The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-09-06

"Yeu Are Not u Do That, Sir"
fTI.ng tie Dor aJs.s ai.G I::o5,ssed tIs
deck to face me.
What is the tr0uble here, Sinns? r
| ne asked, the harsfness OF his tone dit.
terfng greatly from the pleasant con-
Yersation at dinner.
"Mr. Hollis was going to rap on tho
fEady'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"
II was not aware that Miss Car
r1ngton was considered prisoner"
"Well, whether she IS or not, she Is
no longer to be bothered with your at
tentlons," with no attempt to control
his temper. II consider that you have
broken your word. You will 60 back to
gour stateroorn, and stay there"
"Supposing ] refuseT 2as ,@ aaee
He grinned, exposing his teeth Ike
great cat.
II wouldn't advise you to try that"
he sneered, "fOf there Is crew enough
N deck to man-handle you to finish
You can go I'm quietly, Or I'll call them
down, and have you thrown in. 50
take yoar choice y,
I looked at the two Of them, eager
enough myself to make 1t fight. Yet
what was the use? Any excuse en-
abIing him to cOnline me more closely
would evidently be to his advantage.
I conquered myself, and hands
clinched, crossed the deck space. and
entered my stater61m, closing the door.
I heard Mccain hugh. and say sSne-
Thing to Simms; then knew he crossed
the csbin, and went up tle stairs. TO
better ctntroI myself I thrust my face
out through the open port, breathing In
the salty freshness VI the DIR. *so
Suddenly j became aware that others
had entered the main cabin. There was
no sound Of voices; nothing to tell me
the purpose Of thfsinvasfCn, yet ] felt
certain that, at least. a dozen men had
descended the steps from the cornpan-
ion. I 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
I took step forward. half-ready to
welcome anyfopen hostility.
"'The first sea rat to open that door, y
I called, will get what's coming to
him." ,
There was n knocking laugh in an
swer, in which more than one voice
joined; then White growled reply:
"No one Is n cor0ia' In, mister; a1'
damn me. II you're goin' ter get out"
grasped the knob, throwing my
whole weight against the wood. II
yielded scarcely half an inch. Just
enough to reveal stout bar. This
time ! was n prisoner beyond doubt !;
they had left me no loophole Of escape.
But why? What had done 70 warrant
them in breaking their pledge? Could
It be that Mccain, had no further use
for me3 no desire Tor another Observa.
ton? II this was true, then 1t must be
the men proposed DESERVING the ship
that very night, and taking chance at
getting ashore In one Of those northern
bays. And they had nailed me In to
die like n rat in this hole, when the
indian Chief went down.
For the instant, as this fear gripped
ne. was dnzed and incapable Of
thought; helpless to even clearly com
prehend the full horror. l do not be
lieve 1t was my own situation which
50 completely unnamed me, but thu
remembrance Of Vera. What woult
become Of her? She would be alone II
McCann's power without human be
ing to whom she could appeal. Sht
would be forced into the boat despite
her struggles, laughed at, and Knocked
She might even be compelled to wit
ness the slow sinking OF the ship carry
Ing US down into the depths. And ther
what? The vision / conjured up was
agony, and ! sank buck upon the stool
my face buried In my hands.
tits not even yet clear In my mind
how the remaining hours Of that after
noon passed. was conscious only Of
q mad, impOtent rage. Wild schemes
flashed through my brain, only to fail
Of execution. There could be only one
reason for McCann's action-desertiOr
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
quire my services for at least another
day yet. No one else on board could
place the vessel at the point desig
mated. Their actions, however, plainly
evidenced that I was no longer needed
and that their plans had been changed
Indeed no one held communication
with me all that afternoon; occasion
ally l acknowledgements In the
cabin, but could scarcely peer through
my door, and was unable to ascertain
Who were present. while the few words