The Pulaskian., 1917-12-14

licve it was my own situation which
 so completely unnamed me, but the
 remembrance of Vera. What would
 become of her? She would be alone in McCann's power without human be- ing to whom she could appeal She
 would be forced into the boat despite her struggles, laughed at, and moeked.
 She might even be compelled to wit ness the slow sinking of the ship carry ing us down into the depths. And then what? The vision I conjured up was agony, and I sank back upon the stool,
 my face buried in my hands.
 It is not even yet clear in my mind
 how the remaining hours of that after
 noon passed. I was conscious only of
 mad, impotent rage. Wild schemes
 flashed thr ugh my brain, only to fail
 of executiO., There could be only one
 reason for McGann's aetion-desertion
 of the ship, that same night. If the
 mutineers were really, as pretended,
 intending to land their boats in the
 harbor of St. Johns, they would re- | day yet. No one else on board could place the vessel at the point desig- mated. Their actions, however, plainly evidenced that was no longer needed
 and that their plans had been changed. Indeed no one held communication with me all that afternoon; occasion ally I overheard movements in the fv, E1I,E
 my door, and was unable to ascertain who were present, while the few words distinguished brought me no specific l information. That some movement of secret importance was going on aboard seemed more than probable. l became l impressed with the conviction that food supplies were being conveyed from the lazarette to the boats and slowed away. Supper was served early in the
 cabin, but was evidently more of lunch than a meal no attempt being
 made at formality MeCann, Liverpool and Miss Darlington were at the table together, but, while could differenti-, ate their voices, conversation was car
 ried on in such low tones, could
 make little of 1t. When they left the
 table Vera went to the piano, and played and sang all the time White
 was eating. My little peekhole gave
 me glimpse of McCann, leaning
 against the mizZen mast, his eyes upon
 her. No offer of food was made me,
 nor did I see, or hear Bascom; If he
 ate at all 1t must have been in his own | I0fa
 the two exchanging few apparently
 friendly words, before the girl excused
 herself, and returned to her room.
 I sat down to think again-hopeless,
 my mind on the same treadmill. What
 could I do? What effort of mine was possible There was no means by
 which I could escape from the state
 room; was like rat in trap, and
 McCann intended to leave me there to
 drown. Within an hour, perhaps; cer-
 tainly before midnight, those devils
 would desert the ship, and take to the
 boats. Already I was practically
 dead; certainly as helpless to prevent l the consummation of this villainous
 plan as though fathoms beneath the
 sea. How deathly still it was on
 board. Suddenly it occurred to me
 that Dade had not even cleared the | table; at least had heard no rattle of dishes, or any evidence of work. Such neglect certainly must mean that Me Cann's plan was known to all aboard of his own company. opened the door again, noiselessly, it's scant quarter of
 an inch before 1t was stopped by the bar, and sought to look out. The space gave me no view; there was a light
 burning, but turned so low as to leave the cabin in semidarkness. I waited | listening, but no movement told of any presence. For the fourth time tried
 my knife point on the bar holding me prisoner. It barely scratched the wood, for could not force the handle
 through the narrow opening I might smash 1t by shots from my revolver. but that would leave me unarmed, and create an alarm which would fill the cabin with men; besides the severed
 ends of the bar would still hold the door secure.
 I strengthened up, my heart beating iihc d tilphtlHhucA' ooihelAihs Stianso,
 unaccountable was occurring in the cabin. I could make nothing of 1t; not even satisfy myself that what seemed to hear was an actual reality-yet there was a sound like blow, followed by barely audible groan, and the sliding of body to the deck.
 CHAPTER xxIV.