Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-01-17

" ~
window We saw the scout-boa. iay-to
cables length distant Snr Was
manned by a crew of lusty sailors and
in the stern sat an officer in the rni-
form OF a German naval captain. We
drew alongside and opened our deck
He stepped aboard
Lieutcnt Won Becman spranE to his
side and began to pour out the story
Of our attempt The captains brows
contracted as he listened. lucrcdulous
at first. ,he grew more and more i'm
passive tnd cold. At last he .urned
to M OLAF
w nat have you TO say he asked.
1T is true" said my companion.
What are you going to do
The captain spoke more coldly,
more form&ly than before. Nicolai
turned to me
He says that he intends to hang
us at his :. >'Xdarm before breakfast
lo0k'd9 around me desperately.
the sta were pains. and, on the port
bow. Sutliucd against the saffron
sky. was the long Toast line pi Eng
land
He cam" hang spies even If We
are spies I,p'acc time" / muttcr"d.
NIiolai translated but the captain
did not dciEu to notice IN" 10 was
the lieutenant who iutcrpo.od
As for that fellow he said, point
ing to me. let him hang if YOU pre-
fer. captain But not this other. who
is evidently high officer i'm the Eng
lish service. Curse him he shrek
ed. losing his sclf-cuutrol again lie
insultcd me i'm the streets of kiol lie
called me Sleeps head and was
in uniform"
CATS head. not Sleeps head"
Nikolai intcrposed.
Il demand satisfaction. 'houted
Won Beeman.
Il am afraid. lieutenant" said the
captain. that the honor of Germany
must take precedence of yours.
If it will be any satisfaction, said
Nikolai. Il am no officer. | am an I'M
Official spy in nobddys service but
my own"
is that true?" cried Won Beeman
with apparent eagcrness. staring at
Nikolai. My comrade nodded The
| lieutenant leaped forward with cry
of triumph.
1T is true" he exclaimed Il ques-
| toned his veraCity. and he showed no
resentment An officer does not lie.
He is no officer. Well. do you wish
my evidence. sir. at the courtmar-
tial?"
There will be no court martial.
lieutenant" the captain answered.
They will be hanged Immediately Lie
to until you see them at the yard
arm: then return to Kiel and report
yourself to the commandant of the
port And now unite those fell
lows"
At the word from Won Beeman the
sailors began to free us from our
bonds. Meanwhile the German cap
tain moved leisurely about the subma-
rine. examining the mechanism with
professional interest When We were
free he signed to us to precede him
into the boat We took our places
and the sailors began to row us back
TO the man of war. II was almost
| light now behind us the submarine
tossed heavily upon the waves. Look
| ing backward | could see Won Beeman
standing amidship. gazing implacably
after us. Then Nikolai nudged me
and pointed furtively to the German
| captain.
He was beaming upon us. and in
| his expression there was something
as near a wink as imagine the naval
regulations would allow. While
! watched him. amazed. | heard one
of the sailors. who had missed his
stroke with the oar. utter a hearty
curse in purest English.
But we were at the ships side and
ascending the ladder before | could
draw the necessary differences from
what | had seen The captain walk
| ed forward toward his quarters. sign
ing to us to follow him. Presently
we were alone with him in his cab
in. Then he turned on Nikolai alb
| ruptly.
We'll done. sir he said heartily.
IL shall report your courageous ac-
ton to the admiralty. Not only have
you performed an act unparalleled in
| the history OF the fleet, but you afford
ed me an opportunity to discover the
complete secret of the mechanism of
the new submarine"
| With your permission, sir, | will
explain matters to my friend said
| Nikolai. turning TO me. But already
the whole affair had become clear TO
me. II was an English battleship. and,
by the ruse of the German flag it's
captain had discovered the secret
| which England had wanted SO badly.
We were in friendly hands.
Did you fulfill this mission by the
direct suggestion of the admiralty
the captain asked.
No. sir" said Nikolai. 1T was our
own enterprise. and we trusted to the
generosity of the English nation to
reward us adequately
The captain started.