"CDATDAftAND'
A Romance of ihe Aorih Atlantic
SYNOPSIS.
CHAPTER I—Robert Hollis, one-Mme
eea captain, who tells the atory, Is a
guest on Gerald Carrington’s yacht, Es
meralda. It Is supposed to be a "stag''
party and Hollis is surprised on discover
ing a woman, who evidently wishes to re
Stairr unknown, aboard.
CHAPTER II—Hollis, the next night,
succeeds in having an interview with the
woman. She merely tells him her name
is Vera.
"1 slept so soundly ns to be the Inst
guest at the breakfast table the next
morning, although as I sat there alone
Fostllck returned from the deck to the
cabin, seeking a raincoat, and report
ing a heavy fog, through which the
yacht was proceeding slowly. The ves
sel was still within easy view of Mon
tuuk, or had been before the mist shut
down, but the really important news
had come to Carrington by wireless—
positive Information of the outbreak
of war. Russia and France were pit
ted against Germany and Austria in
the death grapple. The German troops
had already begun an invasion of Bel
gium on their drive toward Paris. It
was still unknown what course Eng
land would take.
The nature of this news obscured all
else, and left me unable to complete
my meal. Other messages were mo
mentarily expected, and I dressed has
tily, and Joined the little group on the
deck, just as a cabin boy handed Car
rington a new message. Ho read It.
crashing his clenched hand down on
the rail.
“It's all over with now," he ex
claimed, holding the paper aloft, and
gazing about Into our eager faces.
“England declares war, gentlemen. She
will stand by her treaty with Belgium.
Here Is our opportunity; listen to me.
This Is going to be the greatest war
In history; every nation In Europe may
be Involved before it Is ended. Ho you
realize the commodity most in de
mand? the one metal those armies can
not get along without? It is copper.
They must have it, and they must buy
It of us. This morning, ns soon ns 1
received that first dispatch. I wired my
agents to buy, buy. Now. with Eng
land In, the result is certain."
He paused, and studied the faces in
the group.
“Gentlemen, there Is wealth enough
here on this yacht to control the entire
copper output, If we work swiftly. The
profit will be enormous. I have the
campaign all mapped out; I know
where to buy, and my agents are ready
to execute my orders. I am going to
say to you frankly that I had the
thought In mind when I first organized
this cruise. I believed this crisis was
approaching, and prepared for it. By |
wireless we can operate surely and se
cretly, with no possible fear of be
trayal. The only question Is. are you
ready to back me up?"
The expression on the faces of those
gathered about him reflected the va- J
rled character of the men. They were .
alike startled by the unexpected turn j
of affairs, yet financial greed evidently
predominated. Even the one German |
in the group had seemingly forgotten j
Ills nationality In view of the golden j
halt dangling so temptingly before his
eyes. Foadlok, actuated bj' his lawyot .
Instincts, and still cool and calculating. ;
was first to question the proposition, i
“You are perfectly assured of being j
able to control the market?” Fosdlck :
asked.
»I ul.An.1ir i.r.i/'tii-llll v control." rc
turned Carrington confidently. 44\\ itli
a little wore capita! the game is cer
tain, In twelve hours, genfjpmon, "'e
can hflve the copper situation entirely
in our bands. Here are my holdings
individually, I need your help to
close the deal,"
They bent over the papers, eager to
grasp the truth, but abundantly satis
fled with a quick glance at the magic
figures. It was evidently enough a
master Stroke, a business deal easy to
comprehend, and nil that remained for
theta to do was to taka tlMdr protits.
"You—you return Immediately to
New York?" questioned Met Jump, his
lips trembling.
“Certainly not! our game at present
Is to keep out of sight; penult no one
to discover who is behind the move
ment. Your personal checks wli) sat
Isfy me. I propose holding the yacht,
say a hundred miles from shore, and
conducting the entire business by wire
less. That makes It safe and sure,”
The group of flounders stared at
each other, one waiting for the next
io voice decision. Fnstjiek, ;|s usual,
look the initiative,
‘Tin heartily wilfi yon, Carrington,"
he said frankly, "you can count on my
check for u hundred thousand dollars
right now.”
i "And I," "and I," echoed from lip t#
lip.
Carrington, smiling pleasantly,
turned toward me.
"And how,about you, Hollis? Com
ing in with us? We ought to have one
Chicago representative, you know.”
I shook my hand, doubting my abil
ity to produce the amount required off
hand.
“Not today; give me a few hours to
UdnU It over. I should like to talk
ulth you privately flrst.”
"All right; we shall have enough
wlUjout you, but I'll hold the cliauce
open until you do decide. Lei's ad
journ to the cabin, gentlemen, where
you can draw your checks while the
steward opens a few bottles. This Is
an occasion to he celebrated?’
We were upon our feet, not unwilling
to escape from the raw air, when the
voice of the lookout sounded muffled,
hut distinct, far forward.
“Sail ho!”
“Where away?” echoed the bridge.
"Off the starboard bow, sir—a big
one.”
We gathered at the rail staring out
blankly Into the smother. Then sud
denly the mist seemed to roll asunder
as though cut by a knife, and there
in the rift, as If the fog were a frame,
appeared one of the finest sen pictures
I ever remember seeing. A huge Iron
warship, her funnels belching smoke
at full speed, the white spray rueing
along her sides, swept into view. We
had a glimpse of the ' lack muzzles of
guns protruding from forwnrd and
after turrets, of groups of sailors on
deck, and in the fighting tops; a white
clad officer leaned over the bridge rail.
There was no flag, nor did we need one
to know for what she stood. Carring
ton pointed out into the blank mist.
"There goes one of your bulldogs
now,” lie said. "That fellow has his
orders already. In five hours more not
a Herman liner will dare leave New
York.”
CHAPTER IV.
The Wreck of the Esmeralda.
We passed the greater j,»rt uf the
day below, and long before night enrne,
n heavy, sweeping rain set in and kept
us there. 1 never recalled n more blind
ing, disagreeable storm at this season
of the year, and In those waters, al
though there was very little wind or
sen accompanying it. The smother,
however, mude it safer to proceed at
half-speed, ami the lookouts forward
were doubled.
It seemed a long evening, ns I was
in no spirit for onrds, ami discussion
was altogether about the war, and
the projected copper pool. Carrington
received several messages in further
proof that the affair was already well
under way, but he made no other at
tempt to arouse my Interest. By ten
thirty I had retired to my stateroom.
Yet even there, and when partly dis
robed. a temptation to explore the
decks again assailed me. I unscrewed
(lie port and glanced out, the cold rain
driving hard against my face. Nothing
could be seen; I stared into an impen
etrable black wall. There was evi
dently nothing to do hut remain where
I Mas. and I closed the port and lay
down in the berth.
1 do not know what aroused me. hut
J sat up suddenly, wide awake, a
strange, (ll-deflned fear clutching al
my heart. W hat was U 1 had heard!
a cry? a blow ou the deck above? Had
I really heard anything, nr was il
merely the echo of hi dream? The
stateroom was dark no fire-bus, huf J
I yvas Flung Headlon§ Aaains| th«
P»rF'tjon:
got my feet ovcf the edge of the berth,
•tiid switched on the electric light.
Even ns I stood thus, ray hand still on
the switch, someone ran swiftly across
the deck directly overhead, and a voice
wavered out;
‘Tort, sir! Hard a port—my God 1"
There was a startling crush forward,
he awful sound of crushing Iron and
•idiittamJ timbers, l was thing head
long against the partition, barely sav
ing myself by outstretched hands, hut
falling bruised and helpless to the
.leek. The electric flashed out instant
ly, but n dull gleam from without
streamed through the glass of the port^
tl was a ghastly grpep light, and l
recognized 11 at WHPP as the port lan
tern nf the ship which laid rammed us.
Itefore 1 could get to my feet even, still
dazed and trembling from the shock,
the ghostly green radiance began to re
cede. Huge look, the place of fear—
the dirty murderer wus backing off!
was leuylng tip to «‘nui » ou
wny across the stateroom, seeking to
gain view without, but could pereelv«
little. The glass was dimmed with
moisture, and through it I could see
merely the circle of green light reveal
ing the outline of a high bow. No
other gleam was visible, but above me
a man cursed hoarsely, and then
screamed out some order, which I
could not distinguish.
All this was the work of an instant.
What bad occurred was ns clear to my
mind ns though I had actually wit
nessed the scene from the deck above.
A great steel steamer, a tramp, no
doubt, from its darkened decks, had
plunged out of the blackness, and
rammed iter how straight into us. The
contact must have been well forward,
near the bridge. We were going down
by the head; already 1 could perceive
the list, the deck underfoot was tilt
ing; the engines bad ceased to throb,
as though the inflow of water had
reached the boilers. Feet scrambled
along the (lack, overhead voices yelled,
and I could hear the creaking of bout
tackle.
Working desperately in the dark,
scarcely aide now to keep feet on the
slanting planks, I hastily drew on what
bits of clothing I could find at hand,
and felt my way blindly to the door.
It was jammed, but I kicked it open,
and stumbled forth into the main cab
in, clinging to the door frame in order
to retain my feet. The stnteroom
doors stood wide open, hut no living
being was visible. All who survived
that first shock must have fled to the
deck in mad struggle to escape. Ay,
and there was desperate need for me
to Join them. The Esmeralda was go
ing down; already her forward hold
was filled with water, the bulkheads
alone keeping her afloat; once they
gave way, she would sink like a stone.
I crossed the cabin on hunds and
knees, elnwing my way desperately
through the litter until I attained the
stairs. These no longer led up, but
forward. Beyond was utter blackness,
silence; and through the shuttered door
drops of rain splashed.
It was not until I had made my way
to file outer deck, and felt the night air
and rain on my face, that I truly awoke
to tlic danger. The tilt of the yacht
forward was so sharp, I dare not re
lease my grasp of the rail. I could
scarcely see anything; not a light
burned, not even a distant star glim
mered ; the driving rain blinded me,
and soaked through my slxirt to the
skin.
I scnrcely dareu move, for to release
my grip was to slide down Into the
black water. Into the riffle of spars
and ropes forward. It was all horror
and death that way, but from aft. un
der the awning, a sound of excited
voices reached my enrs, and the rasp
of boat tackle. Xo doubt ull on board
who lived, were there, seeking to
escape. They had sprung for the open
deck at the first alarm, not even wait
ing to dress, and, If I would join them,
there was not an instant to lose. The
after bulkhead could not hold long;
nny moment, any unusual roll qf the
sea, would reud It asunder, and the
ICsmcralda would sink, Life hung on
seconds; nor would those frtghteued
wretches wait to learn the fute of uny
others on board.
flinging to every projection of the
cabin, I attained the port rail, but
even as I attempted the first step, a
voice called to me from out the bb\fk
; lepths below, and 1 lippg there, star
! ini? behind ntp, upuWv iu perceive «
thing, excepting a Utter of taugled
j wreckage.
“Don't leave me! Give me a baud."
•'Who are youY'
“McCftliUi you are Hollis, ain’t you?”
“Yes; are you hurt?”
“Xo; bruised a bit, no doubt; my
: foot Is caught under a spar.”
“Alone?”
“The second mate fell With luei he'a
Iqwn below—dead, l guess*."
ft was nu small Job getting to him,
using the slippery rail for a ludder,
! und I was knee deep in water when
l finally found foothold iu the riffle,
I und rolled the spar off the imprisoned
i limb. lie was lying flat on the dCeio
j his head barely free of the waves, hut
! was able to pplH'41 tft« nearest stOH
i "hiop and haul himself up to the i*ro
| teetion of th« rati. HI* twee was hut
I a blurred outline, although I Could
perceive the glimmer of a white shirt.
I staved beyoud him into the black
i silence.
“You say Seeley Is down there?”
"I fell on top of him,” the words
scarcely audible, “ffp was trying to
I get lflfo thh fitthin, W heu he lost his
| 4 i,4,.o to catch him, and he took
me along. Say,” he was breathing
hard, “do you know if there wus a girl
1 un board?”
j "Yes, there Is. I pipf hW- Wight he*
fore last on depfc. fm! #pe|ey toll you
iwhvrp she was hidden?"
i ‘‘In a storeroom, next to the stew
itfd's pautry; he said the door was
| locked.”
Desperate us our own situation was,
ull thought of personal danger h'ft
me In a sudden ?pn!!%nMow of the awful
horror fronting her. almost under our
i vary feef. 1 gripped McCann by the
1 arm,
! “We must get her out of there," I
cried, “Come on with me.”
“Where? Down—down there?”
“Yes, of course, you are a man, I
take It. The lantern is still burning,
and we have a chance. Come r.ow,
wake up, McCann—we are American*,
and It Is women first, you know,"
If he wra§ ft upward, he had no wish
to let »t be known, although the sud
denness of disaster had broken his
nerve, The words spoken, the tone of
my voice, touched Ills pride, his reul
manhood.
I “Ah. you're right, Hollis," he said
heartily, and the grip of his liana
tightened. “I’m no seaman; I hate the
seat but no one ever culled a McCann
a quitter. Til go as far n.s you. and
we’ll got that girl out, or drown to
gether."
I was climbing the rail before he fin
ished, reckless of all else except the
task confronting us. The face of the
girl whose hand I had held in mine
under the light of the stars, seemed to
rise before tm\ her eyes pleading for
help. The vision urged me forward.
I know not what strength or skill en
abled me to swing from the rail and
grip the cabin front, btit 1 bung there
with one hand, my feet finding slight
support on the slippery slope of the
deck, and reaching back, gave McCann
support, while he also made desperate
passage to the safety of the compan
ion. An instant later I was beside him,
and we crept together down the in
verted stairs.
The frightfulness of our position be
came more evident as we advanced.
The dead bodies, the smashed furni
ture, the horrid swaying of the hulk
beneath us, suspended, we had to use
the forward wall as a floor, crawling
through the Utter, made us feel that
death must end the adventure.
There was a hook la the deck below—
for what purpose It hud been placed
there f do not know—but it gave me
foothold, enabling me to kneel.
"Here, McCann, climb to my shoul
ders," I ordered, "and take down the
lantern. Quick now; I’ll hold you all
right.”
Ills face \ina ghastly, and he obeyed
as, though he moved in his sleep. Ev
ery muscle In me felt the strain, but
I held him, straightening out my body,
and balancing myself, until his uplift
j ed hands gripped the light.
"Have you got it?’’
“Ye*! iot me down slowly.”
I "AH right; lpM'g on to it fur your
life—now.”
M.? arms gave under the strain, and
a sudden surge of the sodden wreck,
but he held to an eud of the overturned
piano, the light still burning feebly,
threatening every instant to flicker
out, I caught and steadied It, turning
up the wick, and casting the faint
glimmer along the passage leading to
the steward’s pantry.
I slipped down, gripping the lantern,
the dim, smoky glow of which made
the pussage visible. The pantry door
stood open ; Indeed, I doubt If it hud
a door, but everything else was closed.
McCann was Just above me, and I sung
out^to him to hold fast; then, the lan
tern wire gripped in, my teeth, I iow
, ered myself the full length of my arms.
This brought the water to my knees,
wldle the lodged chairs were a foot or
two below. As I hung there, dreading
the plunge, my eyes were directed op
posite the pantry, and the gleam of the
lantern glittered ou the blade of a
hatchet just Inside the door. Never
was u tool more welcome.
“Hold tight above there,” I managed
to ejaculate through closed lips.
“What are you going to do?'r r
"Swing In toward the door 'on the
right—there is a hatchet lylnjy there."
With feet braced against the oppo
site wall, I forced my way across, mak
ing three efforts before my Angers:
Anally gripped the hatyhet handle..
Clinging with one lining I thrust the
tool into my belt, fully prepared now
to let go.
CHAPTER'V. J
ry — ' /
The Rescue, of Vera.
“Take this lantern. McCann," E
called, and held it up to him, “I'll need
both my hands free. Hold it ns low ns
possible. Now, here goes !’
I did not pray audibly, but a prayer*
was in my heart, as I released my grip
on the rug and took the plunge. Th«y
first chair crumpled beneath mjr
weight, but by good luck the second
held just long enough to enable me to
grip the latch of the door and cling'
tight. The slant of the deck gave one
groping foot precarious purchase on.
the threshold, although water swept,
nearly to my waist, and for a moment
I tottered there, helpless to do more
than merely sustain my position. The
noise made by this struggle must have
been heard within, for I became aware
of water splashing, and a fist pounded
the door.
“Help! that you, Mr. Seeley?"
“No,” I answered, nerved to new
effort by The sound of her voice, and
the knowledge that I had indeed locnt
cd the right spot, and fouud her still
ativ©. “This is Hollis. Is the door
locked,?”
“Yjes, Mr. Seeley has the key y you
must be quick—the water is o’yeady
n>ove my waist.”
“No time for keys, then,” I said.
“Stand back until I cut a way In.
Throw your light down, McC ann—-ay,,
that’s better!”
The lateh of the door was forwatrd;
I could cling to it. and have- my r ight
hand free with which to wield 'the
hatchet, keeping both feet wedged*'on
the threshold. The light \ras the 'mer
est glimmer, yet sufficient to reweal
the paneling of the door, and I lia-dced
nt this fiercely, exerting tile jfull
strength of my arm. A doz'rc blows
splintered the upper panel, an<3 then
I sent the keen blad^r crashing down
ward, gouging out great chunks and
splinters until a j:/gged passage had
been made, sufficiently large for tlse
passage of a loiYv. The water wad
deeper in the ea'.iin than in ihe opeiv
ing, drenching me nearly to the arm
pits. McCann Called in w: truing, his
voice cracked with a terror he could
no longer control.
“Wait; I'll he there In aj minute!” 1
shouted back, r.xy only fea.r lest he de
sert us. The bulkhead si Ml held; this
torrent was water which had found
other entrances; no <b aibt It would
eventually Increase In vijlun-.s and sink
tin* vessel, yet Ihere \ fas still Rmple
time bu rns to escape. There would ha
| __
no sudden plunge white that bulkhead
j “Arc you nil right. Miss Vera?" 1
asked anxiously. “Where are you?
Can you see me?”
“Yes; I an* clinging to the berth.''
Her voice was excited but clear. “Th<
water Is up to my shoulders. Is the
opening sufficient?"
"For you, I thtnk, If you can make tt
alone, i should have to knock owf
another panel to get through myself.'*
"There Is no time for that, and no
need. I'm coming now ; watch out."
Our two bodies so obscured the faint
glow of the lantern dangling from Mc
Cann's hand above that I could ace
nothing, yet I maiinged to grapple her
arm. and thus assist In dragging her
into the jagged opening. The water,
surging to the -sodden roll of the
doomed yacht, and now dammed by her
body, poured over us both in suffocat
ing volume, but tt«e struggle was only
for a moment, and then I had the girl
safely clasped in my arms, her head
elevnted well above the receding flood.
“Now, grasp the rug,” I ordered, as
I thrust her light form upward. “It
will help you creep up the slope of the
deck. Creep on hack, McCann, with
the lantern; never mind me—I’ll find
a way out."
She possessed sufficient nerve and
strength for the elffort. There was no
hesitancy, no word of protest. Silent
ly, Inch by Inch, she fought her way
' aft, her feet slipping on the wet plauks,
but her fingers gripping desperately
at the sustaining cloth. I could see
only the outline of her revealed against
the gleam of the lantern, ns McCann
clambered upward In advance. I could
hear the groaning of the bulkhead to
the strain, and realized that the lim
bers could not long hold against the
immense weight. Suddeuly the fear
had come into my heart; not until then
had I paused to think—effort had ob
scured all conception of danger; but
waiting'there In that black hell, the
creaking of timbers lu my ears, the wa
ter elulchlng my throat, the full hor
ror of It overwhelmed me with sudden
terror. My God! Surely we could not
have accomplished all this, and still be
doomed to die like rats In a hole. At
least we must reach the open deck, and
| have a chance to fight for life under
the stars.
iCouunued Next Week.)
Troublesome Gentleman (to solicit
or, .after long rigmarole)—That, Mr.
Jones', is the Genesis of the whole
mxtttv.
Solicitor (opening the door)—And
i this, my dear sir, is the Exodus.—The
I Toiler.
* —
Appropriate Need.
I "I want n backer for my new air
' ship invention."
i "Naturally, a flying scheme would
1 be all the better for an angel.”
The 8equel.
I
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