Show log the best sea nta story olf D the 1 war that has randall parrish by bem written copyright A C Q mcclurg mcclar co THE INDIAN CHIEF HAS BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AND IS ALMOST A WRECK HOLLIS MEETS THE OWNER AND LEARNS SHIPS destination synopsis robert hollis who tells tho the story Is a guest on girard ons yacht esmeralda it Is supposed to be a n sanc party and hollis Is surprised on discovering a woman who evidently wishes to remain unknown aboard she bho merely tells him her hei namo name Is vera vcra carrington tells his guests of the coming war and that ho he Is 18 engineering a copper pool the yacht to Is sunk in a collision anil and ile ns lla saves mccunn mccann millionaire andone of the party hollis and uc me cann rescue vera vcra and leave the ship in a small boat mccann rc ic auses uses to submit to the authority of hollis and the latter enforces enforce a obedience the castaways casta ways ore are sighted by a ship the indian chief which takes them aboard CHAPTER vill VIII continued the lady was sent into the cabin air ond given a stateroom where she could fix herself up a bit lie answered soberly the other teller had a heap boap of a lot to say an seemed to have some sorter grudge against you I 1 any time to listen to his yarn so BO I 1 naturally turned him over to the basum ter have thet eye dressed lie must have got it peach ol 01 0 a swipe sir air 1 I hall had to hit him yes but we can talk of that later where Is he now 71 in the galley sir air where heating some borne water after they get him fixed up Is lie he to go aft or aft it if you have room to spare lie la is no sal lorman but a millionaire from new york he has bus money to burn the fellow looked at me with tits hl i mouth wide open his glistening eyes almast laughable the devil you say sir he be dont look the part to my notion you was all part of a yacht party yes the esmeralda a steam yacht owned by gerald carrington of new york we were run down about if hundred miles cast of montauk by n big liner which must have been out of her course she cut us square in two but excepting us three all living on board got away in the boats by accident we were left and escaped later in the dinghy what became of tho the liner she picked up the boats and thinking they had bad all tho the surN survivors Ivors went on she was a mall mail boat likely the yacht acht went down five minutes after we left her weve been afloat ever since now mr masters our story in brief the trouble here ill tell yer enough to make it clear sir he said slowly although there in IH others on board who can explain more in detail youre a seaman or wits was once so BO see easily the sorter fix were in im the only officer left on the hooker an I 1 navigate a ship it if give it to me ine im only the chief engineer an my assistant Is in the fo castIc with w ath a broken leg you tou see thet rime str sir well it wits lightning did that two bolts so tho the crew says saye for fer I 1 wits down below tin an never knew happened till the electrics all went out then I 1 shut off steam arid dumb clumb out on deck lord lora but it wife a black night raining mining cats and dogs but no wind to speak of it the rain what saved us tor for fire started yonder yer cun can see where it burned but it died out of itself when morning come wo we saw what we was up against it looked a lot sight eight worse then than it doea now them bolts of lightning lied knocked tho the foremast into smithereens killed tho the and put the steering gear plumb out ol 01 0 commission then the topmast an spars just naturally wrecked tho the bridge and an the whole mass caught fire tile tho second officer was in tho the wheelhouse bir an never knew what lilt hit him nn an both tho the captain an the te first officer wua it stand ln ter gether on the bridge the top mast crushed the life out of lem cm there six sall ormen hurt the same earns WILY way au an four of em died it the darn dest mess I 1 ever saw at sea sir air bad elough surely when did this happen diat afore last weve cleaned up a bit since but the crew wont work mud much under me an were shorthanded I 1 rigged up this wheel aft so as a to keep an engine going and hung on waiting for or something to turn up there nothing else elise I 1 could do no I 1 presume not and my eyed eye rested thoughtfully on the tha reene forward how Is the aull sound bound you seem sunk deeply 11 cargo sir air full to the hatches the abias dry as a lone bone have had bad the wel wei sounded every three hours and what the crew just DO so a crimp brought them aboard drunk an we were not at sea long enough for the mates to whip them into shape when this thing happened rm no deck officer mr hollis aud they dont take orders from me very well I 1 call lem em it dd d d hard lot I 1 made no comment endeavoring to turn all those these facts over la in my mind and reach some de decision calon it was eyl evl da laiu enough what was wanted and how I 1 could best serve but would they be satisfied with the offer which I 1 felt willing to make it was far from my desire to assume command of the indian chief and guide her destinies on a long outward voyage to whatever port her cargo had bad been consigned what that port was made slight difference for my whole desire was to return cs as quickly as possible to new york I 1 would however assume temporary command end and consent to navigate the vessel to the nearest american port where a competent skipper might bo be procured procure and it a new crew obtained the indian chief possessed no wireless outfit and whatever I 1 did must be on my own judgment these considerations flashed swiftly through my mind and I 1 attained decision before masters again spoke I 1 would navigate the tha bout boat to the nearest port on the american coasts coast notify tho the owners bird and then leave them to do an aa they pleased with vessel and crew I 1 cared nothing for the tha salvage the tha presence of the disabled steamer in these waters had bad saved our lives which was reward enough surely all I 1 cared for was to get myself and the young lady safe ashore my thought was interrupted by tho the sound of masters voice it sorter seemed to me mr hot lla its he bo was saying that maybe it would bo be best for me to explain these things before you went into the cabin naturally want to know just the cond condition lUon before you decide what t to 0 do 1 I have decided masters I 1 answered briefly there Is only one thing I 1 can do legally and that la Is navigate tho the indian chief to the nearest est american port and surrender her to her owners As aa a licensed captain of steam I 1 have authority to assume command to this extent but no more 1 I reckoned you would look at it that way sir air rat im no sea ben lawyer but I 1 sorter figured it out about as you do but that aint nent the situation exactly 11 what why this owner business sir yon see the tha owner of the indian chief an every pound ol 01 0 cargo below hatches Is on board here the owner Is on board ill I 1 the gospel truth why I 1 took the trouble to keep you here and tell yon what I 1 have before you went down and met him sir air it gives you a cliance chance to think out your best beat course but if the man la Is aboard why did lie ho not appear on deck to give us we welcome surely our arrival must have bavo been of interest likely as not he be even heard beard jet that you are aboard you see his cabin la Is on the starboard side astern and he would see nothing from them ports besides mr hollis he Is lame and it is a bit hard burd for him to get around on a ship without help what do you say sir air shall wo we go down now an talk it over below the sooner the better I 1 said with a glance over tho the port rail The fog Is thickening out yonder and we may have a rough night the steamer would ride a heavy sea better with some moro more of oc that riffle overboard CHAPTER IX contraband of war the knowledge that the owner was actually on board changed chanced the entire situation I 1 would have to argue it out with him undoubtedly for quite naturally ho bit would object to any return to an american port well I 1 might be in for a disagreeable interview but I 1 had made up my mind and it was not to be changed by any bluster or offer of high wages come on masters I 1 said brusquely lets ret get this over with the after cabin extended from roll rail to rail the door opening directly from the main deck timm were two cablas cabins astern occupying apparently the full fall width of me ve feirdel irdel and tho the engineer rapped his bin knuckles on the panel of the nearest bloor there was to BO response but it u second attempt resulted in a voice budenz us enter it was a dleasant enough interior lighted by two ports but showing no attempt at decore decoration tion A man arose from one of the chain awra and faced us as the light from the stern port shining rull lull upon um lie he was tall deHe delicate ate looking loo klig hit his features beaz bearing irig marks of pain yet certainly not over thirty years yeara of ag ape lie he was not at nil all like what I 1 had expected to bee ace and I 1 faced him in surprise ile ho bad taken a step toward us limping slightly but at sight of a stranger paused used whom have you here masters he asked his eyes on my face qs Is there another vessel near fsr no air end and the engineer stood hat bat in hand awkwardly shifting his weight we have picked up some castaways casta ways this man here Is captain hollis late of the atlas line indeed ho he held out hla his hand to me his eyes looking directly into mine 1 I regret your misfortune sar but your coming Is a godsend to us as your ship was wrecked sunk in colli collision I 1 answered but it was not 1 1 I have not been to sea for several years in any position of lot command on this occasion I 1 was a guest on board a steam yacht belonging to gerald carrington of new york the namo of the vessel was the esmeralda I 1 need not noi relate tho the details just at present but three of us have been picked up by till this ship three nil all passengers yes one was waa a alyc yet if I 1 understand masters aright you lave have been in tho the merchant service in every capacity when I 1 retired I 1 was wan captain of the freighter vulcan he stood silent a moment thoughtfully considering me and I 1 could not determine whether or not lie he was altogether pleased finally having apparently reached some decision hla his gaze shifted to tho the faco face of the burly engineer 1 I will talk with captain hollis ho he said quietly end and perhaps you had better return on deck masters and keep an eye out the fog thickens end and we are in the track of ships very well sir As the door closed behind tho the engineers bulky figure tho the owner motioned me to a chair while ho he took un another himself 1 I hardly know how bow best to approach my subject he said BOW soberly it if you were merely a shipwrecked merchant captain capt I 1 could make you a rather at l offer but as you have retired from the see sea that would probably prove no special inducement the pay you mean well hardly I 1 have no desire for a berth so I 1 supposed or else you would scarcely havo have been one of barring tons guests for a yachting cruise I 1 presume masters told you the fix we are in yes as strange an accident as I 1 ever heard of at sea you have hato got to have a navigator and I 1 nm perfectly willing to servo serve you so BO fur far ns as I 1 can I 1 owe you this for picking us up front from an all open boat with your permission sir and without mentioning pay I 1 will agree to take command of tho the indian chief rind and sail ball her to the nearest amerlean american port where you cati can procure off officers leers and if necessary a new crew ue ile sat silent one white hand crumpling a paper on the desk dealt his forehead creased the lines of his face showing clearly lie he appeared to hesitate uncertain how best to answer me 11 1 I 1 I certainly appreciate your offer captain hollis IIo llla it Is a most liberal one because it if I 1 know anything of maritime law you would bo be justly entitled to high compensation for thus I 1 TI T owner Is on an board I 1 saving both ship end cargo I 1 had bad intended offering you at least that was my first thought tho the sum aum of three hundred a mouth month to take command the contract to remain in force after the conclusion of this thin voyage it if you so desired this you will not consider 7 the money argument has no weight I 1 battled but shook my head bead then there la in nothing left me except to appeal to your humanity he went vent on leaning forward his bla eyes on mine you belong I 1 j iuie ct to my cland and I 1 can give you ray my confidence trust you yon with toy my ecret la Is this thin not truel true 1 I hope ht pa I 1 am worthy of uch such falth I 1 answered wonderingly ns as lie he paused mused 1 I repose hint falth faith in you arid ask you to face this situation from my standpoint I 1 am tile the sole owner of tho the indian chief and also of tier her cargo livery dollar I 1 possess on this earth Is tied up on hoard board tills this vessel that Is why I 1 sailed us as supercargo I 1 dare not trust tho the venturo venture to anyone else under the hatches I 1 have at cargo valued at nearly halt half a million dolln dollars rs it wits vaa purchased and shipped on oil the strength of a contract signed by a high off iclal of one of the european governments yet tile responsibility of 0 payment rests upon myself and a few intimate friends if tho the indian chief safely discharges this cargo within a designated time at a certain port or contingent thereto I 1 shall make a fortune und and retain lionor honor as a roer nier chant it if not then I 1 am a ruined man mr hollis and my illy reputation Is gone also 11 what port 11 I 1 loaned leaned forward deeply interested by now in hla hie unusual story then I 1 presume pre suino your cargo la Is largely munitions of war of that nature yes from what port did you sail baltimore july auth wo we were held back within the copes for or two days by a severe storm then you have leave not heard of the declarations of war in europe ills eyes widened hla his pale face grew whiter than ever war in europe already decla declared redi 1 he exclaimed la Is that actually true wo we carry no wireless and have spoken mth ith no vessel since wo we left tho the chesapeake what nations uro at war tho the last message wo we received on the esmeralda was that germany and austria were already pitted against france russia and england tho ocr man troops had invaded belgium in tin an effort to reach paris the alio night before our accident a great british battleship racing toward new york passed Us she was ans under orders to bottlo bottle up the german liners may I 1 see your manifest lie he took the list from an inner drawer arid and handed it over to me without ouan a word evidently stunned by this unexpected news newn and unable to speak I 1 turned the lie typewritten pages slowly glancing quietly over the various items they were astounding why really I 1 can hardly credit my own eyes I 1 exclaimed you tell me these goods were actually contracted for by the german aerman government agent in the open market not exactly in the open market mr hollis it was all accomplished in my name I 1 alono alone am known in the transaction certain intimate personal relations won mo me the contract my illy mother being a relative of a high ou caal the negotiations were conducted secretly 1 I should suppose so yet such purchases would look as though war had fuld been anticipated I 1 arose to my illy feet walked across to the port find and stared out into the thickening mist inist overhanging the water the nall man did not move or speak find and I 1 turned again to find him with bell head burled buried in his arms arins on the desk ills attitude of completo complete despair was full of pathetic appeal 1 |