The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-01-17


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 to his
side and began TO pour out the story
of our attempt. The captains brows
contracted as he listened: incredulous
at first. he grew more and more i'm
passive and cold. At last he turned
to NikOlai.
What have you G say he asked
1T is true" sGid my comps Mon.
What are you going T. do
The captain spoke more Coldly.
turned to me.
He avs that re attend T. nAnr
U a. his y rd-ayn 02.ore breaL'lst"
he explained.
looked aroun1 me lesparat l..
Dawn was already Gushing the east,
the stars we're aling. and, o. the port
bow, outlined gain .Ae s7.@ron
ky, "a The loo loa line {, En-
land.
4 c.2not L.nE pic II l.. -
are spies-in peace time" ! mu cred.
1T i agains he ode
Eiiola transla' ed, bu t. ptai
did not deign to notice m. = vs.
tn lieutenant Eho interCosel.
"A oy that '.llow," he said, poin
in to me, let him hang !. yod pr
fer, captaia. Blu not this other, u'hO
eviden''y q high Office n the En-.
l.Sh 7ervice. Ours him." Ae 1rieL-
d, losinC his eel. cont, oil ain. He
in ulte- me in tn street c, Kiel He
called me q 1eeY's lead nc : a..
H. inform"
Calf hea-, nc alc'T'- a-21."
Nj olsi in,erpCI ed.
Il dem nd ATS on, lou
V1n Beeman.
~ m -..ai L, lieut. nant,- id &.
c plain, that lie honor C. German
must tax prec dence c you.
Il. it Vill be an satisfaction" lid
Nikolsi. Il an 70 officer. | ar an IN
Official p i nobody -arv ;e BIT
my own"
'I II true 80 c.ie Won man
with apparent eagernes Etarinc r-
, Nikolai My comrade nodde. The
Lieutenant lo ped Or I'd Win cry
O. triumph.
1T is true" h CXcllimed cues
toned h veracity, and h hoVed no
resentment An officer doe not lie.
He I no officer. WCu, do you wish
my evidence, II, 1t til court-mar-
tial?"
There will be no court martial.
lieute nant," 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 comnGndant 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. 1t 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 l 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 abb
ruptly.
| We'll done. SIR" he said heartily.
81 shall report your courageous &C
ton to the admiralty. Not only have
| you performed an act unparalleled in
the history of the feet, 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. 1t was an English battleship. and,
by the ruse Of the German flag, its
captain had discovered the secret
which England had wanted SO badly.
We we're in friendly hands.
Did you fulfill this mission by the
direct suggestion Of the admiralty"
the captain asked.
mo. 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.
"What?" he cried. Does nobody In
England know that you embarked
unon this perilous ADVENTURE"
Nobody but yourself and your men,
sir" Nikolai answered.
The captains manner changed In
a way comical to see.
l.