Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-17

7 HAD been sailor long enough 70 accept
L the ordinary pcrils of the sea as part Of
the profession Moreover my experience
had been such as to make me feel that any
form OF danger might he encountered along
the ocean highway Nothing was too strange
10 be true at sea ana So IL was not the
position In which / found myself, not the
possible fate Of the Indian chief or OF her
captured officers. which weighed most upon
my mind 1t was Vera Darlington II those
villains SCuttled the ship. II they took to
the boats to save themselves. leaving us to
drown like rats. what would they do with
the CirI' Would Mccain dare to take her
with him' Would ne venture leaving her
alive To- bear witness 80 his crime? There
was hut one auswcr-nOt unless she was
utterly i'm his power Either he must ruin
her by force and thus crush her spirit to
his will or else compel her to marry him.
and so legally seal her lips. And the man
was perfectly capable Of taking either
course whichever seemed easier
This was the consideration which served
partially to arouse me from coma. | could
not continue 10 sit there waiting for Fate
To approach better far TO go forth and
meet it In manly fashion. | had good
strong knife i'm my pocket, and the lock Of
the door was a common one, the wood sur
rounding 1t soft pine. There was nothing in
that obstacle to prevent my escape, and II
| was discovered at large my punishment
would merely be confinement elsewhere. !
had therefore nothing to lose hut every
thing to gain by the experiment. There was
no l.oy I'm the lock. for | could perceive
pI,ar1 Of light in the outer cabin although
the opening was not sufficiently large 10 en-
able me to observe movement Nor ala my
ear at the slight orfCe distinguish any
sound Of occupancy. McCann would Scaf'eF
leave tile cabin without Euaru uhueE li'e
circumstances. but the hour was late, the
rirnt had thus far been quiet one. and II
vas quite probable the fellow, comfortably
situated was browsing at his task any
how. | would make little noise, anu the
chance was worth taking
Tho labor proved easier than ] had sup
posed The soft pine yielded easily to the
sharp blade, and a very le" ii'"'''I'S
eunIred TO cut the lock clear enabling me
to omen the door silently and take cautious
survey of the main cabin. tn" table hau
been hoisted, leaving the entire central
space clear and the swinging lamp was
turned so low as 10 leave all the corners III
obscurity At first / doubted the presence
nr anv one. and had. indeed ycntured forth
before perceiving the form Of man out
stretched on the divRu surrounding the
butt Of the mizZeu mast. The feilo" was
aslecp, Vet restless enough TO be dangerous.
His face was In shadow, and ! thoushl IL
best not to venture close enough 10 ,uen,'S
him although the dim light revealed a heIt
ahout his waist and the bulgtng butt OF a
revolver.
,onvinced that my only hope OF accom-
nlishment lay in the discovery ana release
Of my fellow prisoners, ] crept across me
deserted cabin, and entered 'he P1SS"E'
Leading forward Somewhere amldShlps
these were surely confined. h"t WIS hoI
Gcstiued to discover where.
7 had taken scarcely step when the
o,,,,naniou door oLened and man started
Gov,n the stairs. CrouChed in the darkness,
saw the sleeping guard, aroused nE lhe
noise. spring upright and as the iIEht ieiI
ON his face l recognized a seaman haiheu
Drhois The man on the stairs paused,
rripping the rail, staring down as Ihou8h
monlentarily blinded by the lighL
ors that YOU. Dubois" he asked in the
harsh croak belonging TO Jim white
"Yes, monsieur"
"Aud, damn you--you was asleep"
90 lay back to rest but I was not asleep,
mousieur--non, non
,you we won't fight over that now.
yo,,,r, tbe only Frenchman on board, and
,ya want you on deck, Go on up; II stay
Lere Ave. man, yer better leave the gun
"Vat iss IT, Monsieur White? Why they
want me on deck?'
.,yUbaFs the difference, you frog eater?
prt IN tell yer anyhow. There Is a
a,uiser showing up of our port quarter
,yhicb has caught sight O ms. She looks
wun,nb,, wm,Ur and if there is a hail il will be
,,t 20 vou to answeT-you are the only
nre aboard this hooker who talks the lingo
like a native-see
Dubois stood staring, his lips parted In
sudden terror. .o,
"a French warsheep; eet hail us?'
"Tot vet; but they are bound to ques-
to,, us ali right There did you hear
40 shot across our bows, politely
ling us 10 heave to; aye! and We are
sin,yinp down; come, hurry up on deck with
| you Frenchy' ..t,,, 80. 4. 49,.
"But-but monsieur What eeS II can
so,,o I know not ze words, ze--ze eXplana-
You speak French, don't you?"
"Oul monsieur, oui but--but know not
what 20 speak
'cWell, don't let that worry you, Nc
| Cam win tell you--but God pity you, Du-
boIs II YOU fail TO repeat IT, Up with
,,o,, nov. and he lively about IT,"
The Frenchman disappeared, and White,
o,aning one, Of the larboard stateroom
| Spors nassed out Of sight Evidently
| So perceived nothing to alarm him within
| u1a cabin and was eager TO view the APP
10 cbing vessel through an open port. All
| thought Of my former purpose vanished
trorn nv mind as / realized this new chance
| - rescue At any risk ! must attain
! O,,icllv TO the open deck, where ! could
Ssraete an alarm sufficient TO awaken sus-
| nicion on board the approaching French
man IL they could be made to send a
| mai 10 investigate, the chances were the
nst,,re Of the Indian Chiefs cargo and the
NINA aturalness OF our being In these north