Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-22

CHAPER NNN-(ContInucd)
Tn ALL probability there were number
L Of towns not marked on our imperfect
chart, along the shores Of white Bay and
also Notre Dame BAY to the south. \
boatload Of shlpwrecied sailors could land
at either place. and find means Of disap-
pearng before news OF their arrival reached
civilization. Yet | discovered absolutely
nothing on which to base such an assump-
ton. Mccain was evidently In no haste
to reach the latitude OF ST. Johns and take
to the boats for the Indian Chief was pro-
ceedng with greatly reduced speed, and, as
the afternoon wore slowly away, 1t sceued
to me we were scarcely moving. the re-
verberation Of the screw being barely per
Ceptible. TO assure myself that the course
/ had mapped out was still being adhered
to. | ventured into the cabin for glance
at the teltale compass. We were headed to
the west of south
The man Simms was on guard. lolIng
against tho butt Of the mzzcn mast with
no one else visible He was a dull, stolid
fellow and to test his orders, ! turned to-
ward the closed door of Miss Carrngton's
stateroom. Instantly he was on his feet to
interfere.
You are not TO do that. sir"
Not to do what?'
speak alone with the lady; those were
my orders
I raised my voice in remonstrance hut
had scarcely uttered n word, when Mccain
emerged from his stateroom. leaving the
door ajar, and crossed the deck 60 face me
What is the trouble here Simms?' he
asked, the harshncss Of his tone differing
greatly from the pleasant conversation at
dinner.
MIR. Hollis was going to rap on the
lady's door. sir"
"Oh. he was. hey Well now see here
Hollis, you understood that you were to
have no communication with any prisoners
aboard, didn't you?"
"I was not aware that Miss Darlington
was considered a prisoner"
We'll, whether she is or not she s no
longer to be bothered with your attentions"
with no attempt to control his temper. You
knew perfectly well that she was included
in the terms Of your parole"
How should /? ! was with her when
the parole was given"
What of that, I am not here to dis
cuss the matter. consider that you have
broken your word. You will go back to
your stateroom and stay there"
"Supposng l refuse?'
He grinned, exposing his teeth like a
great cat
"I wouldn't advise you 10 try that" he
sneered for there is crew enough on deck
TO man-handle you to "A finish You can go
in quietly or III call them down and have
you thrown in. SO take your choice"
| looked at the two Of them, eager enough
myself to make it fight Yet what was the
use? An open rupture could serve no good
purpose ! would be overcome by numbers
perhaps seriously injured. and such a
struggle would only handicap the girl Be
sides something in McCann's words and
irritating manner aroused within me a
suspicion that he hoped would be Eoaded
into resistance. Perhaps It was with that
object he had so promptly joined in the
mess. Any excuse enabling him to Conine
me more closely would evidently be 10 his
advantage, These considerations flashed
across my brain as Smms grinned at me,
his right hand flung back as though grip
ping the revolver undoubtedly in his hip
pocket. Mccain. pretending GOODNESS |
am sure he was far from feeling, sat on the
edge of the table one foot dangling. God
how | would have liked to smash him one
putting all my hate into a single blow be-
tween his sneering eyes. But | conquered
myself and hands Clinched. crossed the
deck space and entered my stateroum clos
ing the door. ! heard Mccain laugh and
say something TO Smms; then | knew he
crossed the cabin and went up the stairs.
To better control myself thrust my face
out through the open port breathing in
the salty freshness OF the air
Suddenly I became aware that others
had entered the main cabin, There was
no sound of voices; nothing to tell me the
purpose Of this invasion yet I felt certain
that. at least, dozen men had descended
the steps from the companion. ] stood erect
listening there was fumbling at my door
Had Mccain changed his mind? Were
they about to attack me In force? Revolver
in hand / took a step forward, half ready
to welcome any open hostility
"The first sea rat TO open that door"
1 called, will get what's coming to him"
There was a mockng laugh in answer,
in which more than one voice Joined then
White growied reply:
mo one is a comm In, Mister; an damn
me. II you're a goin' ter get out"
I grasped the knob, throwing my whole
weight against the wood It yielded scarce
ly half an inch, just enough TO reveal a
stout bar This time | was a prisoner be-
yond doubt; they had left me no loophoe
Of escape But why? What had I done
IN warrant them in breaking their pledge?
Could II be that Mccain had no further
usa FOR me? No desire for another OBJ
sar,atIon? II this was true then II must
he the men proposed desertihg the ship that
verv night and taking chance at getting
ashore in one OF those northern bays And
tbsv had nailed me in TO die like a rat
in this hole. when the Indian Chief went
down. ,,
r 80 do zed and incapable of thought help
lass 10 even clearly comprehend the full
horror do not believe 1t was my own
situation which so completely unnamed
~. h,,, the remembrance OF Vera. What
,,,o,,,d become OF her? She would be alone
IN MeCann's power without human being
~ ~ ,.,horn she could appeal She would be
sorosd into the boat despite her struggles,
isu1hed at. and mocked She might even
he compelled to witness the slow sinking
DS tba ship carrying us down into the
S.hs And then-what? At st. Johns in
az midst OF a civilized community. there
nnivht be hope OF her finding friends, or
- ieast a rescuer. But not on that wild
coast 10 the northward. where there was