The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-04-25

american forces which opposed them,
van Hassek's troops pushed relentlessly
Z 4
CHAPTER XVII-Continued
Benning went to bed after watch
Ing for several hours and managed
70 sleep through part of the day.
From his portfolio, Benning saw
nylng fish scurry out of the course
OF the ship in late afternoon, which
confirmed fast progress south. With
evening he caught the blink of dis
tant light myriads on the coast line.
he explored the possibility of escape
In the night by whaleboat, but con-
Guided he stood slender chance of
success In such an exploit. At dark
he resumed his reconnaissance of
the deck in his effort to locate Bra
vot.
SchmolZ' Stateroom was empty at
nine O'Clock, again at ten. On his
thlrd trip down the boat deck, Ben
ming found that half a dozen men had
assembled, including Bravot and
Schmolz. He stationed himself again
In the shadows of whaleboat and
waited. An hour passed without de-
velopment, then the group filed out
and went to the rail to strain their
eyes into the starlit night.
One of them set off a flare, and
ten minutes later a second flare.
Benning's ears caught the distant
hum of an airplane. The sound
grew in volume until plane zoomed
overhead and circled to a stop.
The engines of the ship slowed
down. Four men lowered a boat.
Bravot shook hands with Schmolz
and climbed over the rail to disap-
pear down the ladder A few min
utes later Benning caught the flash
of oars in the starlight The plane
burst into roar of sound, lifted into
the night, and streaked off into
the void whence it had come.
Benning returned heavily to his
cabin. Bravot's departure by plane
clearly meant that the ship would
not pause at Tampico OF Vera Cruz.
But at least, Benning consoled him
self, he could play SITTER game on
deck with the French renegade out
of the way.
Somehow, in the tense days ahead,
he would find a solution to this hide
Gus problem, he vowed. If nothing
better, chance at the radio room
whence he could flash a warning
code to the coast artillery forts and
naval base guarding the Canal from
Limon Bay.
During the next few days, while
the dynamite ship ate up the long
miles to Panama, Benning carefully
went over the vessel and watched
his chances. Land had vanished,
escape by boat he had dismissed
finally as out of the question.
Benning'S interest conferred on the
radio room as his best chance The
radio station lay in cubbyhole I'M
der the bridge. Several times he
visited the room, pretending interest
In its mechanism. But the radio op-
orator, one Smidt, was sullenly un-
communicative and resentful of Wis
itors.
"You been around here enough,
mister" Smidt complained at Ben
ning's third appearance. II got
work to do, SO you please keep
away"
After that incident, Benning
gained an uncomfortable suspicion
that he was being watched Twice
he tested his trail by an abrupt
about-face on deck. Both times a
hatchet-faced steward slouched past
him with exaggerated preoccupa-
ton.
Only one chance remained if he
failed at the radio That was to
reach the American officers who
would come aboard to check cargo
before the ship was permitted in
the locks. But Benning decided that
he must not wait on that last des-
perate extremity.
Benning kept up a careful esti-
mate of the speed and progress of
the ship. His calculations told him
when the ship must be approaching
Limon Bay. Schmolz' plan, he
guessed, was to detonate the ship
as it passed through Gatun Locks.
Benning's plan of direct action
crystallized on what he judged to
be the last afternoon at sea. In his
cabin he blocked out, on a sheet
from his notebook, blunt warning
message:
Commanding General, Panama
Halt American freighter now APP
preaching Limon Bay from New
York v It'll cargo of high explosives.
General plot in effect to wreck Pan
anna Canal. Instant action impera-
tive. -Benning, Major CO."
Until he saw Schmolz 60 to the
bridge, Benning loitered about the
boat deck, then went direct to the
radio room.
Mister, didn't tell you to keep
out of hereI" Smidt exploded as
Benning stepped into the little room.
Benning said quietly: Il want to
use your radio, Smidt You'll be
good enough to do just what / tell
you to do"
Smidt scowled at Benning's lev
eled pistol and yielded with a sullen
nod of his head Benning strapped
the fellows hands behind his back
and forced him To stretch ont face