Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-05-23
CHAPTER III-Continued

l tHOuEnl NOW InaI, QnueF cover OF
darkness and with the aid OF the
storm. we might shorten our voyage
to the Atlantic by cutting through
this chanhel between the Orkney is'
lands and the Shetlands | was about
to order the nelm changed, when the
hurricane shifted abruptly from south.
west to southeast. The change came
go suddenly that the twisting winds
nearly ripped our masts out by the
roots Somehow, that seemed to he
warning to us, warning not to 30
through that channel.
sailor believes In signs. And
something told me to take more
northerly course, nearer the Arctic
Circle and tie Faroes. Later, we
learned that the German submarine
Bremen had tried to pass through that
channel and vas never seen again.
The channel hud 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. II grew
bitterly cold. The waves dashed. over
IS, and the water frOze where II fell
Our timber cargo was so c0nfed with
Ice that not q 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
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
would carry us toward the Pole all
the faster. We knew that unless the
hand OF God interviewed within a 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 we're sure TO
continue on north. We were In the
region OF eternal night now. except
for few minutes each day. The sun
rose at eleven and set al half-past
eleven. II 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
emf, the only one that could save US
a north wind to blow us south. My
men 10 the hold. my lighting crew
huddled together to keep from freez.
Ing. They were prisoners, for the
waves and spray had swept over ev-
erything until our secret hutches were
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 steep. The tension on our
nerves was too great Only one thing
was warm end steaming-ihe kettle OF
grog. YoD landsmen have no Idea OF
what gr0g means to sailor under
such conditions. No wonder seamen
call glass Of schnapps IAN Ice
breaker"
AS suddenly as It had come, the
south wind died down and q 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. II was hard work, but who cared
now THAT we were getting warm
again? We were through the blockade
and out OF the Arctic-and now TO
test the Freedom of the Sens" and
give the allies touch OF high life.
by joe" ] said to my--boys. land
they call 1t blockadel"
You would have thought the fellow
In the lookout was answering me.
STEAMER ahoy." he sang out.
What7 A steamer In these parts7
climbed aloft with my glasses
Sure enough, there was o British ar
mored cruiser steaming toward us at
full speed. She had the signal flying:
'Stand by or we firep
Such bad luck after such good luck
This second Christmas present was
not so amusing. But now for our
test.
"Hustle yon non-Norwegian chaps.
Get below deck Throw water every.
where to explain why our papers are
blurred and wet The storm we lust
passed through will make II seem the
more natural. Schmidt, get into your
finery Remember. from now on you
are the shy 'JOscfeena' fJosephine)
the captains wife. II they puf prize
crew aboard, we will capture the prize
crew. II they suspect we are an aux
Hilary cruiser. bombs fore. midshIp
and Mt, and we blow up the shipl"
Now for a big Quid OF tobacco In
my mouth. | have never had the hab-
Ii of chewing tobacco. but a Norwe
gtan skipper would moi be true 10 type
without hts Qutd. Besides, u cnew VI