The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-20
through me. You owe thls+o the LADY

through me. lou owe tMS u TIC Aouy
catch 1t now"
He picked the half biscuit up from
the bottom Of the boat. where 1t fell at
his feet, and began nibbling at 1t, like
furnished dog. There was no sign OF
thankfulnsss in his action, and he con-
tinued to glare at US with one eye open
in sullen insolence.
IT The sun blazed down upon us out
of a clear sky, glistening along the
foam Of racing waves, but, as noon ap-
preached, the southern sky became
misty, the clouds increasing In den
sity until we could see only a few
hundred yards beyond our bow. It
was not a storm cloud, and brought
with it no fear OF disaster, but COM
pletely blotted out the horizon, and
gave a dark, sullen gloom to the sur
rounding waters.
It must have been three o'clock when
Mccain suddenly gave vent to q
startled roar, Strengthening to his
knees, and pointing straight ahead into
the smother. stared, but saw nothing
except the grotesque forms assumed by
the whirling mist, but Vera leaned out
over the side, shading her eyes.
"What is it," I asked sharply.
make a report, man"
"A ship yonder!" he shouted, but
without turning his head. II saw 1t
plainly enough, but it has gone now"
II see it, Mr.. Hollls!" the girl cried
excitedly. fright out there through
that lane of mist-it's big steamer !"
"Straight ahead?'
"Just little this way-there! you
can see her now!"
I did, a mere glimpse, instantly OBJ
scured, but visible again a moment
later. Mccain was on his feet, ges'
ticulating wildly.
SNOW, D. you!" he shouted, put
us on board there, and I'll show you
who am. You brute, I dare you to
put US on board"
"Sit DOWN. ordered. snow, keep
still, and stand by with that rope. I'll
put you aboard all right, but until do
you will obey what l say, or go into
the water"
I took my eyes off him, and stared
at the vessel, conscious instantly that
something was wrong. She was ap'
parently a big steel freighter, four
thousand tons guessed, her water line
showing a heavy cargo, and her bows
red with rust where the black paint
had disappeared. The foremost was
broken off at the tops, remaining q
great splinter, and where the bridge
and wheelhouse ought to be there was
piled q mass Of Wreckage, showing
black above the bulwarks. A wheel
had been rugged aft on the poopdcck
and there alone saw evidence of hu.
man beings on board. One fellow stood
gripping the spokes, while another
leaned motionlcss against the rail fac.
ing forward. Neither one saw us, al.
though swung my hat, and sent a
Hull uCIOSS tIlC lIllCl NCAAA6 "AtCAs AAS
girl glanced back into my face.
"What is the matter with them, Mr.
Hollis?" she asked. lis something
wrongl"
II am afraid 50; their foretop mast
is down, and it looks as though it had
smashed the bridge and wheelhouse
when it fell. They have rugged up an
emergency wheel aft. Can you make
out her name?" '.,''', ia
"The Indian Chief of Philadelphia "
mo regular probably tramp
I never saw tunnels painted like that
before, and she shows no flag. How
ever, any port in a Storm"
stood up, following my hands.
"Ahoy there! Indian Chief, ahoy Y
The man leaning on the after rail
turned, and gazed down at us, shading
his eyes, and the heads Of half dozen
others bobbed up above the forward
bulwarks. l could see the fellow aft
plainly now, a broad, stockily built
man, with extremely red face, wearing
overalls, and a wooden shirt, open at
the throat. In appearance there was
nothing of the officer about him, yet
It was his voice which finally answered
my hail. sending a deep, roaring note
across the waters.
"Hullo, there. Who are yer7 From
some ship close BY"
1--WE are passengers from the Ameri-