White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-07-26
CHAPTER vIII-Continued

CHAPTER VIII-Continued
IL
my magazines" l said, "are In the
forward half of the boat. l do not
want you to know exactly where they
are placed. After you are released,
you might reveal the secret. Then.
,ne of these merry days, If some cruiser
takes shot at me, and If the ioca-
ton Of my magazines is known, they'll
aim right at that spot. A shell there
and up in the air we go. ! must ask
you to give me your word Of honor
that you will not 60 into the foreship,
else will have to keep you confined"
Each skipper gave me his word, In.
:luding LecoQ.
Captain Lecoq broke his promise.
He not only went secretly into the
foreship, but he made sketches Of the
layout there. Captain Mullen Of the
Pinmore saw the sketches, knocked
Lecoq down, and reported him to me.
[ berated Lecoq soundly.
"And as result of your dishonor-
able action" | said, when release
my prisoners and send them off to
some port, there will be one French
man who will remain behind, and that
Frenchman will be you. You will con-
unue your cruise with US. You know
where my magazines are, and can
not trust any promise that you now
give me-"
He turned bit green around the
gills at that, but there was nothing
be could saylin reply.
Our only woman aboard, the skip
per's little bride, grew melancholy.
We did everything we could to make
the time pleasant for her, but she
pined for the society of other women
It was rather trial for her to be so
long the only woman among several
hundred men.
"Count. | do so wish there were a
woman aboard that could talk to-
she said to me bit coaxingly one
day. "Why don't you catch me one?"
l always like to oblige lady, par
ticularly one so charming and agree
able as she, but catching another won
an was game of chance with us.
You don't often find fair company
aboard freighters. especially in trop
lcal waters However. said:
madam, we will do our best"
At times used to amuse myself by
Joining the crowd on the lockout in
The rigging. 1t was misty day, and
nobody had much of chance of see
Ing anything. Then 1t cleared little
IN the west and Boarding Officer
Preiss who was beside me, thought he
saw ship instructed the helms
man to steer in that direction, and
after fifteen minutes q large British
barque appeared through the mist AS
we drew near her. saw white figure
On the deck. Sure enough woman.
"Madam." shouted. to the Cana
1ian skipper's bride, get ready to
welcome your companion. She'll be
paying you call In few minutes"
Everybody, prisoners and ALL
swarmed on deck to witness the ex
.eptipnal capture. The Seeadler bore
down on the unlucky barque
The captain looked curiously at the
crowded figures standing at our rail
IF every color and race. They waved
gayly. Our grapophone blared out.
"It's Long Way to Tipperary."
"Hello," he shouted through bis
megaphone, collecting volunteers7"
He thought we were picking up wal
volunteers from the Atlantic islands
"volunteers?" called in return
"Oh, yes"
Our prisoners laughed bit.
"Any news OF the WARP" he asked.
Officers and sailors and the woman
On his deck craned their necks for q
reply.
"Much news OF the war;" responded
Il will signal it."
They stared, awaiting the signal.
"C-l-D," our signal flags went up;
'heave to or will fire."
could see the captain rapidly
thumbing the pages OF his book. His
head jerked up suddenly. His binocu
lars focused themselves on our mast
head where the German flag now
WdSCh. Wi 6ub ulVUpCu. anu
the cannon peered forth. BY Joe. but
1t raised conlm0tion ON the deck
When she saw 1t, the woman darted
into her cabin. The sailors ran to the
boats Even the helmsnlan deserted
the wheel. The captain was the only
one who kept his head lie seized the
helm with firm hand. and the ship
hove to.
Our guests were always interested
10 the prospect ut having new atldi
tons to their company. They had an
ever-ready. cordial welcome for fresh
arrivals. This time. the coming OF
second feminine passenger made the
occasion gala one. Everybody put
on his best manners The members
Of our "t'aptains' club" marshaied
their forces on deck, ready to greet
the officers and the lady from the
and Formally.
Our litrle woman put on her best
clothes and asked me for q nOsegay
from supply of artificial flowers we
had captured. The newly arriving
woman who scarcely knew what to
expect aboard our dreadful pirate
craft. was surprised when she was
greeted not only by our captnins club
with all of Its stately courtesies. hui
also by brightly smiling young won
an who presented her with bouquet
of flowers that made up In brightness
of color what 1t lacked In sweetness
of perfume, since they were imitation
ones,