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

~ - ~ ~
II can understand that, after the
weather you've had"
ayes, Mister Officer, it's all right for
you to see them In this condition, be-
cause you saw the storm yourself, but
later, If meet some of your COM
rades who didn't hit the blow that we
had. they may not take my word for
it. That's what's worrying me-"
"Oh, don't worry, captain, I'll give
you memorandum explaining the
condition Of your papers. You are
lucky to have saved your ship"
That memorandum was just what ]
wanted. There was no telling when
we might be searched again.
had the papers scattered all over
the cabin to dry, and each time ]
handed one to him spat a stream
of tobacco juice on the cabin floor.
He examined the papers with prac-
ticed eye and made entries In his
notebook. Each page In his book was
for ship. and could see that thirty
or forty pages had been used already.
Yes he was an experienced officer.
When he came to the last document,
the one signed with the false sigma
ture of the British consul at Copen.
hagen and sealed with false British
imperial seal, and read the formal
statement that the Irma's cargo of
lumber was destined for the use of
the British government In Australia,
he turned to me suddenly.
"These papers are all right, cap
tain"
In the excitement of the moment ]
suddenly swallowed my chew of to-
bacco. was afraid this might give
our whole sham away. So coughed
and coughed as though with bad
cold, trying to cover up what had hap
pened. What would British search
officer think If Norwegian skipper
got seasick7 My mate Leudemann
was standing next to me holding the
log book. had told him to have it
ready in case the Britisher should
want to examine it. Leudemann saw
there was something wrong with me,
and was quick-witted enough to divert
the search officers attention. by hand.
ing him the book.
"Oh, yes, the log" exclaimed the
officer, and opened the wet pages.
The quid of tobacco seemed to be
moving up and down my outlet. ]
struggled with myself, and to show
an outward calm said to Luedemann
in Norwegian:
~ wish I'd had that officers camel's-
hair cape and hood. It would have
been fine to keep fellow warm while
up there north of the Circle"
"For rain and spray, too" The
Englishman spoke up In Norwegian
to show that he knew the language.
You must admire how careful those
English are. The officer examined ev-
cry page of the log.
SLOW is this, captain?" he ex-
claimed. ,"You were laid up three
weeks and half?"
There was discrepancy In dates
which represented our wait after the
admiralty had ordered us not to sail
because of the return Of the subma-
rine, Deutschland, and the consequent
increased vigilance of the blockade.
had not thought of it. Here was the
one detail that we had neglected to
provide for in our deliberately de.
tailed preparations. Even If had
been in the best of health, should
not have known what to reply. With
that tobacco quid running around in
side of my body ! could only pray to
God for help.
Again Leudemann saved the situa-
ton. He was little fellow and sim
ple-hearted. but great character.
When bad times came, Leulemann
was at his best.
1--WE didn't lie there for pleasure"
he said In his dry way as he looked up
at the big Englishman. 1--WE had or
ders from our owner not to sail until
we got word"
'How so?"
"Haven't you been warned then
about German cruisers?"
whats that?"
Haven't you heard about the
Moewe and auxiliary cruiser, See.
adler2"
The search officer turned to me.
"What about this that your mate
is saying, captain7"
My stomach felt much better, now
that Leudemann. had spoken. So ]
thought might as we'll give the Eng
lishman a good dose.
(TO BE CONT1NUED.)