The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-09-01
CONTRA BAND"
Romance Of the North Atlantic by RANDALL PARRISH
IVY Lady North"
aid Of the Forest etc. Copyright A. c. McClurg Co..
by RANDALL PARRISH

Iortably situated, was browsing ut his
task. Anyhow, would make little
noise, and the chance was worth tax
ing.
The labor proved easier than | haC
supposed. The soft pine yielded easily
to the sharp blade, and very few mo-
ments sutficed to cut the lock clear
enabling me to open the door silently
and take cautious survey Of the main
cabin. At first doubted the presence
Of anyone, and had, indeed, ventured
forth before perceiving the form of q
man outstretched on the divan sur
rounding the butt Of the mizzenmast
The fellow was asleep, yet restless
enough to be dangerous. His face was
in shadow, and l thought it best not
to venture close enough to identify
him, although the dim light revealed
II belt about his waist, and the bullying
butt of revolver. Convinced that my
only hope Of accomplishment lay In
the discovery and release Of my fel'
low prisoners, l crept across the de-
serted cabin, and entered the passage
leading forward. Somewhere amid
ships these were surely confined. But
l was not destined to discover where.
had taken scarcely a step when the
companion door opened, and man
started down the stairs. Cr0uched in
the darkness, saw the sleeping guard,
aroused by the noise, spring upright,
and as the light fell on his face, rec
ognized a seaman named Dubois. The
man on the stairs paused, gripping the
rail, staring down as though momen-
tarily blinded by the light.
us that you, Dubois?" he asked in
the harsh croak belonging to Jim
White.
I'D yOu-you was asleep"
II lay back to rest, but 1 was not
asleep, monsieur-non, non." 90,
"Well, we won't fight over that now.
You're the only Frenchman on board,
and we want you on deck. Go on up !;
I'll stay here. Aye, man, yer better
leave the gun"
"Vat ees 1t, Monsieur White? Why
they want me on deck?"
"What's the difference, you frog
eater? But I'll tell yer anyhow. There
Is u cruiser showing up off our port
quarter, which has caught sight o. us.
She looks Frenchy, and if there Is q
hail, it will be up to you to answer
you are the only one aboard this
hooker who talks the lingo like a na-
tive, see!" - e, ,.F'
Dubois stood staring, his lips parted
In sudden terror. - -,
"A French warsheep; Get hail us?"
"Not yet; but they are bound to
question us, all right. There! did you
hear that? A shot across our bows,
politely asking us to heave to; aye!
and weiare slowlngdown; come, hurry
up on deck with you, Frenchy." ~
"But-but, monsieur. what ees 1t l
Gun say? l know not re words, re-
re explanation" = ..,&
"You speak French, don't your" &
"Oui. monsieur, Oui, but-but / know
not what to speak" q
"Well, don't let that worry you. Nc.
Cam will tell youn7but God pity you,
Dubois, If you fail to repeat it. Up
with you now, and be lively about it 7"
Al! thought of my former purpose
vanished from my mind as realized
this new chance Of rescue. At any risk
l must attain quickly to the open deck,
where could create an alarm sufli
cient to awaken suspicion on board tho
approaching Frenchman. McCann's
ONLY hope of escape lay in some salts.
factory explanation, which would lull
the suspicious Of the French COM
mander-some lie smooth enough to
prevent boarding and search.
Assured that White was beyond OBJ
servation Of any of my movements,
crcpt cautiously around the stair rail,
and nOiselessly mounted the steps. l
found the after part Of the main deck
deserted, although forward of the
mainnast could perceive dark
blotches along the port rail, where
members of the watching party were
observing the approach of the French
cruiser. With heart beating like trip
hammer, made my way along the
front of the cabin, until ventured to
peer over the port rail, secure that my
presence on deck was screened by the
deep shadows In which l lurkel.
The gleam of the stars alone re.
vealed the glittering surface of the sea,
but the night was clear Of fog, and the