Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

WdItncu. SWdNLHS. HIS fttdit EIlipAHS
madly and the blood cOursing warm
through his ancient veins. ON the
Oddistar's bridge the two mutineers
in charge looked dsmayed at the lean
cruiser that was forging up over the
horizon toward them. one OF them
hurried to the foredeCk, quieted the
noise there and dispersed tho men
Tarpaulins were drawn huriedly over
gaping matches: three men, very
drunk were slowed away below. TW'
third mate was dragged on the bridge
and made to walk up and down. A
man covered him with a revolver
from the doorway of the little chart
room. The ports of ali the officers
rooms were screwed down, and the
C,ddistar appeared from little dis
tance just like the placid. slows going
tramp ship she normally was.
There was absolutely no reason
for the cruiser to be suspicious. In the
course of events she would pass near
enough to the Oddistar to signal her
and take her name. Then size would
pillow on and attend to her mission.
whatever that might he. Ihe thlrd
mate of the tramp had his instruc-
tions as to what he was to do, and he
intended carrying them out, because
he had a very wholesome fear of the
revolver aimed somewhere at his
back. But the cruiser acted very
strangely after receiving the usual
information. She did not sheer oil
and vanish into the gathering night.
Instead she came alongside, ana
kcen-eved lieutenant roared through
megaphone, Anything wrong with
YOU"
mo Not at all Stammered
the third mate, miSerably.
road" demanded the lieutenant.
Yes, why? What's the matter.
sir?'
where's your captain?"
Hes below, sir"
'I-m-um" said the lieutenant. He
appeared undecided what to do. Then
from the foc'sle head of the tramp
rose shrill. excited voice!
IS days out from Liver
pool. She wus a packet Drive. Drive.
Drive. . Alloy. Jest like tn FLYNN
Cloud. Two dead men in tn cabins
knives an guns all day
The lamp trimmer of the Oddistar
was standing up and waving his thin
old arms, his silverr hair rutfling I'm
the gentle wind. He gahbled on.
queer. short senteI1cs of past hap
penings and old days. Then. abruptly,
he ceased, stood swlying for mo-
ment. He whispered. his voice young
again. his eyes wide. Take in tn
Lroyals. SIR" Then he crashed over
| the spare anchor SO that his head
struck the deck with n sharp sound.
He was quite dead when they picked
him up.
But the lieutenant was swearing.
II knew it! Something queer, all
right Heave to, Oddistar. I'm
sending q boat"
THAT was the end. There could
be no hope of resistance or ap-
peal with the lean gray Warshtp
alongside. The mutineers slouched
into the foc'sle under an armed file
of marines. A prize crew of blue
Jackets came aboard. The captain
was attended in his cabin by the
cruisers surgeon, and in shaky
voice the third mate asked the lieu
tenant in charge, What on earth
made YOU come alongside? / thought
sure you'd steam away and leave us
after signalling
What made us?" And the lieu
| tenant laughed and eyed the other
| curiously. you're q fine watch Of
| ncer to ask me that LOOK
| here" He walked to the bridge wing
the starboard side. and leaned over
! The third mate leaned over. ana He
gasped There was a red light glow
ing in the slide intended for " green
| one.
The third mate said, dazed, That's
| the first mistake / ever knew our
lamp trimmer To make
The lieutenant chuckled You
thank him for it, then We
couldn't very we'll pass ship that
had her navigation. lights all askew'
could We. now?
ON course, not" answered tho third
mate. and sighed with relief as he
wiped his brow. And over the spar"
anchor on the foc'sle head the lamp
trimmer of the Oddistar smiled and
seemed happy. Perhaps he had heard
the third mate accuse him of having
made q mistake, he who had sailed
over 80 years and had forgotten more
of seamanship than the youngster
knew. Or perhaps he merely smiled
because he was back on ghostly
Thermopylae going full-and bythrough
the roaring forties.
Copyright. 1920