The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-02-28
Yesterday: Banks finds his ship
the Gray Gull, and SO Polly, Jerry
and he sail for the States.

8, RACHEL MACK


and he sail for the States.
CHAPTER XNlll
The Gray Gull was crOwdng OF
sail now, for they were in open
water. Polly stood quietly ut th'
dark rail, wrapped in her se'
cloak. By starlight, she could SET
three figures ut the WHEEL Jerry
and Caben and the old Frencf
pilot they had picked up IN Cher'
bourg. 1t was the old man VINO
held the wheel. for ne knew the
Channel Islands through when
they must thread their way, knew
them like the features on ms OWL!
face. Four times this ancient
French sailor had been wounded
in NapOleon's service, and ne had
Thought 70 retire and enjoy ms
vegetable garden near Caen until
Cabell Banks had persuaded nm
otherwise.
Now and then Polly saw Jerry
or Cabell raise a hooded lantern
from deck and study the compass
and charts. after which they
would argue exhauStively. She
knew that Cabell had no feeling
of being superior IN command
over Jerry. II was natural anu
proper for him to captain MS own
vessel but ne made no pretense OF
beino as rood Il seaman as Jerry
Whitfield. Navigation and astron--
Omy he knew, for he had learned
them at Harvard, but concerning
the things a skipper must know
about sails he was not too we'll
informed. They carried no sec
ond mate. but for "bOSun' they
were fortunate in having the Gray
GulPs former boatswain, Bill Gill,
a rough and reliable young giant
from the Baltimore waterfront
who knew his rigging and an
chorS as a woman knows her knit
ting needles and who could bel
low orders like q Spanish bull.
Tonight. however. the bOsun's
orders 10 the crew We're muted.
Sailors spoke to one another in
quick rasping whispers that made
Polly'S flesh creep little.
Cabell passed her rs he was go
ing below to his cabin. He was
startled when she spoke To him.
What are you doing here, Pol
"? Didn't Jerry tell you to go to
bed?"
mo" Polly answered, "he didn't
tell ME anything. He's forgotten
Pm alive, Cabell. =. Not that I'm
sulking about it," she added with
a low laugh. Pm too excited to
be Sulking. Do you think the
British will see Us tonight. Ca
bell?"
'I'm sure they won't if they're
as sleepy as I am. The old French /
pilot tells me he never knew the
English to attack at night. BY
morning vel be in the Atlantic. !
I'm going TO get some sleep now
so I can relieve jerry later on.
Good night, sea bride. You're |
fetching in that coat. ! can quote I.
a verse of Horace in tribute, if /
you want me to.
1T would be wasted on me" J
Polly said. My brother Dicks .
the only one that's studied Latin |,
in my family"
you're fond of him, aren't |
you? What's he like, Polly"
'He's quiet and lame and he
wants to study medicine. !
Maybe Jerry told you why came |
over here? 1t was to get money ,
from my grandfather's estate 50
Dick could 60 to medical school.
I'm going home without the
money but wit ma husband. :.
Or will l get home, Cabell? What
are the chances"
Frightened, Polly?"
"A little. The seas so dark to-
night. q. The two long guns look
important. Will we use them?"
''Not aggressively, because we
carry no letter of marque. And
not even defensively if we're out
classed. Jerry wouldn't run the
risk Of being raked, with you
aboard"
"Just what viii 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
u.s."
WED surrender and be board
ed. There'd be some pretty for
maitieS, after which we'd all be
taken aboard Johnny Bulls ship.
You'd be treated with courtesy.
jerry and | would be locked in a
Sinking hold with the crew"
And what then. Cabell?"
Wed cruise while, and when
Johnny Bull had taken another