The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-12-28

I Have n was my own situation wnicn
so completely unnamed me- Out .ns
remembrance of Vera. What "ou'u
become of her? She would be alone III
McCann's power without human ue.
inc 70 whom she could appeal. She
would be forced into the boat despite
her struggles, laughed at, ana inocheu'
She might even be compelled 10 VII
ness the slow sinking Of the ship carry
inc ms down into the depths. And theh
what? The vision cOnJured up was
agony. and | sank back upon the STOOL
nv face buried in my hands. j.,
II Is not even yet clear In my nina
how the remaining hours OF that ai'ei
noon passed. was conscious only OF
mad. impotent rage. Wild schemes
flashed through my brain, only 10 Iaii
Of execution. There could be only one
reason for McCann's action-desertion
of the ship, that same night. II the
mutineers were really. as pretended
intending to land their boats In the
harbor of st. Johns, they would re-
ouire my services for ut least another
day vet. No one else on board couiu
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
cabin, but could scarcely peer through
nv door. and was unable to ascertain
who were present, while the few words
distinguished brought me no specinc
information. That some movement OF
secret Importance was going on aboard
seemed more than probable. / became
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. Mccain, Liverpool
and Miss Darlington were at the table
together, but, while l 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 a glimpse of Mccain, leaning
against the mizzen mast, his eyes upon
her. No offer Of food was made me.
nor did l see, or hear Bascom; If he
ate at all 1t must have been in his own
staterOOm. Finally the music ceased,
the two exchanging a few apparently
friendly words, before the girl excused
herself, and returned to her room.
l sat down to think bankruptcies,
my mind on the same treadmll. What
could l do? What effort of mine was
possible There was no means by
which / could escape from the state
room; was like rat in a trap, and
Mccain intended to leave me there 10
drown. Within an hour, perhaps; GER
tainly before midnight. those devils |
would desert the ship, and take 10 the |
boats. Already I was practically |
dead; certainly as helpless TO prevent
plan as though fathoms beneath the
sea. How deathly still II 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 Nc
Cams plan was known to all aboard
Df his own company. opened the door
again, noiselessly its scant quarter OF
IN inch before 1t was stopped by the
oar and sought to look out. The space
gave me no view; there was light
burning, but turned so low as to leave
he cabin in semidarkness. | waited
listening. but no movement told OF any
presence. For the fourth time | tried
ny knife point on the bar holding me
prisoner. 1t barely scratched the wood,
or l could not force the handle
through the narrow opening. | might
'mash 1t by shots from my revolver.
'ut that would leave me unarmed. and
'reate an alarm which would fiji the
'abin with men; besides the severed
'nds of the bar would still hold the
loor secure.
Strengthened up. my heart beating |
Ike triphammer. Something strange, ,
lnaccountable was occurring in the {
abin. ] could make nothing Of 1t: not {
ven satisfy myself that what I seemed
o near was an act1al reallty-yet
here was sound like blow, followed !
y barely audible groan, and the i
liding of a body to the deck. q
CHAPTER XIV.