White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-06-21
CHAPTER III-continued

S>sse~e.S
CHAPTER III-Continued
s.
"There were rumors at home in Nor
way that two cruisers and sixteen
German submarines had put out of
port"
The search officers comrade, who
had been looking around the cabin,
came over to us when he heard all
this.
II think we had better be going"
he spoke up suddenly.
EYES," replied the other. and they
went on deck.
They made no attempt at question
ing the sailors or Investigating the
sailors belongings.
'Your papers are all right, captain"
said the search officer, "but you will
have to wait here for an hour until
you get signal to proceed"
.All right, Mister Officer"
One of my boys, who was OF pes
simistic turn of mind, heard this. AS
he walked away from my cabin he
said out loud to himself:
Everything is lost"
Down below were the members OF
my other crew, waiting in the dark.
They were right beneath the floor of
the deck, straining their ears to catch
any word that might give them an
Idea how things were going on deck
They heard the exclamation, every
thing is lost" and took it for the off,
cial word that we were discovered
and for the command to do what was
to be done in that case. They lit the
fuses of the three bombs that were
to blow up the ship, and waited for
the matches to be opened to let them
on deck to the boats. The fuses
would burn for fifteen minutes.
The British we're in their boat now,
trying to push off. But you can't hold
a sailing ship in one place like steam
err. She keeps drifting. And the sue.
ton of the Seeadler as she drifted
held their boat so 1t couldn't get away.
What was still worse, 1t kept slipping
I'LL, duu IL IL gu OLQCA OuA SLClA II,
they would have been sure to see our
propeller. sailship with q propel-
Ter? Yes, sometimes, but we would
have been done for, as there was moth
ing to that effect in our papers, Seiz.
ing rope, tossed it overheard to.
ward them.
''Take the rope, Mister Officer, take
the rope" shouted as though clums-
lily trying to help them.
That made them look up so that the
rope might not fall on heir heads.
heaved the rope just as they were
sliding around our stern and away.
The officers thanked me, and one of
them. angry with his men for not be-
ing able to push the boat off, ex
claimed:
II have only fools on my boat"
"Yes, maybe you have" | thought,
"and maybe you are the worst-fooled
one of ALL"
My stomach was quite normal now
| was so happy that even felt as
though could digest that quid OF
tobacco. The men on deck felt like
| cheering and singing, but they had or
| ders to 60 on about their jobs as
though nothing unusual had been 60
ing on until the cruiser was far and
away. They just grinned, but SO
broad were the grins that thought
they would split their faces
My first thought was to bring the
happy news to the boys in the dark.
ness down below. went to one OF
the secret matches, which they had
fastened from within.
"Open." shouted.
There were vague sounds below.
"Open up" called again.
Then ! heard a muffled voice say:
"Open the flood valves"
whats that?" yelled. whats
the matter? Open the hatchl"
The hatch opened. saw troubled
faces could hear water rushing In
to the ship.
"By joe" | shouted, ARE yon try.
ing to sink my boat?"
could hear men running below to
| all parts of the ship. climbed down
roaring. One of the men spoke up.
"They are cutting the fuses and
closing the flood valves"
"Fuses, food valves, by joe How's
that happen, by Joe?'
Then one of the men said: But
some one called down that all was
lost Afterward you called open and
we thought you meant open the flood
valves"
The fuses had been burning for
eight minutes out OF their fifteen. and
hundreds Of gallons OF water were
pouring into the ship.