Lower coast gazette., 1914-01-10

manned by a crew Of lusty sailors. and
in the stern sat an officer In the uni
form of a German naval captain. We
drew alongside and opened our deck.
He stepped aboard.
Lieutent Won Beeman sprang 10 MS
side and began tc pour out the story
Of our attempt. The captains bro"s
contracted as he listened; i~ncreduious
at first, he grew more and more I'm.
massive and cold. At last he .urneo
to Nikolai.
What have you to say" he asked.
1T is true" said my companion.
What are you going to DO!
The captain spoke more colby.
more formally than before. Nicoial
turned to me.
HE a y that he Intends to hang
us at his yard-arm before breakfast
he explained.
looked around me desperately.
Dawn was already flushing the east,
the stars we're paling, and. on the port
bow. outlined against the sarron
sky. was the long loast line OF ENG
land.
He cannot hang spies-even II we
are spies-in peace time" mueeeSea'
1T is against the code
:, NiSolai translated, but the captain
!, did not deign to notice me. II was
, the lieutenant who ~interp0sed.
"As for that fellow" he said, point
ing to me, "let him hang il you pre-
! fer. captain. But not this other, VINO
is evidently a high officer in the Eng
]ish service. Curse him." he Shrek
ed. losing his %self.control again. He
. insulted me in the streets OF KEEL. ne
q called me a sleeps head-and was
e in uniform"
d Calls head, not sleeps head"
Nikolai interposed.
81 demand satisfaction" shoute0
l. Won Beeman.
70 II am afraid, lieutenant" a I the
captain. that the honor of Germany
ID must take precedence Of yours
a. III it will be any satisfaction said
Nikolai. Il am no officer. am an un.
official spy in nobody's service Dus
ID my own"
n. "Is that true!" cried Won Beeman
ID with apparent e%agerness. staring AT
lr Nikolai. My comrade nodded. Inc
lieutenant leaped forward with . CRY
to Of triumph.
ut is true" he exclaimed. \ eues
w. toned his veracity, and he showed NJ
resentment. An officer does not lie
He ia no officer. Well. do you wisl
nv evidence, sir, at the court'raar
tial?"
). There will be no court-martial
. lieutenant" the captain answered
.They will be hanged Immediately. LII
to until you see them at the yard
arm; then return to Kiel and repor
Yourself to the c~ommandant OF tn
port. And now unite those re
lows"
At the word from Won Beeman tn
sailors began to free us from on
bonds. Meanwhile the German cal
tain moved leisurely about the suDm'
= rine. examining the mechanism VIII
professional interest. When we wei
free he signed to US to precede nj
into the boat. We took u place
and the sailors began to row US bat
to the man of war. It was aimo
light now. Behind us the submarll
tossed heavily upon the waves. Loo
ing backward. l could see Won Beems
. standing amidship, gazing implacab
. after us. Then Nikolai nudged \
. and pointed furtively to the Germ'
+ captain.
He was beaming upon US, and
! his expression there was somethl
n as near a wink as l imagine the ma,
regulations would allow. While
III watched him, amazed. l heard Q
" If the sailors, who had missed
w stroke with the oar, utter a heal
~ curse in purest English.
~ But we were at the ships side a
ascending the ladder, before CO..
draw the necessary differences fr
~ what | had seen. The captain, wa
ed forward toward his quarters, 81
4, ing to us to follow him. Presen
II we were alone with him in his {
In. Then he turned on Nikolai
= ruptly.
" well done. SIR" he said heart
81 shall report your courageous
ton to the admiralty. Not only d
n Won performed an act unparalleled
VI the history Of the feet, but you an
ed me an opportunity to discover
complete secret Of the mechanism
- the new submarine"
with your permission, sir,
orn,ain matters to my friend"
Nikolai. turning to me. But alrt
tho whole affair had become clea
me. It was an English battleship.
nv the ruse of the German flag
cantain had discovered the sc
which England had wanted 50 b
We were in friendly hands.
.Did you fulfill this mission by
direct suggestion Of the admiral
the captain asked.
mo, Sir" said Nikolai. ~ wal
own enterprise, and we trusted tt
generosity Of the English natio
reward US adequately
The captain started.
what" he cried. Does nobo'
po- ..'.nd pnow that you embs
Woulo upon this perilous adventure
u Nobody but yourself and your
KEEL" SIT, NlAoia' manna chang,
tn pas the Captain