The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-10-08
Chapter 90
we Are Trapped

q AEC AEdppCuS
you don't mind rowing your
l self ashore, do your" Bon
niger asked. II don't want to take
another man off the job"
Sure. that's all right" Neil as
scented.
Take one of the cars and get
back as quick as you can"
Meanwhile Captain Bickel had
unlocked a cabin door and the
Search party passed into the Mont
morenci. Neil turned the other
way. The constable guarding the
first gangway spoke to him as he
came over.
Are you leaving us?"
Got to go to the village" said
NELL casually. Back in an hour .
This mans beat was back and
forth across the forward deck of
the Montpelier so that he could
watch the gangway on one side
and the ladder on the other. He
leaned over the rail watching
while Neill ran down the ladder
and cast off a skiff.
Neill headed for the shore. There
was a fresh southerly breeze to-
night which capped the whole sur
face Of the water with a gentle
phosphoreseence. This h e1pe
NELL in one way, hindered him in
another. Amidst the general phos-
phorescence the dip of his oars
could not be distinguished; but on
the other hand he realized that the
skiff itself must be silhouetted
against the family luminous water
lie went all the way to the land
ing. Satisfied then that he was out
OF sight, he rowed up river keep
ing close to the beach for a hum
dred yards or so, and headed back
Tor the stern Of the Montpelier. II
the man on the after bridge caught
sight Of him it was all up.
He gained the shadow of the
overhanging stern without any
alarm being raised. Keeping as
close as possible to the vessel, he
roWed on around the bow of the
Montmorenci and into the narrow
space between the second and the
third ships. It was like chasm be-
tween the towering walls of steel
with a narrow slit Of the night sky
showing overhead.
He had chosen to board the
Montmorenci because the two out.
er vessels were Of a newer style
Of construction, built so high he
could not hope to climb to the
deck. The Montmorenci had two
promenade decks and he thought
he could make the lower one.
Amidships only about four feet
separated the two vessels. He soft
~ took in his oars, and pushed
himself along with his hands. al
intervals heavy square cribs oi
timber had been lowered between
the vessels to keep them from
chatting. Neill tied his skiff to one
Of these. and climbed upon it. BY
the aid Of one of the ropes sus-
pending il from above, he hauled
himself up to the promenade deck,
and crouched under the rail, lis
tening.
The Alarm Goes Up
a Ii was still. Alongside ran the
smooth steel hull Of the Co
lumbia with a row of dark port
holes. Her promenade was some 10
feet higher. There were II men
stationed about the decks of the
vessels but Neill had the advan-
tage Of knowing where each was
placed. At the moment he was safe
under cover Of the promenade, but
he would have 10 expose himself
when he leaped over TO the Co
lumbia, and again from the Co
lunbia 10 the Abraham Lincoln.
Aft Of where he crouched, he
could see a faint radiance issuing
from the windows opening on
deck. Il came and went. This
would be the searching party in
side the ship. He crept to a ladder
and assembled 20 the upper prom
enade. He was now on a level with
the Columbia's promenade. Be
tween four and FIVE feet separated
rail from rail He took of his boots
and hung them around his neck.
He made the first leap in safety
and ran noiSelesSly aft along the
promenade OF the Columbia and
around her stern. A roof overhead
shielded him from the observa-
ton Of the watcher on the after
bridge. The promenade deck Of the
Abraham Lincoln alongside was
en- the same level.
AS Neili made his second leap
q surprised voice from above rang
cut: "Heyl What's thats Haiti" and
the light Of a fash struck down
ketween the vessels
The fash didn't pick him up. He
@n forward on the preaseN3 2