The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-11-17

low, sir?" he asked.
Whats that?" demanded Donald
What do you mean, Clouts?"
Excuse me, sir, but l think a rest
would do you good" said the sailor.
Get to your post" said Donald
sharply.
But, really, sir
rs this INSTRUMENTATION, Clouts?"
NO, sir. But it would be best for
you to rest, sir" persisted CIouts.
Davies reappeared at the door.
Hes quite right. SIR" he said.
Hes acting under my orders. You
need to rest for a while"
Donald suddenly began to under
stand.
Davies, do you imagine that 1 am
crazy?" he cried. "Why, that's what
they told MasterInani"
Il think, sir, you ought to rest
said Davies. Meanwhile am assum-
ing command"
I'll have you contaminated, Da-
yies ~ cried Donald angrfly.
I'll face that, SIR returned the
little MILDLY. You see, sir, it amounts
to this: I have only spoken to Clouts
quietly than to have the rest of the
men know about this. 1t would be
very prejudiciaI to discipline, sir. And
in the morning, when you feel differ
ent, l shall resign the command to
you again"
Donald began to realize the impos-
sibility of convincing Davies. The
MILDLY evidently believed that his ex-
pOsure in the boat had turned his
brain. 1t was useless to attempt to
argue. Of course he ought never to
have spoken about the monsters, but
they had been so real, so recent in
his mind. However,
Davies, you may take command I'M
til morning" said Donald. "Only re-
member my warning about the
matches"
He turned toward the door, Davies
him to his cabin below
I'VE put the lady in here, SIR he
said, pausing in front of the door.
Quite right" answered Donald
you may sling me a hammock in the
officers messroOm."
I've done it, SIR" Clouts answered.
A moment later Donald found him
self prisoner on board his own ship.
For, on making his exit, Clouts had
locked the door. The action was done
with dispatch, and the key was turned
almost nOiselessly, but Donald had
heard it,
He got into his hammock and tried
to compose his mind, but he discov-
cred that the events of the day had
shaken him more than he had imag-
ined. Those awful memories required
; to him against his volitiOn. Worst of
all was the knowledge that precious
time was passing while he was a pris-
Oner. And he recoIIected that the
monstrous horde, surrounding the sub
marine, no doubt, had already dfscov-
cred that men were food If Davies
took off the hatches-perhaps he had
| already done so.
His mind became obsessed by the
threatened danger. He sprang from
: his hammock, trembling. He tried to
open the door. He set his shoulder
against it. Outside he heard the reedy
notes of a mouth organ, and Sam
CiOuts suddenly stood before him.
Donald had an impulse to appeal to
the man, but at once he saw its fu-
tility.
? Tell Mr.. Davies that he is on No
account to take off the matches" he
: said.
S Sam Clouts saluted him and CALMLY
8 locked the door again. Outside the
: strains of the mouth organ were
! heard once more. Evidently CIouts
e was under instructions to remain al
Y his post.
:" Donald went back to his h7mmock
e He shrugged his shoulders at the flu
/ tility of it all. his helpIessness. He
y had done all that he could do. AND
y now a sense of complete fatigue beear
/ to overcome him. He could not kee1
his tired eyelids apart
% Slowly, struggling desperately
e against the imperative need of sleen
he felt himself floating away.
a. He did not know how long he silent
D. but it seemed a few minutes onl,
e when cries pierced through the mist
IL of inconsistencies. In an instant h,
it vas upon his feet, cropping in intens
t darkness.
g. He could not discern from VIVA
r part Of the boat the ominous sound
proceeded. The whole interior of tn
Sc F55 was ike sounding board. Tn
y. cries appeared to proceed from ever
IS part OF her. Donald had never hear
ID such cries save once. and then the
came from animal throats. That wa
he when his revenue cutter had surprise
lg a band of pirates at their bloody yor
ne on the seal islands.
d He heard Ida cry out In his cahir