The Washington herald., 1915-12-12

My offer stands" she smiled over hel
shoulder as she left him.
SO does my REFUSAL" answered Dick
and he strode on the dark deck again.
Dick went below at midnight Too in
different TO undress, he lay with his
clothes on. watching cockroaches hunt
on the cabin floor and listening to Andry
advertising sleep five cabins down the
starhoard corridor
Without warning, a shock came-a
swering ring at all. but a shudder and
the sickening, yielding feel and sound of
steel plates bending inward. Then the
lights went out.
Andrv woke and left his cabin like a
whirlwind, but with his boots on. anG
felt his way back. cabin door by door. to
where Dick thundered on the panels.
The strain of the shock and list had JAM
med the door tight. In a moment An
drv's feet Were against the nearest bulk
lead. and he grunted as his shoulders
took the strain. The door creaked once
and then went in. frame and all. as II q
ltyphoon struck IL. The door and Dick
COLLAPSED in the cabin corner.
'Ar-r-re We dressed?" demanded An
Yes. Get of me. Man. you weigh a
TONI
"Is the bag packed? Aye: I have it
an the claymore. here; l have them
baith!"
Come on" called Dick. And all that
Andry saw then was a black shadow,
which he raced after in the blackness.
They had struck a pilgrim ship. bound
Meccaward.
Four OF the little liners boats were
one boat go to pieces and another swamp
in the thirty seconds while he watched.
Suddenly he turned and gripped Andry.
THE women" he yelled. They're be-
But Andry. pulled a wry face. and
stayed TO hide the bag and sword where
he could find them.
At once some one pressed the button
hagstfi rays shone golden on Dicks
II knew you would come for me-"
We'll have to hurry up" said Dick.
| The light went out. The blackness
throbbed with human questioning ana
deep-breathed decision. Dick had to feel
for the princess. and at the first touch
she sank into his arms.
| "Ah. Richard-oh. mon roll" she mur-
| INJURED. Il am safe-I know / am safe!"
| So Dick gathered her up and ran for
II, stumbling over rats. and Andry fol-
lowed him. with the princess maid under
one arm and a trunk in the other. He
laid both on the deck beside Dick Just
| of oily waste. He rushed of at once.
then for the sword and bag. and brought
them back triumphantly.
| Then the mate spied them, In the light
of his weird torch
There's small boat afr he shouted
| Take it"
Standing was difficult already. and the
slope of the deck was growing greater.
DICK rushed astern, and Andry fol-
lowed In a minute. being sailors both
suns ST them n;s they had the little boat
gage in. Their one chance was to get
away before the mob knew that they
shad had chance and charged to take It
from them. Within a minute. the maid
lay in the bottom of the dingey. And
then the worst happened.
knife. meant for Dick. went sliv-
the princess off her feet and swung
her in beside her maid. and as he
dropped her he snatched an oar.
each time. they drove the mob back
ward. blanched and whiting. They
| could not hold their gain. and Dick
did not know II. suddenly. just as
dry TO Jump in and lower the boat.
Ma. Ma. I'll no leave ye"'
Get in and lower away" COM
manded Dick, charging again like
bear at bay. to cover the retreat
Andry blubbered then. while he
When he stopped at last to lean on
his oars and listen, the princess bent
forward. laying hand on his enorm-
Leave US here and swim back to
him" she urged.
ders!"
Her agile brain was searching for
another plan when a splash came that
put new, sudden heart into Andry.
The two stout oars bent into semi
circles, as his great back muscles
cracked and the dingey spun. The
little boat leaped on the wave tops as
the flying fish scoot from the dol
he stopped and plunged his arms in;
in an instant Dicks dripping head was
hauled clear of the gunwale; in an in
slant, more he lay on the bottom of
the boat bruised and bleeding, but
alive.
At dawn the princess was bathing
Dicks head with handkerchief dip
ped oversize. and movement of his
masters eyclids had decided Andry
He was m-s!lent-ruminant for
an hour. while a dirty steamer over
took them; He Watched Dicks face
the DardaneIles and Black Sea ports
came beside them and lowered a ia
cOh's ladder down her grimy side
Somebody called out in Russian
from the bridge, and the princess ans
wered. Disarrayed and tired. she
stood up in the little boat and told
They seemed to own no compaion
ladder. After a lot of talk with the
princess. they took the cover of
hatch and rugged 1t in slings.
princess ordered. they lowered 1t
oversize from an outswung derrick.
"LeddeS first"' said Andry; and his |
lips closed tight
He was down on his knees by Dick |
before the sling was half way up the
steamers side.
"Ar-r-re ye awake. Mr.. Dicky? Can
ye hear"
Dick smiled and opened both eyes.
Then, tits what i feared! Listen
listen. laddie, Listen. siri Y're forget |
tin. She's no frien' at a'-she's a |
vera weekid wumman, an oor enemy. |
Wull yc no listen?'
Dick sat up and Andry sat down to |
chew the cud of wopdeTment Both of
them watched critically then as a
boat was lowered from the Russian |
much like theirs, and two men could |
have managed it easily; but II held |
four They came alongside in silence.
One of the Russians took Dick and |
helped him to the stern.
Then the Russian boat was full: there
was no room for Andry. and he laid |
hold of the Russians gunwale, that they |
might tow him along
He yelled with rage when a Russian |
struck his wrist with an oar end. lie !
reached for an oar to str Ike back. 1T |
was then he discovered that the oars /
were gone.
But the big man could swim. Dick |
laughed as he watched him swim for the |
Jacobs ladder. with the sword between
his teeth.
\ mate and two seamen hauled at the |
ladder. but they hauled up Andry The |
giant Sprang between them before they
could think Of seizing things to hit him
with, and II was only the sight of Dick
h.i b.r NJ of dipgny a |