New Ulm review., 1914-10-28
Gordon Crdi0
SOLDIER
OF
FORTUNE
By RANDALL PARRISH
Copyright. 1912. by A. c. McClurg &
Co.

HandS IN mine ana staring anXlOuSlE
about the broadening circle. The boat
IN which We rode. while buOyant
enough still bore the outward appear
ance Of Il wreck. the broken stump OF
mast barely showing sufficiently high
to support the Tapping jib, and the
wet canvas of the mainsail completely
concealing everything forward. The
men were lying low. so completely hid
den as to be invisible even to us. but
the lieutenant sat upright. with head
above the mass of sail, and was scan
ming the sea with glasses.
Hadn't seen you before he said
to me. Dark when we came over the
side. you know. Bad morning"
s THE fog is lifting. What is that
, black mass out there?"
Cosmos island" And he turned his
lenses the other way. The next ten
minutes will give us Il clear view"
looked at her. noting how tired her
eyes appeared in the gray light, al
though they smiled courageously.
You are so tired
mo more than you. am sure. Why.
have done nothing except to stay
awake. You have had all the work
and worry. 1t will not be long now
NO: we shall know in a few min
utes if the Sea Gull is standing by
hunting US. If she shows up. you
must do exactly as ! say. You prom
Use that?'
''Of course" and the clasp of her
hand frightened. "You have no reason
to doubt me-"
The lieutenant's eyes were on the
widening Sea line and bent down and
pressed my lips to her bare arm. 1
glanced up again into flushed cheeks.
Craig" exclaimed the lieutenant
suddenly. that must be the fellow off
y. there to port! Here, try the glasses
Just where the cloud is lifting bit.''
l recognized her instantly.
That's the Sea Gull. and. by heav-
ems. they are keeping sharp lookout
on board See. She is swinging on
her heel already; they've sighted usv'
He grasped the glass and stared out
through it in silence for several min
ntes Then he thrust it into a pocket
and settled back out of sight behind
the canvas screen.
You have called the turn" he said
quietly. land the dance is about to be-
gin. Unship your rudder and let it go.
IS, Let them think you are wrecked. help
s3ess to escape, and they will be more
careless. You men there. loosen your
guns and be ready to scale a ships
side in a jiffy. but lie perfectly still
until 1 give the word He turned his
head
"You understand what you are to do.
Craig, you and the lady?"
Il think so. We are to obey Hen
ley's orders and go on board.''
Yes. but do something as soon as
you reach the deck to attract attention
and get them away from the rail. Try
gkand get the lady as far astern as pos
.zsible. for there is likely to be some
fighting. Are you frightened. missY'
NO although her voice trembled
from excitement. You need not wor-
= ry about me-
"All right, then. shall not wait for
any signal. Now, listen. men; these
are my last orders. When | say go
get up any way you can and bit the
first man you see. Hit hard. but no
shooting unless they use firearms.
But fight like devils and do it quick.
= They outnumber us three to one. Mar
ston, you and Simms take the stoke
hold and the forecastle. Keep those
fellows below down with your re-
volvers Shoot if you need to. The
rest of you stick close to me. All
clear, lads?'
AYE. aye. sir,' returned the muf-
- fed voices from beneath the canvas.
I unshipped the rudder, letting it dis
appear noiselessly beneath the waves.
and the boats head swung slowly
around. and we drifted helplessly, the
lib tapping. In low monotone. with
ont turning my head. l managed to
convey my observations to the motion
- less officer.
She's heading straight toward us
under low pressure. There are two
men on the bridge and Il lookout on
the bow. Now she's swinging to port
to bring up close. There's Il group at
the rail near the starboard gangway;
about ten. ! should say. Can you see.
~ Viola %
'TWelve.", she answered quietly.
land three forward. The third man
h;at the rail is the captain. and he has a
FT!sllass"
by George. You are right! recog-
{niZe the fellow now Broussard is on
the bridge. They expect no trouble.
lieutenant, and only have the regular
watch on deck They are getting too
close for me to talk any more
1t was quite evident that Henley
perceived nothing to arouse suspicion
for with a swing like Il hawk the Sea
Gull bore down upon us. the engines
slowing and then reversed. We were
staring up into the faces that looked
#curiously down 1T us.
ls~Hard down. yelled the captain. mo-