The Huttig news., 1917-12-15

fortably situated, was drowsing at hi task. Anyhow, 1 would make little noise, and the chance was worth talk ing.
 The labor proved easier than I had supposed. The soft pine yielded easily to the sharp blade and very few mo ments suftced to cut the lock clear, enabling me to open the door silently and take cautious survey of the main cabin. At first 1 doubted the presence of anyone, and had, indeed, ventured forth before perceiving the form of a man outstretched On the divan sur rounding the butt of the mizzenmast. The fellow was asleep. yet restless enough to be dangerous. His face was in shadow, and 1 thought it best not to venture close enough to identify him, although the dim light revealed a belt about his waist, and the bulging butt of revolver. Convinced that my only hope of accomplishment lay in the discovery and release of my fel- low prisoners, I crept across the de- serted cabin and entered the passage leading forward. Somewhere amid ships these were surely confined. But I was not destined to discover where.
 had taken scarcely step when the companion door opened, and man started down the stairs. Crouched in the darkness, I saw the sleeping guard, aroused by the noise, spring upright, and as the light fell on his face, rec ognized seaman named Dubois. The man on the stairs paused, gripping the rail, staring down as though momen- tarily blinded by the light.
 "Is that you Dubois?' he asked in the harsh eroak belonging to Jim White.
 ID you-you was asleep.'
 "I lay back to rest. but l was not asleep. monsieur-non non."
 "Well. we won't fight over that now You're the only Frenehman on board. and we want you on deck. Go on up; I'll stay here. Aye, man, yer better leave the gum
 "Vat ees it. Monsieur White? Why they want me on deck?'
 "What's the difference. you frog eater? But I'll tell yer anyhow. There is q cruiser showing up off our port quarter, which has caught sight O us She looks Frenchy, and if there is Il hail, 1t will be up to you to answer you are the only one aboard this hooker who talks the lingo like na- tive, see !"
 Dubois stood staring, his lips parted in sudden terror.
 "A French Narsheep; eet hail us?'
 Not yet; but they are bound to question us, all right. Therel did you hear that? A shot across our bows, politely asking us to heave to; ayel and we are slowing down; come, hurry up on deck with you, Frenchy."
 "But-but, monsieur, what ees it can say? I know not ze words, ze- ze explanation
 You speak French, don't you?"
 "Oui, monsieur, oui, but-but ] know not what to speak"
 "Well, don't let that worry you Me l Cam will tell you-but God pity you, Dubois, if you fail to repeat it. Up with you now, and be lively about it Y
 All thought of my former purpose vanished from my mind as 1 realized this new chance of rescue. At any risk I must attain quickly to the open deck, where I could create an alarm suffi- cient to awaken suspicion on board the approaching Frenehman. McCann's only hope of escape lay in some satis- 1 factory explanation, which would lull the suspicious of the French com mander--some lie smoosl enough to prevent boarding and search. Assured that White was beyond ob- servation of any of my movements, l crept cautiously around the stair rail, and noiselessly mounted the steps. 1 found tue after part Of -..,le main deck