The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-06-15
:. Ahov fheref Taka us aboard l''


 4sHullo. the boat! Who are you7 What do you wantT'
 4Small boat adrift; two passengers. Throw us a ropep' "Al1 right! Stand by!''
 I could hear his voice up above shouting orders There was rush of feet, and 8 ropes end fell within reach. The head bobbed over the rail again, and moment later had help ed her up a swaying boarding ladder and felt the solid deck under my feet The intense darkness puzzled me, not gIeam of light showing anywhere. Suddenly a hand touched my arm.
 s'Th1s way, sir. Help the lady aft The deck is clear"
 What kind of boat is thisq'' she whispered.
 sI'm sure don't know. Not big enough for passenger liner"
 We were at the head of the compan- ion stairs and descended carefully, clinging to the rail. The officer, grop- ing in the darkness, opened door af the bottom and hurried us into the lighted cabin. Facing us, one hand resting on the table, stood short, sturdy man in uniform. He began questioning.
 ssWho are you7 How did you come to be adrift in these waters? Answer up, sir. You're no fisherman"
 We escaped from a vessel last even ing. sir.
 4what do you mean by escaped-run away7''
 "Yes. sir.'' And I stepped aside so he could see her more clearly. We were being held as prisoners"
 His eyes flashed to her face, rested an instant, and then his cap was in his hand.
 ssThis is the revenue cutter Saline, which have the honor to command. and have the steward bring glass of wine. Now, sir, are you ready to an- swer2"
 s1 am. We were prisoners on board the Sea Gull. It is a long story, in- volving q will, in which the master of that vessel was interested. We es- capped in a small boat last evening and have been floating about since 2
 ssThe Sea Gull? Do you remember the name, MT. Smith ?" No, sir. Perhaps a description, F-
 "A schooner rigsed steam yacht,'' explained briefly, clearing from New Orleans for Santiago. She is en route to Spanish Honduras, with munitions of war;
 Exactly, under command of a man named Henley. Smith, this sounds too good to be true
 He walked across the cabin twice thinking, not even glancing up as he passed us. Suddenly he stopped, fac ing me.
 Where did he get you two?v
 ssTn bayou on the Alabama coast 2 i And you got away last evening how?''
 He walked back and forth as I re- viewed the events swiftly. hardly think he asked so much as single question, his eyes upon my face and then upon the face of the girl.
 A rather strange tale,v he com mented when had concluded, 'and perhaps the whole is not told How ever, that is none of my affair. Now, listen. This is a revenue cutter. We were ordered out of Pensacola four days ago to intercept this boat on which you two were prisoners. We haven't even sighted the vessel, and if we did would be perfectly helpless. as she can steam three knots to our one. Only some streak of wonderfully good luck would ever enable us te capture Her. half believe you are the good luck, if you do what sug gest-"
 tTWhat?'' asked. s.I will be willing Would you need Mrs. Henley also2''
 tsYes," and he turned to the officer. l 'It is not a very complicated plan, but we will try it. I don't think Hen ley will leave these waters without an effort to recover his boat and prison CTS, He will want those papers and revenge on Craig here He has no warning that we are after him. be- the same neighborhood until daylight. All we have to do is lay trap-the l boats the trap"
 'sYou mean conceal squad of men in the bottom and send it adrift again?''
 z Exactly; lower the mast, as though Craig here had been unable to step it, or, better still, heave it overheard. The loss of weight will give room for another man. Then cover the lads over with the canvas. They will never suspect the ruse on the Sea Gull or l study it out through glasses. They'll simply recognize their boat and steer for it-''
 ''The fighting odds will be pretty heavy, sir,'' said Smith soberly.
 we must trust to surprise and get the crew below fastened down before an alarm is sounded on board. A doz- en armed men ought to clear the decks. How do you look at the affair, Craig? Will the plan work? ?"
 T am not sure understand exactly what is proposed, sir.''
 My thought is that this man Hen ley will be sufficiently anxious to get hold of you two again and regain those papers, so that he will steam about slowly all night, hoping. to get sight of the missing boat at daylight He has no means of knowing that the revenue officers are after him. If he sights us at daybreak he'll make a run and show us clean pair of heels He'd be hull down in five hours, fol this is slow old tub. Now what I