The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-09-10
y RANDALL PARRISH


in :5==:s1 Other boats never would notice
bit more smoke" . e Wy
"What is it, Leayord? You have q
plan? Speak quick, man; we can't
stand talking here" ....
"'Tain't not much o. a plan, SIR" he
explained briefly, "only don't see why
we couldn't just naturally heave this
cuss Mccain overheard. er else kill
him Just as you please. Eny' two O. US
could keep that quarterboat crew from
comm up the ladder. an then, if Mas
tiers had his boilers het up, no darn
rowboat could ever catch us. Tibet
would leave US one hand at the Wheel -
1t was true. the very simplicity Of 1t
making me curse my own stupidity.
stared into his face without uttering a
word of comment, yet with my mind
grasping instantly the necessary de-
tails. With single step I was bend
ing over the ladder peering down into
the depths below. A faint far-away
light appeared at the bottom.
Masters" I called, my voice thrown
downward through followed hands.
I saw his shadow emerge into the
circle Of light.
"Aye. aye. sir"
slave you any pressure now?'
"Falrly good, sir. The waters draw.
ing off and the wet coal will steam up
In jiffy." = -
"Well, stand. by for all the steam
possible, and give it to her the instant
you get the signal-only be careful not
to flame your tunnels. You hear me?"
"Every wCId, sir" "
"All right; stand by, and don't fail
u.s." F8@S
"Now, lads," I said, standing erect.
First it's the. after cabin, and then
the deck Douse the glim, Olson; we're
better OF in the dark. Follow me, and
mind YOUR footing"
The gloom was no handicap In that
narrow space where we could feel
either wall with our fingers, but
emerged into the cabin with caution,
fearing the possible presence there of
Mccain, who might even have brought
a man, or two, back on board to assist
him. The hanging lamp had been ex.
tinguished, or else it had burnt out
from lack Of oil, but there was faint
slimmer Of light in Miss Carrington's
stateroom, enabling me to discover at
a glance that the main cabin was unoc.
cupied. Her door stood wide open, but
with no signs Of, confusion within.
What had happened? There was
nothing to tell me the truth. Had Nc.
Cam succeeded in inducing her to &C.
company him on deck? Had he taken
her there by force? or, had the girl
finally yielded to his insistence, after
exhaustlng every form s0f delay, her
last faith in my return having van.
ished? Nothing remained but to follow
them, and find out what had occurred:
and, if not already too late, attempt
rescue. ..52G = s'@5'
There's no one here" I said in q
whisper. "We'll try the deck; quiet
both of you." @ ~
We reached the head Of the stairs on
our hands and knees. ] had my re.
volver gripped in my fingers, Leayord
his iron bar, while Olson had found 4
Ratchet somewhere in the darkness.
The companion door was but half
closed, and 1 squeezed Smy body
through the opening, assured no one
occupied that immediate portion of
deck. The other two followed noiseless-
ly, and we huddled close together in
the black shadow. of the cabin. So still
it was I could hear their breathing,
and my eyes, trained by long service in
the darkness below, were able to dis
tinguish objects forward beyond the
mainmast. There was nothing living
visible; to all appearances the ship
was totally deserted; the last stray
glers had taken to the boats. Olson,
who lay next me on the deck jerked my
sleeve, his uplifted hand pointing to-
ward the starboard rail ,amidships.
"There's two Of 'em," he whispered.
My eyes caught the indistlnct out
lines, unable for the instant to make
them appear human. Indeed was
otill in doubt when McCann's voice,
with the old hateful sound In it, called
into the darkness:
"Below there; are you still fast?"
"Aye, fast enough, an blamed tired
o. holdin' on" grumbled someone below
testify. "Why don't yer come along
DOWN. ~
I'm a minute. Is everyone in the
boats?" EE,.... S$
II don't know nuthin' bout the
steward; nobody amt seen him yet,
less he got in somewhar else; nor
Tom Dugan. Tony SEE he's in the
cabin" III " -
"Ncll, he isn't; I just come up from
there. We won't wait for the blame
fool. You flooded the engineroom,
Tony?' rs
"Sure I did, with both cocks wide
open; there's five feet o. water in her
by now
"Good; then it's time we're of. Send
a hand up here to help me, Liverpool
the girl won't 60 along"
The men below laughed at his trouble.
Cant yer handle that little bit o
thing, mister7' sang out new voice.
without the help O. sailor MANI"
"Stow 1t, Joe Sachs,'' rOared Red,
and there was the dull thud Of a fist