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SYNOPSIS.
CHAPTER I—Robert Hollis, one-lime
*ea captain, who tells the story, is a
guest on Gerald Carrington's yacht, Ks
jneralda. It Is supposed to be a ''stag''
party and Hollis is surprised on discover
ing a woman, who evidently wishes to re
snain unknown, aboard.
CHAPTKR II—Hollis, the next night,
eucceeds In having an Interview with the
woman. She merely tells him her name
is Vera.
CHAPTKR III—Carrington tells his
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—Hollis and McCann res
cue Vera and leuve the ship In a small
boat.
t HAFTER VI Hollis and Vera become
friendly, though he Is unaware of her
Identity.
CHAPTER VII— McCann refuses to sub
mit to Hollis' authority, and the latter
enforces It.
CHAPTER VIII—The castaways are
sighted by a ship, the Indian Chief, which
takes them aboard.
CHAPTER IX—The Indian Chief has
recently been struck by lightning and Is
almost a wreck. All the officers are dead. |
Hollis meets the owner, who tells him ,
the vessel has a cargo of ammunition, !
consigned to the German government.
CHAPTER X—Hollis consents to take
charge of ship and continue voyage Vera
recognizes an old friend In Robert
Bascom, owner of the Indian Chief.
Bascom and McCann are deadly ene
mies.
i riAr TER XT—Idspat is faction among
the crew quietly develops, and Hollis
selects hiH officers.
CHAPTER XII—McCnnn wnnts to retu
to New York, and tries to corrupt crew.
CHAPTER XIII Hollis finds himself
forced to confine McCann to a cabin.
CHAPTER XIV-Ver and Hollis agree
that for Bascotn's sake the ship must be
taken to Its destination. Hollis learns that
Vara Is Gerald Carrington's daughter. I
'CHAPTER XV-The crew, realising
danger of capture by allied warships,
evince disinclination to continue voyage.
CHAPTER XVI—Traders of the crew
its arm Hollis and make him a prisoner.
*'I do; and I know more of up a law
than any of those fools who are steer
ing you into this trouble. You kill
CHAPTER XVTI-In a fight with the
■Wutineers Hollis is badly hurt. On recover
"fng consciousness he realizes that he must
submit, though, being the only navigator
on board, he Is in position to make terms
with McCann. He is made a prisoner.
CHAPTER XVITT—Vera pretends to
agree to M -Cann's plans, to Hollis' won
der.
_ . - - - • - -
CHAPTER XIX.
A French Man-of-War.
No food was brought me during the
afternoon, nor had I eaten nil day, yet
my mental state was such I had no
consciousness of hunger. I hud dis- ;
covered no means of creating a light,
although my eyes were sufficiently ac
customed to dimness to enn'do me to
move about my narrow quai\.rs safely
enough.
It must hnve been between eight and
nine o’clock when the key turned In
the lock of my door, and Liverpool
looked In. The light from the swing
ing lamp in the main cabin flared Into
my eyes, blinding me, yet I recognized
his face, and saw Dade close behind
him, bearing a tray. Neither of them
spoke, but Red, having assured him
self of my presence, stood aside, and
motioned the steward to enter. Tile
latter deposited the laden tray on tiff
desk, and backed out silently, every
movement showing him thoroughly
cowed by his guardian. Realizing tlwt
any word from me wpuld only result in
Insult, I remained silent, and the two
disappeared, closing and locking the
door behind them. I confess I ate the
food with relish, for it was well cooked,
and served with some daintiness. After
a second cup of coffee I felt much
more like myself, rummaging through
the captuin’s chest until I found some
tobacco and u pipe, which I at once
appropriated to my own use. No one
returned for the emptied dishes, and I
sat for a long while at t ie open port
smoking, the blue spiral swept away
by the rush of ulr, aud my eyes on
the starlit waters.
I had been sailor long enough to ac
cept the ordinary perils of the sea as
part of the profession. Nothing was
, too strange to be true at sea ; aud so It
was not the position In which I found
myself; not the possible fate of the In
dian Chief, or of her captured officers,
which weighed most upon my mind—It
was Vera Carrington. If those villains
scuttled the ship; If they took to the
boats to suve themselves, leaving us
to drown like rats, what would they do
with the girl? Would McCann dare to
tuke her with him? Would he venture
leaving her alive to beur witness to
his crime? There was hut one an
swer—not unless she was utterly In his
power. Kiliter he must 'quiet her by
force, and thus bring her spirit to his
will, or else compel her to mnrry him,
and so legally seal her Ups. And the
man was perfectly capable of taking
either course — whichever seemed
easier.
This was the consideration which
served partially to arouse me from
coinn. 1 could not continue to sit there
waiting for Kate to approach; better
far to go forth und meet It In manly
fashion. I had a good strong knife
in my pocket, und the lock of the door
common one, the wyytl suriouud
inp it soft pine. There was nothing in
that obstacle to prevent my escape, and
If I was discovered at large, my pun
ishment would merely be confinement
elsewhere. I had therefore nothing to
lose, but everything to gain by the ex
periment. The hour was lute, the nigh1
had thus far been a quiet one, and it
whs quite probable the fellow, com
The Black Outline of the French War
ship Was Plainly Visible.
fortably situated, was drowsing at In
task. Anyhow, I would make tilth
noise, arid fhe chance was worth tak
lng.
The labor proved easier than I had
supposed. The soft pine yh iiled easily
to the sharp blade, and a very few mo
ments sufficed to cut the lock clear,
enabling me to open the door silently
and take cautious survey of the main
cabin. At first I doubted the presence
of anyone, and had, indeed, ventured
forth before perceiving the form of it
man outstretched on the divan sur
rounding the butt of the mizzenmast.
The fellow was asleep, yet restless
enough to be dangerous. His face was
in shadow, and 1 thought it best not
to venture close enough to identify
him, although the dim light revealed
a belt about his waist, and the bulging
butt of a revolver. Convinced that my
only hope of accomplishment lay in
the discovery and release of my fel
low prisoners, I crept across the de
serted cabin, and entered the passage
leading forward. Somewhere amid
ships these were surely confined. But
I was not destined to discover where.
I had taken scarcely a stop when the
companion door opened, and a man
started down the stairs. Crouched in
tiie darkness, I saw the sleeping guard,
aroused by the noise, spring upright,
and ns the light fell on ills face, I rec
ognized a seaman named Dubois. Tin*
man on the stairs paused, gripping tlie
rail, staring down as though momen- 1
tarily blinded by the light.
"Is that you, Dubois?" lie asked in
the harsh croak belonging to Jim
White.
“D- you—you was asleep.”
"I lny hack to rest, but I was not :
asleep, monsieur—non, non.”
“Well, we won’t fight over that now. |
You’re the only Frenchman on hoard, j
and we want you on deck. Go on up; j
I’ll stay here. Aye, man, yer better I
leave the gun.”
"Vat ees it, Monsieur White? Why
they want me on deck?”
"What's the difference, you frog- j
eater? But I'll tell yer anyhow. There j
Is a cruiser showing up off our port
quarter, which has caught sight o' us.
She looks Frenchy, and if there is a
hail, it will be up to you to answer—
you are the only one aboard this
hooker who talks the lingo like a na
tive, see!”
Duliois stood staring, his lips parted
in sudden terror.
"A French w arsheep; eet hail us?”
“Not yet; but they are bound to
question us, all right. There! did you
hear that? A shot across our bows,
politely asking us to heave to; aye!
and we are slowing down; come, hurry
up on deck with you, Frenehy.”
"But—but, monsieur, what ees it I
can say? I know not ze words, ze—
ze explanation.”
“You speak French, don’t you?”
“Oui, monsieur, oui, but—butjl know
not what to speak.”
"Well, don’t let that worry you. Mc
Cann will tell you—but God pity you,
Dubois, if you fail to repeat it. Up
with you now, and be lively about it!"
All thought of my former purpose
; vanished from my mind as I realized
1 this new chance of rescue. At any risk
I must attain quickly to the open deck,
i where I could create an alarm sutli
cient to awaken suspicion on board the
approaching Frenchman. McCann’s
only hope of escape lay in some satis
factory explanation, which would lull
the suspicions of the French com
mander—-some lie smooSi enough to
' prevent boarding and search.
Assured that White was beyond ob
servation of any of my movements, I
crept cautiously around the stuir rail,
aud noiselessly mounted the steps. I
fouui Ul*-‘ uff''r fiart of ‘.he main deck
deserted. although forward of tlit*
mainmast I could perceive dark
blotches along the port rail, where
members of the watching party were
observing the approach of the French
cruiser. With heart healing like a trip
hammer. I made my way along the
front of the cabin, until 1 ventm -d to
peer over the port rail, secure that my
presence on deck was screened by the
deep shadows in which 1 lurked.
The gleam of the stars alone re
vealed the glittering surface of the sea.
but the night was clear of fog, and the
black outlin of tin* French warship
was plainly vi able, approaching us at
half-speed, and silently closing up the
narrowing gap of water between the
(wo vessels. 1 felt the heart come up
into my throat as I grtz<-d spellbound,
very nerve iri me throbbing painfully.
. single voice echoing along those
■cks yonder could blow us out of tin
•'ter. Even ns I stared at the grin i
pectaclo, tiie slim figure of a man ap
peared at Hie end of the bridge, and j
i voice hailed m in French.
“Ahoy there! What ship is that?"
There was a shuflling of feet above
me; then McCann spoke in English; j
“The American freighter Indian j
Chief, hound for Liverpool."
“Is there anyone aboard who speaks
French?” )
1 heard thtm hustle Dubois forward
to the rail, and caught a word or two
of McCann's swift threat hissed into;
Ids ear; then the frightened French -
man stammered out an answer.
“Out, monsieur, je parle Franeais.”
“Then talk up; what slop is that?”)
I could hear McCann prompting, and
Dubois echoing the words put in his
mouth.
“The Indian Chief, Iloston. McCann,
master, from St. Johns to Liverpool,
two days out.”
“With what cargo?”
“Miscellaneous; mostly farm ma
chinery.”
A searchlight swept us fore and aft.
but finally settled on the little group
< f men clustered together on the poop
rail.
“You're north of your course.”
There was an instant of hesitation;
then Dubois’ explanation
“Wo run before the storm last night,
monsieur, having been struck by light
ning.”
“Ah, I see; that accounts for your
stump of a foremast anti the temporary
wheel aft. What shape are your boats
In?”
"Three of them left, monsieur.”
“Send the captain, with the French
man, over with the ship’s papers. Be
lively about It.”
“Oui, monsieur; what is the name
of the warship?”
“The French cruiser Descartes, on
patrol. Get your boat over.”
What would McCann do? Was he
ready for such an emergency as this?
Had he taken the precaution to alter
the ship’s manifest, or even forged a
new one? There was a moment of ex
cited talk on the deck above me; then
McCann descended the starboard lad
der, and disappeared through the com
panion, evidently after the ship’s pa
pers. Liverpool's voice ordering the
watch to lower number five boat, and
stand by, sung out from the poop rail.
McCann emerged from the companion,
called up to I.iverpool, waving bis hand
with a laugh full of confidence, and
went forward. A moment later he was
joined by Dubois, and the two nmn
clambered over tlie rail and dropped
into the lowered boat. Ills actions, his
easy manner, startled me; those must
he carefully forged papers In ids pocket
to enable him to proceed with such con
fidence. Slowly I lifted myself until T
could peer over the side at the dark
expanse of water between the vessels.
The searchlight of the warship rested
in a glare of white on the small boat
bobbing up and down, revealing the
men at the oars, and McCann and Du
bois in the stern sheets. Neither
glanced hack, but T could see their
facc>s clearly, and McCann was smiling
as though at an excellent joke.
CHAPTER XX.
The Cruiser Leaves Us.
T was still clinging to the rail, and
staring down at the light; T heard noth
ing. felt no premonition of alarm, when
suddenly a hand gripped inv throat, the
great fingers stilling every effort to or;
out. Before 1 could resist, or even
hrace myself, another hand was
dapped over my mouth and T was
fairly hurled hack below the shelter of
iho rail, dragged across the black deck,
and thrown through the opened door
of the companion. This was accom
plished so quickly, and with so little
evidence of struggle, as to attract no
notice from the Frenchman, from
whose deck no doubt every eye was
fastened upon the approaching boat.
Half hurled, half dragged. 1 plunged
into the dimly lit cabin, and it was not
until T struck the lower deck that I
even realized clearly what had oc
curred, or who were my assailants. 1
fell sprawling on one shoulder, but wa
ns Instantly on my feet, bruised, but
otherwise uninjured, maddened by a
rage beyond all control. White, emerg
ing from the stateroom, through the
port of whieh he had been viewing th"
I scene alongside, startled by the sudden
uproar, a revolver gripped In his hand,
was the first face T saw.
“What the—” he exclaimed in be
wilderment. but before he could say
i more my fist jammed into bis jaw, and
the fellow went over full length on the
! deek. the gun flying from his opening
; fingers. I had possession of it before
he could stop me, and was backed
against the door of a stateroom oppo
site. murder in my heart as I con
: fronted ‘he two who had flung me from
the top of the steps. I recognized them
now for the first time—Liverpool Red
and Tom Dugan. Rut one thought
seethed In my brain—to kill.
1 “Curse itai toth*" l cried, couarlag
them as tliey shrank hark, “we’ll enrl
this thing right here.”
Red gripped Ragan, holding the
Irishman in front of him as a shield
Mv revolver covered thorn both, my
fingers nervous on the trigger. Sud
denly the door behind me yielded and 1
staggered hack, unable to regain rnv
balance until fairly within the state
room. With a ernsh the door closed,
instantly shutting out the surprised
faces of the two men in the eahin : a
key creaked In the lock, and Vera Car
rington fronted me. her hack against
the wood.
“Were—were they trying to kill
you?” she panted.
"They certainly did their best,” 1
answered, “hut it was my turn when
you dropped me in here."
“You—you mean that I m: ’ ■ a ini-'
take—that yon were in no dan-. ''.-"
“I had tlie upper hand. 1 took thb
revolver away from White, and do not
believe either of the others were armed
Tn another se< ond I should have tired
Our only hope of rescue lies in creating
an alarm; there is a French cruiser
lying ,p:st efT our port quarter.'’
“A French cruiser! We have been
captured?”
“No; merely 1 Ited and questioned.
The Frenchman does not even suspect
anything wrong. 1 was endeavoring
to sound an alarm when these fellows
seized me, and threw me down the
stairs into the cabin.”
“Rut how did you get on deck? And
where did you procure the revolver?”
“I cut mv way out; the gun was
taken from White. Don’t block the way,
Miss Vera! 1 must get to the deck
again, or it will lip too late."
“Is McCann out there?"
“X<>: only Red. and a sailor named
Dugan. White is knocked out, and j
McCann has gone aboard the cruiser, j
He has forged papers with him. Let
me go: T can fight tn.v way through :
with this gun. Those devils will either
make way or get hurt.’’
She stepped aside, and with no
other thought but the necessity for
action. I turned the key in the lock
and flung the door open. The main
deck was deserted; to my surprise,
all three of the men had disappeared.
With revolver gripped in one hand. I
stepped forward, searching with suspi- I
clous eyes every dark corner, dimly
conscious that the girl followed. I had
attained the foot of the stairs, even i
advanced a step upward, before my j
progress was arrested. Suddenly the j
companion door was flung open and a j
mob of men confronted me, surging J
in through the narrow spaee from the
deck. I drew instantly hack, stunned j
by sight of McCann in their lead, real
izing Instantly that our effort to at
tain the open was already too late.
“There he is!” he cried eagerly. “Get.
him, you men. Lively now; there’s no
danger; if he lifts that gun, he’s a
dead man.”
I was staring straight into the black
muzzle leveled at my head, but before
I could move, or even determine what
was best to be done. Vera stood be
tween me and the mob on the stairs.
“Go hack! back to my stateroom; 1
he'll never shoot me. Please, please !
go back.”
I was hot-headed enough to have
fought them all, hut to attempt resist- !
ance then would have endangered her !
life. I retained sense sufficient to ;
know this, and that only force would
east her aside. I heard McCann mut
ter an oath, and Red roar out some
order, punctured with profanity, yet
diil not truly comprehend what efforts
were being made to block our retreat.
Refore a hand could grasp either of !
us, we were within the shelter of the :
stateroom, and the girl had closed and j
locked the door. Fists pounded on the j
J
“There’ll Se Six of You Dead If You
Break In This Doer."
wood in impotent rage, and I heard
voices urging others to bring imple
ments with which to iiutter their j
way in.
“McCann,” I shouted, “call off your
men! I have six bullets here; and
there'll be six of you dead if you break ,
in this door.”
There was silence; then a mutter j
of voices—one angry with threat,
others seemingly urging compromise.
Whatever the argument, the advocates
of peace seemed in the majority, for
out of the hubbub McCann spoke loud
enough to lie pl/.nly heard.
“There is no use of your threats,
Hollis,” he said, rapping on the door,
“we have weapons as well as you, and
you cannot light alone against the
whole ship’s crew. The best tiling for
you to do now is to listen to reason.”
“What has become of the French
cruiser?"
IttN panuijuoQ)
LOSES THREE SONS. WIFE:
SUCCORED 3Y TED CROSS
A cablegram from France to thr
American Rod Cross .ay;.:
“At one of our lied Cross canteen*
last week an old poilu, with tragic
lace, came up to the diiectrice of the
canteen and pulled out throe photo
graphs of very fine boys which h
said were hi* sons who find enlisted
in the same regiment, and who had
all been killed.
“A month before he had receive
word from the French authorities th ,i
his wife, who had been (aught in th<
invaded district, had been shot b
the Germans. He was started bact
on liis furlough with no family t<
whom he could go,
"The direr trice suggested that 1
Aw hi» parents io vioit, but he *
swered lhat both his parent# were
killed by the Germans in 1870.'
“He said to the directrice, “I have
had rest and comfort here In your
canteen. You have all been verytkind
to me. I have found plenty of good
food to eat, something to read and a
place to. sleep. I think that 1 will
stay here for a few days before re
turning to the front if you do not.
mind.'
“And it is there that he will spend
his leave. These are the men the
Red Cross canteens reaeh. nearly
thirty thousand of them a day.'*
Cold cash—given through the Red
Cross—will cool the brow of gome
-uttering soldier.
^ OX can “Rescue the perishing,
care for the dying," by jolniat- the
I Red Cross.
The Sign of the Red Cross
Millions and miilions of stricken people in devastated Europe
must depend on the activity of the Red Cross alone for the most
meager necessities of life—just enough to keep body and soul to
gether. The Red Cross organization is the universal helping hand.
But in order to extend this hand to the sorrowing and afflicted,
it must have your support. In fact, if you would do your part to
relieve the suffering in the world, you can do it most directly and
efficiently through the Red Cross. Become a member today.
Help the Red Cross Do This Work;-*
Save Your Boy, or Your Neighbors
Red Cross surgeons and orderlies give first aid to u'ou.^»d
in little underground dressing stations in the front-line trenches.
War records show that as many Red Cross men are killed by enemy
i hie as regular soldiers in the trenchti. J