The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1918-03-29
CHAPTER XIV.


\ FtN AsSE WIZ W&H skfftFNAN" may &AfANx MA44s
with saiIcrliks ihoso1ghnsss. i,9zar
undertook 10 curst. bur was NJ instant.
| iy gagged that emily the ness maated
werd reached me la sa~ passage. Mas
| tsrs held the lantern. while the tive
mates rwfasteaed the door. dravlng
| home the nails with the iron bar. The
rnemeat this was secure ! was ready
fer she aext act.
Give the lantern to Olson. Masters
Youye got TO look after the eagtne-
room. ana Ie&vv "a to sttsnd the deck
toh, TAere1l b. tAese sea cocks 10 see
70 nrst. and then keep enoagh iirs TN
der the boilers for sseerugeway. nown
with you. and don't pay any attentioa
to whatever we d."
Heavy as be Was be went down tbs
| iron rungs Of the ladder tAs hreuan
answering call, aud the three u N
who we're ief, behind In the passage.
stared into each others faces, barely
visible In the dim radius vi light.
what next, sirT" asked L~ayord
anxiousiy. There's eniy three OF us
now. an forty three o. them"
'On. less--~yoa're counting nade. and
he's safe enough. The boy Moon Ia al
10 account. and imagine there ar~
I twrnty men cut In those boats who
have no heart 10 this business. They'd
be with US now II they had any chance
isn't that 40. 0isonr'
| "Yas. sir-~hut they WON'T likely at
no chance"
True enough: yet II Is something to
knew tina, Met>ann and his gang can
ass ssaat % sAssa sashss. III Il esssnss ~
nxht As things stand |, IL all mat
ter Of luck ase nerve There are onty
six In the boat hanging to the fct Vt
the ladder. with Met'ann lief, alone 90
deck. We ought to b able to handle
/ that tnnch."
| Leayord ding the iron bar hs held
into the deck rianks snvasely.
what did yer tell Masters to only
keep up enough steam for ssesrage-
way for. srr' be asked bluntly.
Il was afraid they nigh, notice. II
he nred up"
"Tainv likely. ~ the funnsls dont
GIT ter hlasin'. The oniy trtlers with
eny brains are In tibet boat close In
sionsside, SIR an they can't soc uuthln'
frum thar. Them common fe'castle rats
In them ether beats never would notice
hi, more smoke"
"whn, Is Il. Leayordi You have a
r'an' Speak quick. man: we can't
stand talking here
"~Taint not much o. q plan, sir" he
explained briefly. "en,y don't See VIII,
we couldn't Just naturally heave stls
cnss McCann overheard. rr else Kill
him Just as you please. Eny two o. Us
could keep that quarteri'oat crew from
coruln' up tho ladder. an then. II Mas
ters had bis boilers bet UP. no darr
ro.hoai could ever catch US Thst
would leave US one hand at the wheel"
! " VINE HuV, wv WY IMMUNITY w w
making me curse my own stupidity.
stared into his face without u,tertng a
word Of comment. yet with my mind
| graspinr instantly the necessary de-
tails With q single step was bend.
Ing over the ladder p~er.ns down into
thu depths below. A faint fsrsway
light apr~arei at the bottom.
Masters r. called. my voice thrown
downward through followed Aands
saw his shadow emerge into the
circle Of Hight,
FAVE. are, sir"
"Have you any pressure no~r'
Fairly Snod. MIR, The waters draw
| Ing al and the wet coal will steam up
In MY"
| We'll, stand by fer al, the steam
possible, and give II TO her the instant
/ you get the s'gnal--oniy be careful not
to flame ycur tunnels You bear mr7-
"rvery word. sir"
"Ali r.gh,. stand by. and don't fall,
US
! Now, lads" ! said. standing erect,
"FlrS. rs the after cabin. sat then
\ tbs DIRK nouse the ellrn, 0soa we're
better OF In the dark. Follow sne, and
miad your footing"
/ The gloom was no handicap In tha:
narrow space where we could feel
either wall with our fingers. but
emerged into the cabin with caution.
fearing the possible presencs there IT
Mct'ana. who might even have brought
u man. or two. back On beard 10 assist
him. The hanging lamp had been tx.
tingulsheSl. or else Il hsa burnt oct
! frem lack Of oil, bot there was a taiat
glimm~ Of light In Miss Carrington's
stntersosIi. enabling me 10 discover at
glance that the main cabin was unoc-
cupied- Her docr stood wide open, bat
vita No signs Of eonfuslon within.
| What had hsracEeylt There was
nothing to tell me the truth. Had Nc
Cam sncc>aied In inducing her 10 ac-
company him 90 tecss Had he taken
her there ny for~ef or. had the gtrl
finally Yielded TO his lnsistence. after
exhaaSt'ng every farm 81 delay. ser
last faith In my return having van
ishssif Nothing .enaiaed but 70 follow
them. and nnd ont What had occurred
and. Il DO. already tea late. at.eEap; q
rescue