Evening star., 1941-03-20
CHAPTER XIV.

voices shouting. A fist hit the door
of the stateroom, beat steady tat
too on it.
"An outl' a voice cried. Sub
marineI All on deck! Put on your
hfebelts!"
"They are a little early" sighed
the baron turned spy. Sometimes
I think we are almost too punctual."
Then "All right, don't knock the door
down my good fellow. We're
coming"
The pounding moved to another
cabin.
The baron arose reluctantly. An
automatic appeared miraculously in
his hand. He weighed it, his eyes
cold hard; his lips compressed.
"Well? Have you decided?"
Somehow, Brinda doubted that he
would really shoot. But whether he
would or not had ceased to be the
point. He still had the list of
British agents. 1t was still her self
appointed task to get possession of
that list.
YES" she breathed. I'll come
with you"
He pocketed the gun, wrenched
open the door, snatched her
through it,
Desperately, Brinda looked about
for an English face. But this was a
Dutch boat, and the passengers were
chiefly acknowledgements,
stolid people, most of whose faces
were now filled with animal selfish
ness and panic.
For now a real U-boat had just
arrived, the British Shark having
disappeared an hour ago.
Suddenly, Brinda saw gleam of
gold braid-a bridge officer Surely,
she could appeal to him with safety.
But, providentially, the spy Konrad
spoke flrSt-in German.
ANY trouble?"
The ships officer looked at Brinda
curiously.
None" he said. "The captain
does not even suspect"
Good" said the spy. He handed
the ships officer packet of British
bank notes.
Passengers In Panic.
The officer held back, still eyeing
Brinda
Don't worry. She's going
with me-"
The officer took the money and
vanished into the crowd.
Brinda thanked her lucky star
that she had not tried to enlist his
aid. AS her captor had said, the
Germans did things thoroughly.
The spy shouldered his way for
ward through the panic-stricken
passengers.
Half the lfeboats were full;
others were filling. Several stood
at the rail cycling the shadow of
the U-boat as it wallowed in the sea
OF the port side.
A panic-stricken mother was try
ing vainly to put a life belt on a
small boy.
"Boom!" he kept saying. "Boom!"
His eyes were shining. He had been
tremendously impressd by the warn
ing shot the sub had fired across
the bow of the Vandam.
The mother looked agonizingly
INTO Brinda's eyes.
will they torpedo us?" she asked
In a mixture of French and Dutch.
do you think they will sink us?"
mo, no. said Brinda, shaking
her head. mo, no."
The mother appeared to be COM
forted.
Brinda turned to Konrad. 'It Is
terrible to frighten all these peo-
ple-for nothing"
He smiled coldly. "A little terror
does not do any harm. 1t makes
them respect us. Come!"
Brinda followed him, fantically
booking for 1t. Ainsworth, who was
nowhere in sight.
The baron joined group about
the lee rail. Among them stood the
captain of the Vandam.
Brinda Is Saved.
The knot split apart and a young
officer in German naval uniform
stepped briskly from a ladder to
the deck.
This is neutral ship" said the
ships captain hoarsely. 1--WE carry
no contraband."
The U-boat commander looked a
trifle bored.
Splendid" he said. He was look.
ing about anxiously. AS Brinda's
captor stepped forward his face was
suddenly relieved.
The two men exchanged saIutes
The spy spoke rapidly to the U-boat
of1cer and the latter looked Quickly
at Br1nda. Then he shook his head
Vhe spy protested.
mo, no, Baronl" said the U-boa,
offlcer. Impossible. Do you not un.
derstand?" He whispered again
The spy turned back to Brinda
with an air of disappointment.
1 lose" he said, simply. THE
Gestapo has a man on board the
submarine. The commander. though
he is friend of mine, dare not take
you. Auf Wiedersehn!"
"Schnell!" exclaimed the U-boat
officer. Hurry"
Coming" " said the spy. From the
ladder he blew kiss to Brinda
Get your passengers out of the
boats" he said, contemptuouslv to
the skipper. There is no danger
Can't you see that was only q
Fendezvous?"
He waved again to Brinda. "Re.
member, Liebchen, spying is not fol-
amateurs"
His head disappeared as he de.
scended the ladder to the boat that
had put out from the submarine.
A Sudden Shot.
Brinda watched apprehensively a.
the craft put back to the U-boat
where it lay wallowing in the trough
OF the sea, its running lights wink.
Ing like the eyes of some sinister
malicious monster.
But for the merest chance, she
might have been in the interior o1
that tube of deadly steel, doomed tc
she knew not what horrible fate
DtI& ~ nr%