Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-29
cnArrEn xx-tcontInuedl.

VI recovered enough from the exc tement
of the affair to realize it. The Clymene was
athrill from stem to stern with a deep
heavy vibration--not unlike the purring
of a tiger cat many times magnihed. 1t
told me that. for one thing, Greer hau at
least kept his word about having steam
UP and all prepared against our coming
for another, that we could presently slip
anchor and glide gently down the estuary
and over the bar, beyond which lay the
open North Sea.
1 lodged back to tho stern sheets and
there leaned upon the rail. watching Ior
indications OF the pursuing boats. n tar
dim clamor apprised me that the chase
had not been abandoned and few distant
glimmerng lights, dancing over the race
of the river thought to be lanterns IN the
prows of rowboats Also, from the flicker
of lights ashore, l gathered that the town
was waking up and growing more ana
more excited.
1t was several hours after we had cleared
the bar and had reached the waters OF the
high sea that the late winter morning
dawned dim and gray. Sevrance ana l.
standing upon the deck, were congratulatins
ourselves upon the what now seemed our
safety from pursuit. For, far out on our
port side. Sevrauce pointed to dark bulk
that, as we looked. took shape out OF the
formlessness of the sea. something IN the
well.known gracefulness of the outlines
made us aware tnht IL was tho NSO'0N'"'
But even as | looked, Sevrance seized my
arm and whirled me sharply around.
At some distance to the south. apparently
following In OUR immediate wake loomeu
another shape-the shape OF Vessei con
siderably our superior in size and weight,
flying the British flag.
[ seized the binoculars and ratified off
the flags as quickly as l might. Sevrance
rustled the leaves as briskly; hardly had I
ended than :hc cookbook crashed upon the
deck as Sevrance snatched the glasses from
me without ceremony, and. turning, directed
them to the southwark.
What the deuce--?' gasped.
Were pursued! he cried. Now l
know! BY heavens, Gordon, we're In Tor
H..
He returned the glasses just as Callahan
came tumbllng up the hatchway, drag
ging after him man by the collar
"This damned furriner, George Pike.
sort" he cried breathlessly, Been aplayin
the divvirs own tricks with my engines!
Get back to you engines!' Sevrance
roared. Full speed ahead! What's that
about Pike? Let him go-throw him over
board-but GET"
My eyes were glued to the glasses. For
an instant 1 gazed at random seeing
naught to justify his excitement; but
moment later heavy yet acute report
rolled over the waters, and following the
apparent direction of the sound, l brought
the binoculars to bear upon-what l then
chose to considerable enemy
A whorl of vapor, snow white against the
black smoke from her tunnels, showed that
the gun had been fired from the war ves'
sell From her single mast, below the en-.
sign of her nationality, tiapped line OF
flags and pennants.
She was coming on at top speed. ram
ming heavy, clumsyloolSing nose into the
sullen, swelling seas as II in determined
lna tFs.n
Something in the ugly shape OF her
seemed to strike cold terror into my heart
saw ourselves doomed to capture ana I'M
prisonment-long durance In the Englsh
prisons as penalty for our violation OF the
laws of neutrality. suspicion that Greer
had played informer flashed through my
mind, and 1 cursed him and his kin, root
and branch, back to the prlmorual hhces'
tors of his breed.
But Seyrance was all alive. nor in the
least content TO throw up the sponge. In
n twinkling he had the cookbook In hand
again-and Garvin had possessed himself
of the glasses without a word of apology
for his unceremonious manner OF taxing
them from my hands. He read the signals
clearly, more swiftly than l could have
which was his sufficient excuse-while Sew,
rance translated, a grim and determined
smile about his thin lips
stand by" heard him say at length.
And then again the forward gun OF the
vessel spoke. smothering his voice
Ere the echo died he had cast the book
aside and was smiling blithely into my
eyes.
stand by or we will sink you Gordon"
said he. Shall we?"
Instlnctively 1 looked toward the Myo-
sotls Shall we desert her?' l would
have asked, bethtnking me OF the yachts
precious burden. But the yacht was now
surging ahead swiftly and swinging on at
an acute angle from our course.
"Oh she can take care OF herself; they're
In no danger. 1t is we who are wanted
wanted bad-a price upon our heads! Let
them shift for themselves: We'll make run
for our own liberty" He paused, his face
as he cast glance down the
length of the Clymene's deck. Hang It
all" he cried regretfully.
What now?"
He hourished a hand with a gesture OF
helpless choler. 'If things were only other
wise! If that were any but an English
vessel I'd give her all the fight she wantsF
you'd"
flight IL she were-say-German? With
al my heart, mani 1t drives me frantic to
see those guns and realize that we cannot
use them-for we can't turn them against
l ship of our own country
"Guns?' l repeated.
"Therew he indicated. and there, there. |
md there?' jerking his fingers fretfully to-
yard four quarters of the deck, where some |
/ had heretofore placldly |
Ind stupidity considered parts of the ma
hooded in shining water
,roof.
Two twelve-pounder and two six-pounder |
apid-fre guns" Sevrance explained with |
orced calm THE largest guns-those fore |
md aft-are the twelve-pounders Great |
leayens mani haven't you troubled your
elf TO wonder what those might be?'
He Indicated two heavy. shspelsss ex-
reseenees. moundlike Jumps of olleloth, or /
size superior to the guns One was
,laeed as exactly as I could determine, /
.midships, the other toward the stern.
whitehead torpedo tubes-long ls-tneh,"
e stated briefly. Now, that boat astern
here" He took up the glasses and sub
scted our pursuer to searching scrutiny.
destroyer" he said. his face
loudlng. IF mistake not. the ASP. Of the
'hannel Squadron. She could blow US out
( the water. f-but, Of course. We can't
eslst."
you think it possible to resist de-
troyer7"
Possible. Gordon My word r. And he
faggled a sagaelous forehnger under my
ose POSSIBLE II that we're only French
T German. I'd take the ehance In > mo-
aeat! In = ease Ike this. Who strikes
rst Wins. New. II could launch we'll