Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-02-28
my man."
"You showed forged papers?"

never supposed I was such a fool as
to overlook that, did you? We are
from st. Johns to Liverpool, with a
miscellaneous cargo. The fellow swal-
lowed my yarn as though it was sugar
candy. And the best of it is, that is
the only war vessel patrolling these
waters; we have a cinch."
s"Not without me-" I answered calm
~, after a pause in which my mind
gripped the situation. 'The telltale
compass shows you are three points
off your course now. I'll talk with
you, Mccain, but if I continue to nav
igate this ship it will be at my own
terms, and you'll either give me what
1 ask, or We'll fight it out here and
now"
"What are your terms?"
I took time to think, determined to
demand every concession I dared ask
assured that I held the winning hand.
WELL" I said finally, "this coast
to the west of us is no joke at. any
season of the year, and there are sea
currents along here to fool any sea-
a You can take the chances If you
want to-, but it is my belief you fools
Will nave this ship on the rocks within
twenty-four hours, if you trust in blind
reckoning"
ID it," sung out Liverpool
hoarsely, tive don't need no sermon on
the dangers of the deep. Stow the
gait, an tell us what yer want"
II WILL" I snapped back. "The free
dom Of the ship for both myself and
Miss Darlington. Our meals are to
be served privately, and the lady is not
to be addressed by any one of you"
"N1y Gawd," exclaimed a muff1ed
voice, "you don't want much! Who
are you, the car of Russian"
II am the rightful captain of this
ship" I returned stif11y, land the only
man on board capable of navigating
her. You can accept my terms, or
leave them; and those are not all.
Mccain, I am talking to you, not that
sea scum" TO-
GAIL right; go ahead. What else?"
II am to retain this revolver for
protection, and the key to my state
room; Miss Darlington is also to re-
tain her key. When you men desert
ship, which I know you plan to do,
the Indian. Chief is to be left in sea-
worthy condition. That's ALL"
Enough, I should think. You must
consider your services indispensable.
However, I accept the terms, providing
you agree to do what we ask in re-
turn" ...
"That I navigate the ship to within
fifty miles Of st. Johns; notify you
when we reach that point, and give
you correct sailing directions"
"That is what we want"
"Good; I accept. Take your men
out of the cabin"
1 stood motionless, still gripping the
revolver in m hand, listening to
catch every sound the other side of
the closed door. There was a muttered
discussion, the words mostly inaudible,
although I heard enough to convince
me that Mccain was urging accept
ance of my conditions on the ground
that it would be impossible for ME,
alone, and under surveillance, to add
to their danger. Some words were
added in so low a tone as to fail to
reach my ear, but whatever they were,
they evoked a laugh, and seemed to
restore the dissatisfied to better hui
NOR. Liverpool took sides with Nc
Cam in the dispute, and the two unit
ed must have prevailed, for the men
finally dispersed, and We could hear
their heavy sea boots tramping up
the stairs.
Relieved Of the strain, 1 turned to
meet the questioning eyes of the girl.
"That-that was better than fight
ing-wasn't it," she asked almost anx-
iously.
eyes; I lost my head for the mo-
ment, and could only think of reaching
deck, and shouting an alarm to the
cruiser"
"It was too late for that"
eyes; we know it was now, and
probably I would never have reached
there alive. I am very thankful to
you"
ITO mel" Her lips smiled, although
her eyes remained grave. "Why I
merely opened a door-besides, even
that act was supremely selfish"
II cannot conceive how"
"You do not? Yet surely you can
realize what it would mean to me to
be left alone on board with-with Fer
gus Mccain. I do so despise the
creature that I shrink from even look
ing into his eyes. lit was to avoid
meeting him again that I locked the
door,"
"He talked with you, then?"
eyes, at the table. We were alone
for a moment, and it vas his manner
which frightened me rather than any
words said. I left the table without
speaking. He-he followed me, how
ever, and tried my stateroom door,"
Saying nothing?"
"No; it vas locked, and-and he
laughed and went away"
ST c,,c~1a& t6o ,,,, 80 ,In,,,I >~