin below. He was already at the
foot of the companion stairs; in an
other minute he would be on deck.
There was no time to do otherwise.
and 1 released my grasp OF the rope,
letting II drop silently into the water.