White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-07-19
CHAPTER VII
fThe Last Cruise of the Poor
Old Pinmore

~AS4 = AAAAAAOAS
One night, the breeze having become
light we proceeded under cloud Of
sail 1t was night such as you
rarely find anywhere but in the tropics
The four scintillating stars of the
Southern Cross twinkled merrily down
upon us. Our sails were full, and the
waves murmured past our bow. The
sky was a gorgeous spread Of blinking
stars, and Old Man Moon was so
bright that he seemed to be laughing
and chuckling. The buccaneers deck
was crowded. We sat around In genial
fraternity, officers, prisoners, and crew,
each with goblet of champagne.
"What no, a 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 signal fared out across
the water.
"Reave to-a German cruiser" Un-
able to make us out, she little guessed
that we were nothing more than
sailing ship, from which she could
easily escape by slipping through the
night. We were confident she would
take us for an armored cruiser easily
able to catch her and blow her out
Of the sea with broadside.
We waited at the rail to see what
would happen. Presently, we heard
q splashing of oars. Out OF the dark
ness came q hail, the jolliest hail ]
have ever listened to. 1t was in nasal
seaport French.
"What relief Instead of Boche
cruiser, find you are an old wind
TANNER like ourselves. But why the
joke? Your signal fooled US complete
ly. ! suppose you want to tell US
something about the war;"
"Come on board" ! replied. I'VE
have lots of news"
We were in our shirt sleeves, and
looked like ordinary seamen. On deck
he said proudly:
II am a Frenchman." AS though
we couldn't have guessed it.
"A Frenchman2 Fine. How Is
France doing2"
"Ah! France, she is victorious, or
will be very soon. Raw de vous voir."
He fairly dubbed over with delight
when we offered him bottle of cham
payne. Being homeward bound. be
was in frolicsome mood.
He was such CHEEKY, conviyial soul
that / hated to break the bad news to
him. left the progress of events to
do that. He wanted to have look
over our ship. So / ushered him aft
to my cabin, and threw open the door.
he took a step forward and recoiled.
On the walls were pictures of the
Kaiser, Hindenburg, Ludendorff, and
Won Tirpitz, and large German flag
"Des allemands!" he groaned.
"Yes," ! said, I'VE are Germans"
"Then we are lost, per Dieu"
"Yes, per Dieu, you are lost"
He stood with his forehead In one
hand. His despair was both tragic
and comic to behold. / tried as best
l could to say few words of cheer.
"Well, Captain, you are not the only
one to lose your ship during the war.
Tomorrow l, too, may be sunk. or the
next day."
He replied in the most doleful tone
imaginable.
ut is not so much the loss OF my
ship. But it's that feel have only
myself to blame for it. In Valparaiso,
where lay 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-boats and cruisers. Possibly
our owners would instruct US to keep
off the usual course, they said. But
the wind was fair, and l thought 1t
best to take advantage of it. So,
without waiting for reply from our
owners, l sailed from Valparaiso ahead
of the other two captains. And now,
because ! did not take their advice,
have lost the Duplex, my ship. Mon
Dieu, what an ass wasl Now they
will report It to my owners, and
will never get a ship again"
"What we're the names OF your
friends ships?" ts-~H's5s ". . &, ....
1.-THE Anfonin-" aI5:''i
"The Antonin under Captain Lecoq7"
Eyes. And the La Rochefoucauld."
"Orderly," / called In German, which