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

crn seas would result iu tho ship being !
made Il prize Of war.
McCanus ouly hope of escape Law in somc
satisfactory explanation which would lull
the suspicious of the French commander
some lie smooth enough to prevent board
lug and search Nor did doubt the fellow
had tho wit to play such a trick quite
probable, indeed. his story had already been
worked out carefully iu anticipation of just
such an event as this.-a plausible tale, CON
Niucng i'm its details
Assured that white was beyond obscrva-
iIun Of any Of my movements, ! Crept eau
tOusly around the stair rail and uuiselcsslv
mounted the steps The light behind me ia
the cabin burned SO dhuly / ran little
danger Of being seen as | slid back the door
Of the companion and squeezed my body
through the narrow space. Indeed, II noticed
by any eye the chances were / would be
mistaken for one Of the crew But I found
the after-part of the main deck deserted
although forward Of the main mast / could
perceive dark blotches along the port rail
where members Of the watching party were
observing the approach Of the French
cruiser Crouched against the cabin front
| could perceive nothing Of the other vessel
except n trail Of blacl, smoke visible against
the stars. but the Indian chief was already
noarlY stationary, merely retaining steer
aGoway and rising and falling laziIy on the
swell ! could hear men walking on tho
poop deck almost directly over me and
occasionally the sound Of a voice, but was
unable TO distinguish the words spoken
With heart beating like a triphammer |
made my way along the front Of the cabin
until | ventured to peer over the port rail.
secure that my presence on deck was
screened by the deep shadows in which |
lurked
The CLEAN of the stars alone revealed the
Glltterng surface Of the sea, but the night
was clear Of fog and the black outline OF
ihe French warshlp was plainly visible,
approaching us at half-speed and silently
closing up the narrowing gap of water be-
tween the two vessels. Not glow of light
ilmmined the gloomy decks, yet ! could
dimlN perceive moving figures on the bridge.
and Eimpses Of white IN the fighting tops
where the gun crews mustered in readiness
for action. The ship was no larger than
our own indeed scarcely attained our height
abOv, the water. yet there was something
grmly sinister about the monsters appear
ance-its silent, cautious approach, its
grim iuartiCulate threat of destruction. |
felt my heart come up into my throat as
| gaZcd spellbound. every nerve in me
throhbiug painfully single voice echo
ing along those decks yonder could blow
us out Of the water Even as 7 stared
al the grim spectacle the slim figure Of a
man appeared at the end 6f the bridge and
a voice hailed us in French.
"Ahoy there What ship is that"
There was shunng Of feet above me;
then Mccain spoke in English:
"Tbc American freightcr indian Chief
hound for IlyerpooI"
us there any one aboard who sneaks
French"
heard them hustle Dubois forward to
the rail and caught a word or two of Nc
cams swift threat hissed into his ear then
the frightened Frcuchman stammered out
an answer,
n,,.i ,.,.,,.i.,,n e., i,r,a r,.o,,,at.n
o"' 'o','''"' '' jaw
Then tax up What snip Is ihat'
could hear Mccain prompting and
Dubois echoiug the words put in his mouth.
"The Indian Chief Of Boston, Mccain,
master. from 81. Johns TO Liverpool, two
DAYS out"
with what cargo"
Miscellaneous mostly farm machinery"
4 searchlght suddenly swept up fore and
aft but finally settled on the little group Of
men clustered together at the poop rail
You're north Of your course"
There was an instant Of hesitation; then
Duhois'S exclamation.
We ran before the storm last night mon
sieur, having been struck by lightning"
"Ah [ see; that accounts for your stunp
Of a fyremast and the Temporary wheel aft.
so other damage done"
mo. monsieur. the shin is scaworthy."
The figure of another man iojned the Of
fcer at the end of the bridge and the two
talked Il moment then the same voice
called:
"Ahoy there, What shane are vour heats
fl, 80
Three of them left. monsieur"