The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-12-24

DIRK landing that this was the
most dangerous action they had
ever attempted. and the one
most likely to miscarry. But not
a man spoke of it.
They brought down the gaso-
line tins quietly, carefully, and
handed them forward onto the
boats. In the dark, Gunnar and
Sverre frog, the other fisher
man. primed the motors, filled
the tanks, and slowed two tins
under each of the stern seats.
Then the doctor came down, car
rying compass, light and binoc-
ulars, and went ashore again to
get the oars. They were to row
out beyond earshot of the point
before they started the motors.
The boats themselves were
two 18-foot sloops that Stems
gard had bought years before for
summer sailing. Why he had ia
ken both he never knew, except
that they were offered at a bar
gain. Masts, mainsails and spin
makers had been removed as too
conspicuous, but both boats
were admirably fitted for the
work at hand, being wide-bel-
lied, and having each a decked
space forward large enough to
carry a great quantity of arms
and keep them dry.
When everything was ready,
equipment checked, and the six
who were going had clambered
aboard, a signal was arranged
for their return. On seeing a
light from the ford inlet, the
watchers on shore were to swing
a lamp rapidly up and down if
the coast was clear, but to
make no sign at all if there were
troops in the neighborhood.
Lars Malken, standing in the
summer house and wishing with
all his heart that he could 60,
was surprised to see how quick
ly they got away. One minute
they were still ashore; the next
they had cast off and were lost
from sight in the darkness. Only
Gunnar's voice carried family
over the water, saying, 1--WE
catch the tide both ways. Ought
to be back by IL o'clock"
When they had rowed about a
quarter of an hour beyond the
point Gunnar called for them to
ship oars in the other boat, and
at the same time went aft him
self to start the motor.
1t seemed to the doctor that
they rode at least an hour,
though it was only a. little more
than half that time. He got wet
through with the seas that pour
ed in over the side, and the
snow that seemed more like
sleet driven in the wind, cut at
his eyes until he had to turn
aft in order to see at all.
Just at that moment he heard
the motor stop. He turned in
time to see Gunnar swing the
tiller hard around and rise to
one knee, looking back for the
other boat. And then off in the
darkness they heard a loud hal
loo, and there to starboard was
Sverre frog standing in the
stern of the second sloop. It was
five after 10 by the doctors
watch.
What happened then came so
quickly that only Sverre frog,
who was by good fortune look
ing in the right direction, saw
all of it. II was standing aft" he
told them later on shore, land in
a rolling sea so / could hardly
keep my feet, when all of a sud-
den l caught sight of it blowing
off to the north. First a line of
white breakers and something
like a fish in the middle, and
then all at once she was up, not
so yards away, with lot Of sail
ors pouring fast out of the hatch,
training light and deck gun
on us. Gunnar whipped around
then, and everybody yelled out,
and we heard q voice calling
over Doctor doctor, are
you there?' It was that easy.
Two minutes later we were tied
up alongside and they started
lifting the boxes down to u.s."
Ruck, in a light brown rain
coat, leaned over to shake hands
with the doctor, and when the
boats were fast, helped him up
onto the narrow, spraylashed
deck.
Stensgard hardly heard Ruck
talking. It'll only take a few
minutes" the man was saying.
THANK God it's a bad night.
Even have a wireless sender for
you" And a moment later,
How is Miss Bjarnesen up at
the hotel? Damned clever Wo-