TDNTDAMND”
A Romance of ihe North Ailaniic
&■ RANDALL PAPPI5H
AUTHOR o/ nr LADY ojIhcWQKTW'f HAIQ the FOREST," ETC.
ac rr<.CLiJ#ck CO
SYNOPSIS.
CHAPTER I Robert Hollis, one-time
*ea captain, who tells the story la a
guest on Gerald Carrington's yacht Es
meralda. It is supposed to be a "stag''
party and Hollis ^surprised on discover
ing a woman, who evidently wishes to re
sntUn unknown, aboard.
CHAPTER II—Hollis, the next night,
succeeds in havihg an interview with the
woman. She merely tells him her name
Is Vera.
CHAPTER III—Carrington tella Ids
guests of the coming war, and that he
Is engineering a copper pool.
CHAPTER IV—The yacht is sunk in a
collision and Hollis saves McCann, mil
lionaire, and one of the party.
CHAPTER V— TIoIIIh and McCann res
cue Vera and leave the ship In a small
boat.
( HAPTER VI—Hollis and Vera become
friendly, though he is unaware of iier
identity.
CHAPTER VII—McCann refuses to sub
mit to Hollis' authority, and the latter
enforces It.
CHAPTER VIII H e castaways are
sighted by a ship, the Indian Chief, which
takes them aboard.
CHAPTER IX—The Indian Chief has
recently been stunk by lightning and Is
almost a wreck All tlie officers are d< ad
Hollis meets the owner, who lells him
the vessel has a cargo of ammunition,
consigned to the German government.
CHAPTER X- Hollis consents to take
« barge of ship and continue voyage. Vera
recognizes an old friend in Robert
Bascoin, owner of the Indian Chief
Haseom and McCann are deadly ene
mies.
. nii PER XI—Idssatlsfaction among
the crew quickly develops, and Hollis
selects his officers.
CHAPTER XT! McCann wants to reti,
to New York, and tries to corrupt rrew.
CHAPTER XIII Hollis finds himself
forced to confine McCann to a cabin.
7 remarried on dock (he greater part
of tile night, lint nothing of un alarm
ing nature took plate. Flu* crew re
tnuineil (inlet, and the watch on duty
obeyed orders promptly enough to
give those of us aft a new feeling of
confidence.
The sky cleared, although the wind
remained fresh and the sen hen
enough to keep two men ut the wheel.
The Indian Chief made good weather
of it, however, and l possessed faith
in LeayuiM's seamanship. For an hour,
- pernaps, I loitered about on deck, but
all remained so quiet that finally, with
a word to the mate to Have me called
at the slightest sign of need, I went be
low, and turned in.
I did not remove my clothes, and the
new day was barely reddening the east
when I was aroused by a trampling of
feet on the deck overhead. There was
no call, and I was sailor enough to
comprehend what was going on above
•— the watch was about to be
changed, and Leayord was using all
hands in cleaning ship. The activity,
tlie quietly spoken orders, the low
chant of a song as the men toiled at a
rope, were evidence that my presence
was not required, and I felt it would
please both officers to be left alone in
charge. I opened the port and looked
out at the glorious morning. It was
a lonely ocean scene, yet wildly beau
tiful. Everywhere was the wild deso
lation of tiie sea, nothing on which the
eye could rest except the restless
waves, the constant shifting of colors.
Satisfied that no other vessel was with
in range of vision, 1 lay down again.
I do not recall a pleasanter meal at
sea than our breakfast that morning.
All were in excellent humor, and no j
premonition of trouble entered our
minds. The night had passed quietly, j
both officers reporting the crew docile
and cheerful.
Olson was on watch, but Masters
joined us at table, and reported all well j
lu the engine room, and together we :
drank a toast to a pleasant voyage, al
most convinced that before us were
only the ordinary vicissitudes of the
sea. It was not until the men left the
table that I was reminded of our pris
oner in the nearby stateroom.
“Mr. Bnscom seldom takes any
breakfast?” 1 said to Dade, who was
polishing tlie stair rail.
“No, sir; I have orders to take him
a cup of coffee at nine o’clock.”
“And how about McCann?”
“The gentleman in number six, sir?
He’s locked In, and I haven't the key."
“That’s true; I’d forgotten. I'll look
In on the man; and you get his break
fast ready to serve.”
I unlocked and opened the door.
McCann wus seated on the edge of his
hunk facing me, and, it was plainly
evident at first view that he was in no
pleasant humor.
“McCann,” I said, ns he failed to
■peak, “let’s have an understanding.
It is no desire of mine to hold you a
prisoner here for the next month. I'll
accept your pledge not to interfere
with the working of this vessel.”
“On what other terms?”
“That you stop holding communica
tions with the crew, and consider your
self a passenger until the end of the
voyage. Give me your word to that,
and you may have the freedom of this
cabin, and the after deck.”
“What is the voyage?”
“To Hamburg.”
He laughed, and there was an ugly
sound to it.
“Pshaw, do you think you ever will
get there?” • asked, glaring at me.
hut making no effort to rise*. “Are you
fool enough, llollls, to Imagine that the
Hngllsh tleet will ever |>ermjt this ship
to pass through the Channel? Why.
your whole darn cargo, they toll me,
is contraband.”
“Who tells you?” '
“Never mind who. It's the truth,
isn’t it?”
“Vos, you might as well know-»
mostly munitions of war, but contract
ed for months before war was de
clared. However, that's nothing to do
j with your status on board. It is noth
ing to you, is it, who gets the cargo, or
where it is finally landed?”
“It is something to me whether I'm j
safe in New York, or rotting iri an Kng
lish, or French prison,” lie said sullen
ly. “Resides, that's not all. I’ve got
a deal on there that means more than
it million dollars! I can't afford to ■
drift about here on this rotten tramp.” 1
‘‘The saving of this boat and cargo i
means more to Bascom than your mil- !
lion dollar trade does to you.”
“What’s Roseola's affairs to mo?” he j
sneered, “lie took his chances, didn't
he? Von seem to think I owe the man
something. I suppose lie told you, or
else the girl did, that 1 crippled him
for life. Well, he deserved all he got. !
I pay my debts, let me jell you, and
I've got some against you to lie settled
yet. Don’t preach Philip Rascom to
me. It's not for his sake you ary hang
ing on here, and trying to get this ship
to Hamburg. I'm not so blind as all I
that.”
“What do you mean?"
“Mean! Why that is Carrington's
girl, isn't it, you and I pulled out of
the yacht? Ford. J knew her when
the first streak of daylight came, and
I saw your little game, too. There's
money enough coming to her to make
this n mighty profitable voyage if you
can land her in your net before she
gets ashore again. By Hod! I might
have done it myself if I hadn't gone
crazy in the boat. Now all the part
there is left me to play is the vil
lain.”
1 di<l not move, or take my eyes front
him, ami slowly the grin on his face
seemed to smooth out, as his sense of
humor departed.
“Well,” he snarled, “isn’t that about
the way of it?”
“If the picture satisfies yon, Sir. j
McCann.” I said, “you are perfectly
welcome to it. You've said enough to
cause me to withdraw m.v offer of
parole. I will accept no pledge you
may make.”
“You intend holding me a prisoner
ns long ns I am aboard?”
"You have left me no other choice.'
lie got to his feet angrily. “Wt II new
see here, Hollis. I'm flam u jf 1 h
any use for you. or any of your outfit
1 wouldn't give you my word even i
you agreed to accept it. You arc going
o discover before you are through w ith
me that Fergus McCann is not quite us
big a fool as you take him to be. 1’U
give you («lds that you never take tills
ship to Hamburg; I'll give you odds
vou never get the girl ; yes. d-you!
I’ll make the same proposition, that I
you'll never hold me prisoner twenty
four hours. Are you sport enough to
take me?”
I glanced across my shoulder, only to j
see reflected in a mirror, Vera Carring- j
ton, standing in the half-opened door j
of her stateroom, as though suddenly j
arrested by the sound of our voices.
No one else was visible in the cabin.
“Dude?”
“Aye, n.ve, * sir,” his voice coining |
from out the forward passage.
“Bring Mr. McCann’s breakfast, if J
it is ready.”
“Yes, sir; all ready, sir.”
He came forward with it on a tray,
and I stepped aside to permit him to
puss through the door, carefully keep
„
“Is That All, Sir?"
lug my back turned toward the mo
tionless girt, and my eyes fastened on
McCann.
"Leave the tray there on the stool,
Dade—yes, thut's ull; you may go back
to your work.”
He backed out, but stood hesitating,
while 1 closed and locked the door,
dropping the key into my pocket.
"Is—is that ull, sir?” he asked ner
youslr. — - - -*
"I (old you it was. When I want
1 those dishes removed. I'll come down,
j and unlock the door for you. No one
not even you—are to '■peak with the
prisoner.”
• Yes, sir.”
‘•Now go forward, about your work."
1 watched until ho vanished in the
passage, not altogether satisfied. The
fellow had inert outwardly respectful
enough, hut there was something in
definite about his manner which
t: mused my doubt. I turned, and con
front'd tlie young woman, wondering
vaguely how long she had been there,
and how much of our conversation she
had overheard.
CHAPTER XV.
The Measure of Danger.
We were alone, and ns our eyes met,
she advanced toward me across the
deck, her hand extended.
“I was only there for a moment, Cap
tain Hollis,” she explained Quietly, as
though in answer to the silent inquiry
i'f my face. ‘‘I was going on deck for
a breath of air, and when I opened the
door heard my own name spoken. Quite
naturally 1 listened.”
“Which you had every right to do.
I endeavored to get from McCann a
pledge not to interfere with the dis
cipline of the ship, and offered him the
freedom of the cabin and after deck, j
if lie would make such a promise.”
“And he refused?”
“Emphatically : lie even accused me j
of unworthy motives—you heard
that?”
She shook her head. “I hardly think
so: I heard him offer odds against
your ever bringing the Indian Chief
into that Herman port, arid—oh, yes,
and something about your not getting
lhe girl—what girl?”
1 smiled, decidedly relieved by the
lack of embarrassment in her manner.
“Have we so many of your sex on
hoard.” I asked, “as to leave that in
anv doubt?”
‘‘IT**— lie referred to me! Why. 1
thought it might lie something which'
had occurred on slum*—in New York.
Whatever was it he said?”
“Why. it seems the fellow guessed i
who you were In the boat—no doubt
had seen you before, and recognized
your face as soon as it was daylight.
Then, however, it was too late for him ■
to disguise his real self as lie had re- !
vcnlod it. Ilis actions had made you
despise him. and turn to me for protec
tion. Naturally the man judges my
motives from liis own standpoint. He
is aware that 1 am not extremely
wealthy—indeed not wealthy at all by
liis standards, and that you are your
father’s daughter. Because I serve
you is. to his mind, proof positive of a
mercenary purpose on my part—that is
all.”
Her eyes widened and there was a
glow of color in her cheeks.
“He—lie insinuated that you sought
to—to win my gratitude for some re
ward?”
“Yes.”
“That my father would pay for your
Kindness to me?”
“Well. Miss Vera.” and I found it
extremely hard to choose words, “his
bought:* were more direct.”
Her face brightened, a sudden gleam
if humor in her eyes.
“Oh, that you wanted to marry me!
Isn’t it too funny! I)o you reully think
he supposes that true?”
“I would not be at all surprised,” I
answered, not altogether pleased at
her reception of this suspicion. “It is
wholly in line with his type. To me,
now, the wealth of your father would
he the greatest barrier between us.”
“There was a* time when you never
know I had a wealthy father, or indeed
any other kind.”
“Was I any the less attentive then?”
I retorted. “I recall almost an entire
night passed on deck in the vague hope
of seeing you.”
She laughed, but flashed her eyes up
into my face.
“Did you, really? I wondered if you
were there. But then that was merely
curiosity."
“The mystery was attractive, I con
fess, but I am not at ail sure there was
not a growing personal Interest also.
You can scarcely conceive the impres
sion you left on me in the moonlight.”
"Please, no compliments. I am so
accustomed to those in New York I
cannot appreciate them any more. You
were going on deck?”
"For a short time; it would seem a
beautiful morning.”
We emerged from the companion to
gether, but she lingered at the rail, as
I clambered up the ladder and greeted
I.eayord aft of the wheel. It was a
broad seaview revealed on every side,
nothing in sight but the crested waves
sweeping to the distant horizon. The
only men I saw were on the forecastle
engaged in clearing up some tackle,
excepting a fellow high up in the main
cross trees, with binoculars at his eyes.
“You keep a good lookout, I see, Mr.
I.eayord,” I said, peering up at the tig
ure outlined against the sky. "Nothing
reported?”
“Not yet, sir, Mr. Olson said it was
all quiet while he was in charge."
He moved over to the starboard rail,
with a glance at the wheelsman, and I
joined him, understanding the move
ment.
“Your purpose is to avoid vessels if
possible, I presume, captain?” he
asked, pointing out across the water
in pretense of admiring the scene.
“The fewer we meet with the pleas
anter our voyage, Mr. Leayord,” quiet
ly. “By the way, your language Is
hardly that of a forecastle hand; seem
ingly it lias chauged over night. ’
Hi- permitted a smile to curve ill:
lips.
"Knvironinent, sir, no doubt. As
bosun, I was a bit careless, but now
tjiat I’ve come aft the speech of a gen
flemnn seems more appropriate. The
fact is 1 had two years at Eton, sir.'*
“Ah, indeed! Well, I’m not sorry
for that. It will make our relations
aft much more congenial. You arc
English born then, I take it?’’
“Yes, sir; a Bristol liiau.’’
“This running of a contraband cargo
to Germany can hardly he r’together
to your liking?”
lie spat over the rail, and drew the
sleeve of his jacket across his lips, as
his eyes met mine.
“ 'Twould he more of a pleasure, 1
admit, captain, to be putting over a
trick for the other side,” he answered,
his fingers nervously gripping the rail,
“but I shipped for this voyage fait
enough, and I always held it a sailor’s
duty to stick to his ship. Once I’m
through with this job, sir, and I’h do
my hearty hit for old England."
“Well said, Mr. Leayord,” and 1
gripped his hand. “So far as I under
stand this row, my sympathies tire all
on your side. I may ns well explain to
you that I have been induced to as
sume command because of the condi
tion in which I found the owner. As
you must know, the man is a helpless
cripple, and his entire fortune Is repre
sented by the cargo in this vessel.”
"He is a friend of the lady’s, sir, I
heard Dade say."
“Yes, they knew each other ashore
when she was a young girl. It was
odd enough for them to have met out
here again, but stranger still is the
fact that this fellow McCant* whom I
have locked up below, shtXild have
been the cause of Bascom's present
condition.”
"You don’t say, sir. ’
“That is the story as Miss Vera Car
rington tells it. There was a shooting
affray in a New_York restaurant, over
some worn,-in. McCann shot him and
bought his wax clear."
“He is rich, then?"
“The fellow has more money than
you and I \vt!l ever see, Mr .< nyord.
He's in the only place now where It
can do him no pood. ’
The mate shook his head doubtfully,
his eyes wandering toward the men at
tlie wheel.
“I wish I was so coeltsure of that,
sir," he said soberly. “There’s some
mighty bad blood forward on this ship,
tind it's my judgment we're not out of
the mess yet by a long w ays. Those
wolves have got. a seeut of McCann's
gold, and they’ll never leave the trail
until they get* it."
“You don’t think they would actually
attempt mutiny?”
“They’re not calling it that, sir. It’s
the cargo aboard, and your determina
tion to la ml it safe at Hamburg, which
is going to make the trouble. Thor£
Is only one Herman in the crew, sir— j
the rest are all English and Swedes, ex
cept a couple of niggers. The Swedes
and niggers will do whatever the oth
ers tell ’em to, an’ the argument for
ward, according to Dade, is, that It'll
be no crime to capture this ship and
run her into an English port. They’re
not ready yet, but tlis devil will break
loose presently, according to my no
tions. Wait until they hear what has
happened to McCann.”
•'Well,” I said deliberately, “we shall
have to meet whatever comes, Mr. I .en
yord. I talked with McCann again this
morning and offered him his freedom
aft If he would promise to keep away
from the crew. He refused to accept
parole, so 1 locked him up again. Do
you suggest any other course?”
“No, sir, I don’t,” he said slowly,
after a pause for thought. “This Miss
Carrington now, by any chance is she
the same lady these two men got to
shooting about?”
“No, she was not Involved In the
quarrel. McCann had never met her
personally until we escaped from the
wreck of the yacht together.”
“She was a passenger, also?"
“She was the owner’s daughter.”
“Then she’s rich, too?”
"Her father is one of New York's
multimillionaires. What difference
does that make, Mr. Leayord?"
“Nothing, much, likely,” he hn
swered, leaning against the rail, his
eyes on the distant bank of cloud,
“only maybe we might play money
against money in this game, with a fatr
chance to win. I reckon gold, no mat
ter where It comes from, would look
good to those devils forward.”
"Scarcely a manly act on our part
to suggest such a thing.”
"Well, I don’t know about that, sir,”
he insisted stubbornly. “1 reckon old
man Carrington would be willing
enough to pay the price, rather than
have his girl left in the hands of those
follows. They'll be no lambs If they
over gel control of tin* ship. Hut may
be you know best, sir.”
I left biin and walked forward to
where I eould look down on the main
deck. As deeply ns I despised the
thought of ever resorting to this last
suggestion made by Lenyord. yet I
could not remain entirely Indifferent
to its possibilities. If matters on board
were. Indeed, as serious as he pictured
them, otir situation was far from pleas
ant. To keep on probably meant a bat
tle to preserve the ship, and Involved
not only our own rough handling, even
possible death In the melee, but also
unspeakable horror to the woman left
alone, and unprotected, ou board. VVbat
would be her fate If we failed to up
hold discipline, and those unbridled
ruffians once obtained control of the
vessel? The thought staggered tue.
Yet I could reach no other conclu
sion except to continue the voyage,
meeting Its problems as they present
ed themselves. There was no turning
back now. All hope lay In keeping Mc
Cann prisoner, entirely isolated from
bis confederates, and dealing with the
men forward with a harsh llrmness
sufficient to strike terror Into their
souls. The slightest movement of re
volt on their part must be my signal
for action.
The day held fair, with a stiff breeze
blowing over the port quarter, and the
expanse of sea about us vacant of
either sail or smoke. As noon ap
proached 1 bad Dade fetch the sextant!
from the captain's stateroom, and took
my observation with considerable
care, going below to work out my flg
ures alone, ns the many years passed
ashore had left me a bit doubtful of my
facility. No one appeared to take any
deep Interest In the event, although l
noted a group of men forward watch
ing as I disappeared.
With nothing to guide me. or checki
my figures with on the chart, I went
over them twice to be assured of ac
curacy, finally marking our position
as carefully ns possible, and d-termln
ing our future course. Lenyord had
just been called for his watch, and
both officers were upon the after deck,
waiting for my appearance. They re
mained silent as 1 approached, ami, as
I turned and faced forward, my eyes
observed a largely increased grouping
of men about the forecastle, and all
staring aft.
‘•Are both watches on deck, Mr. I.eu-l
ynrd?" I asked. “Has there been any!
call for all hau4s?”
“No, sir,” he answered, his owu gaze
sidling. “It's the chauge of watch,
and the second mate’s men haven't
gone below yet. Maybe the cook Is
slow, or else they are a bit curious to
find out where the ship is, sir. Would
you mind giving ihem the figures?”
(Continued Next Week.)
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