The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-04
CHAPTER xxIII

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 The Gray Gull was crowding on sail now, for they were in open wa- ter. Polly stood quietly at the dark rail, wrapped in her sea cloak. By starlight, she could see three figures at the wheel. Jerry and Cabell and the old French pilot they had picked up in Cherbourg. It was the old man who held the wheel, for he knew the Channel Islands through which they must thread their way, knew them like the features on his own face. Four times this ancient French sail or had been wounded in Napoleon's service, and he had thought to retire and enjoy his vegetable garden near Caen until Cabell Banks had per- Suaded him otherwise.
 Now and then Polly saw Jerry or Cabell raise hooded lantern from deck and study the compass and charts, after which they would argue exhaustively. She knew that Cabell had no feeling of be- ing a superior in command over Jerry. It was natural and proper for him to captain his own vessel but he made no pretense of being as good a seaman as Jerry Whit field. Navigation and astronomy he knew, for he had learned them at Harvard, but concerning the things a skipper must know about sails he was not too well informed. They carried no second mate, but for "bosun" they were fortunate in having the Gray Gull's former boatswain, Bill Gill, rough and reliable young giant from the Baltimore waterfront who knew his rigging and anchors as a woman knows her knitting needles and who could below orders like a Spanish bull.
 Tonight, however, the bosun's orders to the crew were muted. Sailors spoke to one another in quick rasping whispers that made Polly's flesh creep little.
 Cabell passed her as he was going below to his cabin. He was startled when she spoke to him.
 What are you doing here, Pol ly? Didn't Jerry tell you to go to bed?"
 "No," Polly answered, "he didn't tell me anything. He's forgotten I'm alive, Cabell Not that I'm sulking about it." she added with a low laugh. I'm too excited to be sulking. Do you think the British will see us tonight, Ca bcll?"
 "I'm sure they won't if they're az sleepy as I am. The old French pilot tells me he never knew the English to attack at night. By morning we'll be in the Atlantic. I'm going to get some sleep now so can relieve Jerry later on .. Good night, sea bride! You're fetching in that coat can quote a verse of Horace in tribute, if you want me to-"
 Tt would be wasted on me" Polly said. My brother Dicks the only one that's studied Latin in my family"
 "Youre fond of him, aren't you? Whats he like, Polly?"
 Hes quiet and lame and he wants to study medicine Maybe Jerry told you why I came over here? It was to get money from my granfather's estate so Dick could go to medical school I'm going home without the money but with a husband Or will l get home, Cabell? What are the chances?"
 frightened, Polly?"
 "A little. The seas so dark to- night The two long guns look important Will we use them?"
 Not aggressively, because we carry no letter of marque. And not even defensively ii we're out classed. Jerry wouldn't run the risk of being raked, with you aboard"
 Just what will we do if we meet an English man-of-war?"
 Run for it."
 of course. But if we can't out sail them? Suppose they speak to uS?"
 Wed surrender and be boarded. There'd be some pretty formalitieS, after which we'd all be taken aboard Johnny Bulls ship. You'd be treated with courtesy. Jerry and I would be locked in a stinking hold with the crew."
 And what then, Cabell?"
 "We'd cruise while, and when Johnny Bull had taken another American vessel or two or maybe a French one, the hold would be rather full and they'd take us to Portsmouth, port we're off just now, over there to northWard."
 "What's at Portsmouth"
 "The worst prison on Gods earth. Dartmoor. They built it for their French prisoners about six years ago. It's rock tomb on a bleak moor where 10000 men can be buried alive with no trouble at all But if you think I'll tell you tales about Dartmoor prison,