American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-11-23
CHAPTER xvi-continusd.

\ know Il VIII. II you remain on
deck. she answered earnestly. Il
have learned 20 trust you"
The hours 81 the night gave me am.
pie opportunity for thought and care
ful consideration. The wind held
steady. and while the sea rOughcncd
somewhat this slight change was not
sufficient 20 diminish our progress, or
cause any awerving from the course
sct All remained quiet forward. the
watch on deck finding little 10 DO other
han their routine duties. and no mem
Der ~ the crew had any occasion 20
come aft. except those detailed 10 the
wheel. There seemed no reason why /
should remain on deck. yet the respon-
sibiliiy rested upon me, and the impor-
lance Of the nights run prevented my
having any wish to retire below. How.
ever. ] found no occasion TO Interfere
with the operation o. the ship. and re-
mained mostly on the main deck.
where my watchfulness assured me
there was no communication passed
between forecastle aud cabin.
The fog grew steadily more dense.
until az dawn, We were sieaming reck.
lessly through a thick cloud OF vapor,
barely able 20 observe the surface Of
the sea, dun, soddcn gray. "A few yards
In advance Of our bow. The dense.
watery folds swept along our sides, and
D rigging dripped moisture onto the
g%iisiening deck planks. II was a
gloomy. dreary morning enough and,
even as the Hight OF early dawn
strengthened. l could scarcely dlstln-
guish "A thing forward OF the main
mast. However. there was no slowing
up o. speed or sounding Of siren. Con
WINGED that wa were now safely TO the
north Of the usual course OF ships.
preferred 10 take the chance OF posi-
hle collision.
Ally eyes were heavy from lack OF
sleep. and long staring u through the
black night my senses dulled by hours
Of inhctiOn, during which nothing un'
usual had occurred 90 arouse me 70
realization Of impending danger. ! nc
longer even suspected trouble. or any
active hostility forward. With the
dawn the density Of fog enwrapplne
US seemed TO Increase, and completely
blot out every glimpse OF sea and sky.
Even Lenyord leaned over the rail
just above me. could scarcely be dis.
unEuished IA n man, and evidently his
eyes could not make me out at all, Tor
he hailed dOuhtfully
Are you stu on deck. Mr.. HollisG
Eyes" / answered. staring up at hi.
shadow. "A bad fog"
II Is. sir. Would we better reduce
spcedT'
"No, not yet nm counting on open
water. ana would rather chance strlk-
lnE a stray than risk being oyerhauled
rs a British cruiser. The sun will
split this mist before noo and mean.
while we must make all the northing
possible.
J heard his aye. aye. SIR" as !
crossed 20 the port rail. had reached
q point nearly opposite tho broken
stump 81 the foremost when / was sud.
denly confronted by two blurred ng.
ures emerging noiselessiy from the
deeper shadow cnst by q quarter boat
swinging Boa daylts. The fellows must
have known who J was, and the path
~ my approach no doubt had been
close enough AFT % ovcrhenr my con
versatlou With ieuyOrd. Al least they
were on me before ! truly realized
their Dear urescuce-the one gripping
thr Hrm Hung up in startled defense
ue ether driving his fist straight Into
u5 iae, "a s'edge hammer blow which
Fynt ne crashing back full length on
the deck stunned. dazed as I was by
flis vicious attack. I made an lnstant's
etrus.ie huf wns quickly crushed back.
q mergilrss haul gripping my throat.
Almost nf thC same omc the revol-
yer was removed from nay pocket. the
cold muszIs thrust against my cheek.
lie snI d-you muttered a
tense voice. and ! knew tho speaker
Tor Jim white. "or I'm blow the Who'll,
top % yer head on"
! retained sense enough 10 obey
Whites knee piuning me- 20 the deck
but some sound ~ my fan must hav,
carried afL Tor Leay0rd sang on
through the fog:
Forward therel What's all tina
racket uboutf'
Whites fingers choked me into heir
less silence. his knee crunching har
into my breast IL was Liverpool Re
who answered ~sullenly
Il knocked over a capstan bar. SIR
sever saw II IN the blOomin' fog"
LeayOrd grOwied something, N
words failing 10 carry 10 US against N
wind. but a moment later, satisfied thi
no further investigation was 10 b
mad. IJ%yeryOOl thrust White aEid