The Pulaskian., 1917-12-07
CHAPTER XXI.
A Plan to Save Ourselves.

A Plan to Save OurseIyes.
 She stood with hands Elasped, and parted lips, her eyes wide open with unconeealed horror, for the moment unable to utter word.
 'Yeu-you actually think that, Mir. Hollis? You mean he would be willing toto murder all on board to protect himself?'
 If assured such an act would bring safety, I do not believe he would hesi- tate at even that crime. To be per fectly plain, Miss Vera, it is my judg- ment that your presence on board pre- sents the only problem unsoIved."
 My presencel Why, he has no cause to fear me. No one knows where am. If never appeared alive again, not a soul could ever account for my disappearance"
 'Frue, and probably McCann is fully aware of these conditions. But he wishes you alive, not dead. That is what makes the problem
 She crossed the narrow space of deck, and grasped my coat in her fin gers.
 "Oh! this is too terrible! He-he cannot imagine it possible"
 And why not?" interrupted. "He is all-powerful on board. He judges the virtue of others by his own stand ard. He dreams that you might even make that bargain to preserve life"
 t0rho& hi
 Marriage would seal your lips ; would win him safety, and also your subjugation and wealth. It is a stake worth playing for, surely"
 And the others? What would be the fate of you and the others if made that hateful bargain?'
 "In no way different, I imagine, from what it will be if you refuse" said soberly-and my hand closed on hers. "McCann has no intention that we shall ever put foot on shore. He would be a fool to permit such a thing"
 You think it all planned out?"
 "In detail; McCann, Liverpool and White know exactly what they intend doing. Their questioning of me, and their scrutiny of the chart, convinces me of this. I even believe now could name the other men of the crew who will be in their boat, when they aban- don ship-Dugan, Dubois, Sachs and the negro, Watson, with perhaps two others I am not so sure of. Why, Miss Vera, you heard what I was compelled to assent to a moment ago. I am to pilot the Indian Chief to within fifty miles of the harbor of St. Johns, tim- ing our arrival at that point to some hour of the night. am to give Me Cam notice of our arrival there, and furnish him with exact sailing direc- tions to complete the course. This means that the crew expect to aban- don the ship there, and take to the boats. There are enough remaining in good condition-and just enough to carry them all, but the Indian Chief will be left with none to rescue those of us who are left on board in case of accident to the vessel"
 And you anticipate accident?"
 q believe the ship will be deserted in an unseaworthy condition-either with her bottom pierced, or her sea- cocks open; and that those of us left aboard will be so confined as to be practically helpless to save the vessel from going down."
 And the men in the boats will get ashore, scatter and never be heard from again. No one will ever learn what became of the Indian Chief, or that we were aboard?"
 "The French cruiser will report hav- ing spoken us at sea. That will be the last word. The truth will never be made clear. Our fate will be anoth- CT sea mystery, never explained.
 Some of the crew might talk later in liquor."
 ''There is always that danger, and McCann is farsighted enough to guard against it as far as possible. The boats will easily become separated in the darkness. If the others are ever picked up, it will be accidentally by some ship at sea-and there are al- most no ships in this ocean. There are few flaws in the plan, as I have figured out"
 She did not answer, her eyes on my face, her expression exhibiting the horror she felt at this vivid picture which I had drawn. Then she slowly, gently withdrew her hand from my grasp, sinking into a chair, her head