Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-01-10
the harsh croak belonging to Jim

the harsh croak belonging to Jim
White.
Cd you-you was asleep"
Il lay back to rest, but was not
asleep. mOnSleur-nOn, non."
"Well. we won't fight over that now.
You're the only Frenchman on board,
and we want you on deck. Go on up;
Ill stay here. Aye, man. yer better
leave the gum"
wat ees 1t, Monsieur White7 Why
they want me on deck?"
"What's the difference, you frog
eater? But Ill tell yer anyhow. There
Is cruiser showing up off our port
quarter. which has caught sight o. us.
She looks Frenchy, and IL there is a
hail, it will be up to you to answer
you are the only one aboard this
hooker who talks the lingo like a ma
tive, see!"
Dubois stood staring, his lips parted
In sudden terror.
"A French warsheep; eet hail us?''
"Not yet; but they are bound to
question us, all right. There! did you
hear that? A shot across our bows,
politely asking us to heave to; aye
and we are slowing down; come, hurry
up on deck with you, Frenchy."
"But-but, monsieur, what ees It I
can say? 1 know not re words, ze-
re explanation"
"You speak French, don't you?"
"Oui, monsieur. Ouf. but--but know
not what to speak,"
swell, don't let that worry you. Nc
Cam will tell you-but God pity you,
Dubois. If you fail to repeat it. Up
with you now, and be lively about it ~
All thought Of my former purpose
vanished from my mind as realized
this new chance Of rescue. At any risk
I must attain quickly to the open deck,
where I could create IN alarm suffi-
cient to awaken suspicion on board the
approaching Frenchman. McCann's
only hope Of escape lay in some salts
factory explanation, which would lull
the suspicious of the French COM
mander-some lie smooth enough to
prevent boarding and search.
Assured that White was beyond OBJ
servation Of any of my movements,
crept cautiously around the stair rail,
and nOiselessly mounted the steps.
found the after part of the main deck
deserted, although forward Of the
mainmast could perceive dark
blotchcs along the port rail, where
members Of the watching party were
observing the approach Of the French
cruiser. With heart beating like trip
hammer, 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 re-
vealed the glittering surface of the sea,
but the night was clear of fog, and the
black outline of the French warship
was plainly visible, approaching us at
half-speed, and silently closing up the
narrowing gap Of water between the
two vessels. I felt the heart come up
into my throat as I gazed spellbound,
every nerve in me throbbing painfully.
A single voice echoing along those
decks yonder could blow us out of the
water. Even as I stared at the grim
spectacle, the slim figure of man ap-
peared at the end of the bridge, and
u voice hailed US in French.
"Ahoy there! What ship Is that?"
There was shuffling Of feet above
me; then Mccain spoke in English:
1.-THE American freighte- Indian
Chief, bound for Liverpool"
'Is there anyone aboard who speaks
French?"
heard them hustle Dubois forward
to the rail, and caught q word or two