American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-11-30

foot Of the stairs, a sudden eagerness
to speak to Vera, to explain to her the
situation, and bring to her a word Of
comfort. | crossed over hastily and
raped at her stateroom door. l felt
sure there was a movement within,
but no response. With lips close to
the wood, / spoke"
Miss Vera"
"WhO is it2"
Hollis; may / have a word?"
The key turned, and she stood facing
me, her eyes filed with startled well
come.
"Why-I thought they told me-oh I
l am so glad !"
'They told you what2"
why nothing direct. But there was
fighting last night. II heard the
struggle on deck, and then here in the
cabin and when l started to leave
my Don l encountered Mccain and
some Of the crew. They were dragging
Leayord down the stairs, and his face
was all blood"
You were not injuredr'
mo; the big man with the red hair
threatened me. but Mccain interfered,
and thrust me back into the stateroom.
He told me to lock the door, and not
to make any noise. II thought they
had killed you"
well, they tried hard enough, but,
as you see, / am very much alive still.
They trapped me In the ~forecastle.
Do you know what has become of the
Others?"
She shook her head.
What I've told is all ] know. Thc~~
YluAle ..foi OF the shipf
l related the story to her swiftly,
%concealing nothing. At the last she
asked:
THAT is all7 You know no moref"
mo"
"Then the others must be alive, and
on board. Surely you would have
heard II any had been killed."
II believe so; they would not kill If
possible TO avoid IT, as such q crime
would render their own case more des-
perate."
"What-what are you going to dor"
Frankly, Miss Vera, l do not know"
l confessed. ~ have had no time to
think. and my head still throbs so from
blows hat l hardly realize the situa-
ton. cannot hope to fight these men
alone, and there can be no immediate
danger - they are sailing the ship
toward st. Johns"
You believe they will take to the
boats, and leave us aboardT"
THAT would be their only safe
course. They would never dare sail
the Indian Chief into that, or any
other harbor. They must land as ship
wrecked seamen, tell their story, and
then quickly disappear"
Il know that-but-but will they
dare to leave us afloat, to be picked up
by some vessel?"
l hesitated, but her eyes compelled
an answer.
Il do not know" l said soberly. ut
hardly seems possible they can contem-
plate such an act of v~illainy as the
scuttling of the ship, and leaving us on
board TO drown like rats. That would
be o hOrrid a crime for this age.
White and Liverpool might be brutal
enough, but surely not Fergus Nc
Cam"
why not Fergus McCann?"
His education, his former life, the
civilization in which he has been
reared; he has lived mons gentle
men,"
Gentlemen y she echoed the word
In scorn. His associates have been
principally gamblers and FOUNDERS. He
Is notorious In New York. and his
money alone gives him entrance TO de-
cent circles. He doesn't know what
the word gentleman means. II there
is treachery behind this, 1t will be the
plan Of Fergus McCann."
You know him better than l."
Il know of him longer l have heard
more tales yet surely you saw what
he was In the boat2'
You believe. then, the intention is
to scuttle the vesselY'
ayes, l do"
And leave us helpless on boardP"
"Yes. Mr.. Hollis"
drew n deep breath, at this direct
v~erification of my own secret suspi-
cion.
$50 do l." l returned in a whisper.
although l had no thought of telling
you"
You have some plan, then? You
have considered what TO doT"
mo; hardly that. There viii be two
days at least, before we shall be close
enough TO the coast for them to a K
the boats. Much may happen with
In that time; we may be spoken by
other vessel, even overhauled by
a warship, and manned by a prize
You hope for thisf'
"St. Johns is a naval base; the
closer we approach the harbor the
more apt we are to encounter a Brit
cruiser"
r.