White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-06-14

lines without seeing ship, for all the
blockadins vessels had sought shelter 10
the lee Of the islands.
CHAPTER III-Continued
3
! thought now that, under cover OF
darkness and with the aid of the
storm, we might shorten our voyage
to the Atlantic by cutting through
the channel between the Orkney is
lands and the Shetlands. l was about
to order the helm changed, when the
hurricane shifted abruptly from south
west to southeast. The change came
SO suddenly that the twisting winds
nearly ripped our masts out by the
roots. Somehow, that seemed to be
warning to us, warning not to go
through that channel.
A sailor believes in signs. And
something told me to take more
northerly course, nearer the Arctic
Circle and the Faroes. Later, we
learned that the German submarine
Bremen had tried to pass through that
channel and was never seen again.
The channel had recently been mined
But for that sudden shift of the storm,
we too would have shared the fate of
the Bremen. With sails still full
spread, we continued north, nearer
and nearer the Polar zone. 1t grew
bitterly cold The waves dashed over
US, and the water froze where 1t fell.
Our timber cargo was so coated with
ice that not stick of lumber could
be seen. The deck was like skating
rink, and the ships bow one huge
cake of ice. Everything froze, includ
ing the sails. The ropes became coat
ed and would no longer run through
the blocks. We tried to thaw them
with oxygen flame, but they froze
again the moment the fame was re-
moved. Unable to change the sails,
we were helpless.
To turn on the motor would only
make matters worse, because that
the faster. We knew that unless the
hand of God interviewed within few
days we would be hopelessly caught
in the Polar pack and probably never
heard of again. So long as the wind
blew from the south, we were sure to
continue on north. We we're in the
region of eternal night now, except
for few minutes each day. The sun
rose at eleven and set at half-past
eleven. If we continued this crazy,
frozen voyage to. the North pole we
would be smashed In the ice, by Joe.
Christmas eve came, and we prayed
God to send us the one Christmas pres
ent, the only one that could save US
north wind to blow US south. My
men in the hold. my fighting crew
huddled together to keep from freez
ing. They were prisoners, for the
waves and spray had swept over ev-
erything until our secret matches we're
frozen as solid as concrete. My false
Norsemen on deck slid about on the
icy planks, and every man suffered
from frostbite. No one tried to turn
In to sleep. The tension on our
nerves was too great. Only one thing
was warm and steaming-the kettle of
grog. You landsmen have no idea OF
what grog means to sailor under
such conditions No wonder seamen
call q glass of schnapps IAN ice
breaker!"
As suddenly as IT had come, the
south wind died down and breeze
sprang up In the north. Our frozen
ship creaked, laid over, and came
around with the new wind, and our
hearts sang for JOY. Each day we
seemed to thaw out bit more. Soon
we passed to the east of Iceland and
re-entered the Atlantic Axes and
picks were busy chipping away the
ice. 1t was hard work, but who cared
now that we were getting warm
again? We we're through the blockade
and out of the Arctic-and now to
test the Freedom of the Seas" and
give the allies touch of high life.
"By joe" said to my boys, land
they call 1t a blockadel"
You would have thought the fellow
In the lookout was answering me.
"Steamer ahoy," he sang out.
What? steamer in these partsi
climbed aloft with my glasses
Sure enough, there was British ar.
mored cruiser steaming toward us at
full speed. She had the signal flying :
"Stand by or we fret"
Such bad luck after such good luck
This second Christmas present was
not SO amusing. But now for our
test.
"Hustle you nom Norwegian chaps
Get below deck Throw water every
where to explain why our papers are
blurred and wet The storm we just
passed through will make II seem tie
more natural Schmidt, get into your
finery. Remember. from now on you
are the shy 'Joscfeena tJosephine)
the captains wife If they put prize
crew aboard, we will capture the prize
crew. If they suspect we are an aux
Hilary cruiser. bombs fore, midship
and Mt, and we blow up the ship"
Now for big Quid OF tobacco ir
my mouth. have never had the hab
1t of chewing tobacco, but q Nerve
ginn skipper would not be true to typt
without his guild. Resides. chew O