The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-01-03
CHAPTER XIX.
A French Man-of-War.

A French Man-of-War.
No food was brought me during the |
afternoon, nor had eaten all day, yet |
my mental state was such / had no
consciousness of hunger. had dis
covered no means of creating a light,
although my eyes were sufficiently ac-
customed to dimness to enable me to
move about my narrow quarters safely
enough.
1t must have been between eight and
nine o'clock when the key turned in
the lock of my door, and Liverpool
looked In. The light from the swing
ing lamp In the main cabin flared into
my eyes, binding me. yet recognized
his face, and saw Dade close behind
him, bearing tray. Neither of them
spoke, but Red, having assured him
self Of my presence, stood aside, and
motioned the steward to enter. The
latter deposited the laden tray on the
desk, and backed out silently, every
movement showing him thoroughly
cowed by his guardian. Realizing that
any word from me would only result in
insult, / remained silent, and the two
disappeared, closing and locking the
door behind them. confess l ate the
food with relish, for 1t was well cooked,
and served with some daintiness. After
a second cup of coffee l felt much
more like myself, rummaging through
the captains chest until I found some
tobacco and pipe, which l at once
,- 20
returned for the emptied dishes, and
sat for long while at the open port
smoking, the blue spiral swept away
by the rush of air, and my eyes on
the starlit waters.
had been sailor long enough to ac-
cept the ordinary perils Of the sea as
part Of the profession. Nothing was
b too strange to be true at sea; and SO it
was not the position In which l found
myself; not the possible fate of the In
dian Chief, or Of her captured officers,
which weighed most upon my mind-it
was Vera Darlington. If 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 girl2 Would McCann dare to
take her with him? Would he venture
leaving her alive to bear witness to
his crime2 There was but one an
swer-not unless she was utterly In his
power. Either he must quiet her by
force, and thus bring 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. I could not continue to sit there
waiting for Fate to approach; better
far to 60 forth and meet 1t In manly
fashion. I had a good strong knife
in my pocket, and the lock of the door
was common one, the wood surround
Ing 1t soft pine. There was nothing II
that obstacle to prevent my escape, ant
I II I was discovered at large, my pun
I ishment would merely be confinement
! elsewhere. / had therefore nothing tt
: lose, but everything to gain by the ex
{ pertinent. The hour was late, the nigh
had thus far been quiet one, and i
' was quite probable the fellow, com
;. fortably situated, was browsing at hi
task. Anyhow, 1 would make littl'
: noise, and the chance was worth tax
Ing.
The labor proved easier than hat
supposed. The soft pine yielded easil!
to the sharp blade, and very few mo
Q ments sufliced to cut the lock clear
(; enabling me to open the door SILENT.
+ and take cautious survey of the mail
!. cabin. At first doubted the presenc
i Of anyone, and had. indeed, ventures
g forth before perceiving the form Of {
o man outstretched on the divan sur
g rounding the butt of the mizzenmast
S The fellow was asleep, yet restles
8 enough to be dangerous. His face wa
r In shadow, and l thought 1t best no
o to venture close enough to identif
l. him. although the dim light reveale
o belt about his waist, and the bulgin
1 butt of a revolver. Convinced that m
n only hope of accomplishment lay 4
d the discovery and release of my fe
low prisoners, crept across the dt
s serted cabin, and entered the passag
p leading forward. Somewhere annie
l. ships these were surely confined. Blu
If ! was not destined to discover wher'
e mad taken scarcely step when tn
s. companion door opened, and ma
le started down the stairs. Crouched
IS the darkness, saw the sleeping guar
ID aroused by the noise, spring uprigh
v and as the light fell on his face. re,
n ognized seaman named Dubois. Th
t. man on the stairs paused, gripping tt
le rail. staring down as though momeI
e, tarily blinded by the light.
e. "Is that you. Duboisf" he asked