The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-01
CAST OF CHARACTERS
CHAPTER XXI

Ordinarily one would travel from Calais to Cherbourg by water, touch- ing at Le Havre. But with the Channel so beset with ships engaged in war and wars commerce, it be- hoved civilian travellers to stick to dry land.
 Cabell Banks used his fluent French to advantage in engaging three seats in 8 stage coach (which the French amusingly called a dil- igence) and he and Jerry and Polly set out at once for Cher bourg, the driver offering no ob- jections to Nuisance.
 Their intention was to go aboard Tim Chelsey's armed merchant ship, the Palm Tree and return to America with him. Though it car ried no long guns - only six small carronades, Polly admitted when they questioned her - it should be able to cross the Atlantic in req sonable safety. Jerry, and even Cabell, had heard of Captain Tim Chelsey and knew his reputation as a reliable skipper.
 He's likely short of hands, . Jerry said. T can handle the sails or help navigate, whichever thing he has need for
 'I'll wager he'll be glad to see even me-" Cabell remarked. T hardly ever saw ship that wasn't short of hands. But your Cousin Tim needn't ask me to climb shrouds or cat anchors, Polly. I'm not his man. Navigation's my speciality"
 My father was the best sailor of them all," Polly said, thinking suddenly of home and of the pa tient old man there who no longer had a ship. She felt great long ing to see Trepid and Dick.
 They calculated that Tim Chel- sey would have made the port of Cherbourg two good days before news of war reached the Channel. The only concern of Jerry and Ca bell was how the Palm Tree would get out of Cherbourg. They put tkeir wits together to solve this poser on the coach ride from Ca lis. The port would be watched by English warships; it would be a sporting venture for any Amer ican mechantman to run out. Could it be done? They thought it could.
 Since the trip consumed several days time and several overstops, the three travellers argued about many matters. Polly annoyed her two male escorts by saying one day, Wars unnatural. We're of one blood with the English, yet we're lined up with the French against them. It's like asking 8 foreigner to help you fight your own mother"
 Our mother happens to be try ing to strangle us," Jerry pointed out. Were the thing she hates most"
 They reflected on this sad and undeniable fact, and presently Polly said, "The French have been seizing our vessels too, my father told me. He thinks Napoleon has overreached himself"
 "He has undoubtedly done that, Cabell agreed. My father says he's drunk with power"
 q can't understand human na- ture at all," Polly argued. First 1t was the Bourbon kings that were SO selfish and so cruel to the French people. The people threw them of and won their freedom, then turned cruel themselves, be- heading the artistocratS right and left. Now it's Napoleon's that's that's"
 Exploiting" said Cabell, sup plying the word. Exploiting the French people. We may have to fight Napoleon next, unless Eng land settles him."
 And that'll make England drunk with power" Jerry offered. "Drunker than she already is, l mean"
 50 maybe wars no use after all" Polly exclaimed. Maybe it never settles anything! Maybe it just destroys!" This idea held her in its awful grip for hours, so that she hardly noticed the scenery or answered when they spoke to her. It was as if she had reached ma turity and yet was more uncertain and shaken than she had been in her thoughtless girlhood
 She was thinking: Must my body form the bodies of strong boys for war?" It was the old cry of woman in 8 man-made world, not yet articulate. It was a ter rible question, without an answer.
 
 The diligence set them down near the Cherbourg docks, and