Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-06-27
CHAPTER VII
The Last Cruise of the Poor
Old Pinmore


rarely find anywhere but in the tropics
The fenr scintillatlng stars of the
Southern Cross rwinkled merrily down
upon u.s. Our sails were full. aad the,
waves murmured past our bow. The
Sky was gorgeous spread OF blinking
stars, and Old Man Mnun was SO
bright that he seemed TO he laughing
and chuckllng. The buccaneers deck
was crowded We SAT around In genial
fraternity. officers, prisoners. and crew
each with goblet nt champagne.
"Whuf no, light"
My night telescope at my eye.
saw a ship. On the horizon. brightly
outlined by the light Of the moon
stood q stately three master.
Our flash signul tlared out across
the water.
"Heave to-a German cruiser" Tn
uble to make us out, she little guessed
that ne were nothing more than
sa.iin. ship. from which she could
easily escape by slipping through the
night. We were confident she would
take us for IN armured cruiser ensily
able to catch her and blow her Out
OF the sen with u bruudsde.
We waited at the rail 70 see what
would happen. Presently, we heard
a spIasling of oars. tut Of tie dark
ness came hail. the jolliest hail ]
have ever listened TO-. II WINS In nasal
seaport French.
"What d relief Instead OF Bnche
cruiser. | find you are an old wind
jammer like ourselves. But why the
joke? Your signal fooled US complete
~. i suppose you want to tell us
something about the war;"
"Gone on board" replied. I'VE
have lots Of news"
looked like ordinary seamen. I'd deck
he said proudly:
81 am O Frenchman" AS though
we couldn't have guessed Ii.
"A Frenchman? Fine. How lis
France doing?"
.Ah France, she Is victorious, OF
will be very soon. Raw de vous volr.
He fairly dubbed over with delight
when we offered him bottle OF cham
payne. Being nomeward bound. be
was In froliesun.e mood.
EIe was such CHEEKY, cUnvlyial soul
that hated to break the bad news 10
him. left the progress OF events 70
do that. He wanted to have d look
over our ship SO ! ushered him aft
to my cabin, and threw open the door
He took step forward and recoiled
On the walls were pictures OF the
Kaiser Hindenburg, Ludendorff. ano
lon Tirpitz, and large German flag
"Des aleRiands" lie groaned.
YES" said. I'VE are Germans"
"rhen we are lost. per Dieu!"
ayes, per Dieu, you are lost"
He stood with his forehead In ont
nand. His despair was both tragl,
and comic 10 behold tried as best
| could to say few words OF cheer.
well, Captain, you are not the onl,
one to lose Your ship during the war
Tomorrow |, 700. may be sunk, or the
next day"
He replied in the most doIeful tone
imaginable. N
Ut is not SO much the loss OF my
ship. But it's that ! feel | have only
myselfato blame for 1t. In Valparaiso
where lag In port with my Duplex
two of my fellow captains warned me
not to start until they had cabled our
owners for final instructions and news
about U-hoats and cruisers. possibI,
our owners would instruct us 10 keel
off the usual course. they said. Bul
the wind was fair, and | thought II
best to take advantage OF it, So
without waiting for d reply from oul
owners. sailed from Valparaiso aheaf
Of the other two captains. And now
because ! did not take their advice.
have lost the Duplex. my ship MOI
Dieu. what an ass | was Now the,
will report II to my owners, and
will never get ship again"
"What were the names OF your
friends shlps?"
The Antonin-"
THE Antonin tnder Captain Leeoq?'
"Yes And lie La Rochefoucuud.
"Orderl2,~ | called in German. wbicf
the captain did NOT understand. "hrins
ap CAPTAINS numbers five and nine
While we waited. | invited m,
@mournful guest to have some more
champagne. but he refused and con
iinued holding his head and moaning
A knock at the door
Come In"
And In walked the captains of The
Antonln and the La Rnchefoucnuld
They had been on board ten and three
days respectively.
The captain of the Duplex CAPPED.
"Eh. tout la France!" he cried
Full OF ironica enthusiasts, h,
raised his glass OF champagne ant
saluted them Then with joy that h,
made no effort 10 conceal, he claspei
the hands Of the two captains Who's
advice he had scorned and WHO IN,
encountered the same fate rs he
They returned his welcome with
grim humm,
The presence Of these three cap
Trims nnnnrd Lie Serailll.i rl.lili.ss.lt4l,. =.
= loss. OF ten ilullsanh iulls " s.lll