Show T A a T by RANDALL PARRISH A war sea story abounding in adventure and high romance copyright A C Mc mcclure Clutis aco co I 1 CHAPTER it continued 1 15 I 1 know not what time passed na as I 1 held her la in my arms and whispered those bordi words repressed so long almost had I 1 forgotten where we were the nature of our surroundings the fato fate which threatened us I 1 could remember only her tho the velvety touch of her flesh the welcoming light of love in her eyes I 1 know not what we talked about conscious only ot of theroy of being befog alone together with every barrier between us swept laway away forever the sunshine poured in through the open port touching her hair with threads of golden light and leaving a bar of brilliance across the stateroom deck yet I 1 imagine the respite wa was not long iong there came a sharp rap upon the wood of the door bringing us ine bantly back to a realization of our portion nr her arms released me and I 1 airoso to my feet what Is wanted its a few minutes till noon sir said a voice I 1 failed to recognize asid and im to tell you to come on deck quito quite right my man ill bo be there at once stand by to carry the instruments 11 aye nye aye sir there was a certain cheerfulness and respect in the voice which convinced me that the fellow was riot not among the ringleaders ring leaders but tho the hope of making him film nn an adherent to our cause vanished when I 1 opened the door and recognized dade the man was too weak too much of a jellyfish to render reader hla fits friendship of any particular value besides dugan was also in the cabin leaning idly against the satar rall but quite as evidently on guard I 1 nodded to him but he only descended condescended con to stare in n returns return anti and the look in his eyes convinced me that lie he had not yet forgiven tho the rough treatment accorded him a few hours before the memory made me smile ive seen you when you looked happier dugon dugan 1 said carelessly but I 1 imagine you have nothing on jim white 11 to h 1 1 with yer he growled sav abely iff jf I 1 had my way have no tongue left to get smart with get along now after yer things dade followed me into tile the captains stateroom he was obedient enough but reluctant to talk no doubt afraid of being overheard by dugan the conspirators were grouped on the after aeck waiting illy arrival and hollowed dado dade up the ladder determined they should perceive no change in my demeanor which might awaken suspicion mccanns manner was far from cordial as I 1 approached but I 1 thought it best to ignore his churlishness you were long enough coming perhaps you still think yourself in command he said savagely that would indeed be a stretch of the imagination I 1 replied holding my temper and motioning dade where to place the sextant however I 1 jo do not think I 1 have wasted my time it Is still two minutes of twelve lie ile growled something but I 1 busted busied myself with the tha observation only anxious to make it accurate enough tor for my own we use whatever figures I 1 reported it was absolutely necessary that I 1 know myself the exact position of the ship nor did I 1 daro to juggle them greatly in my report for while medina mccann was far from being no nn expert navigator he be yet possessed a smattering of knowledge which rendered him Aling dangerous erous and he be was very sure to check up ray my figures with every caro care possible however I 1 tooled fooled him by by it a point or two sufficient clent for my purpose and wrote down the result on the back of nn an old envelope while stowing away the correct figures in my own brain although the air was belmy enough aho wind A from tho the southwest almost directly in our teeth yet there was waa a look of the north about both sea and arky which would have convinced mo me that we tae approaching higher latitudes without the aid of my observe tion without bring able to explain the phenomenon the seaman instinctively recognizes northern waters vow now as my eyes swept the wide circle of the horizon vainly the gleam of some distant sail the heaving expanse of water the overarching sky eky were almost alike nake to in color colora a cold repellent blue misting into gray afar off na as though particles of tog fog filled filed the indeed it was all this which IrA interested crested me the roost most this vogue vague evidence of floating vapor tor for I 1 knew enough of these seas to suspect that this might prove the fare forerunner of storm already preparing to sweep down upon us out of the more northern mystery others roust must have noted the evidence also for liverpool crossed tho the deck to where I 1 stood leav ing mcce iccil a fl with tile the chart la in his bis hands what do yer think 0 that sorter mist out bondery yon dery derl he asked indicating the dist lince by a sweep pt of the hands lind find striving to make his sniff gruff voice gound found friendly 1 I K may incy menn nothing I 1 answered civilly tn uRh 1 I have never sailed ilat ra but my guess would be abat 4 p ere is a storm brewing to the north ot of us what does the barometer say bayt A slight drop in the last two hours i bothin much yet but it dont look good to me ine mccann joined us the chart still holt half open thero there seems to be plenty of harbors along this newfoundland coast line tie ho said eald do you know what they are like only what the map says saya the whole coast Is rugged and rocky don berous for any vessel larger than A n fishing schooner there are government mail boats calling at those smaller towns during the summer months how far are we to the north of st johns two hundred and fifty miles approximately which makes us about due east of this white bay indicated here yes yea but there Is not even the name of a town given nil all that country Is wilderness I 1 take it why do you ask I 1 thought you had decided on st johns so we have in no pleasant tone and crumpling up the chart in both hands but I 1 thought if there was a more quiet port to the north it might be safer there are apt to be warships at st johns however we will keep to that course ue he turned to liverpool wheres white forward somewhere hove have him come aft and take the deck its time for dinner I 1 shall dball never forget that meal not the first but the last time we were all together about the table in the after cabin not that anything occurred ot of special interest to this story but I 1 doubt if ever a stranger company under stranger circumstances was ever gathered together even nt at sea me BIC cann rapped at bliss ons loor door and she received ills his invitation to join us with a graciousness of manner which must have surprised tho the man liverpool who sat at the lower end hla his uncombed red thatch moro more conspicuous thon then ever appeared decidedly til III nt at ease buthis presence tailed failed to embarrass the rest otus ofus or interfere with tho the game dade nt at mccanns McCann fi orders helped philip bascom from ills his cabin and found him a place at miss ons left directly opposite the new yorker the two men greeting each caell other with a stiff bow I 1 had not seen bascom for some days and could not help being impressed with his appearance pe arance aranco of illness his face having a positively ghastly look bethe yet he seemed equal to the occasion entering laic into conversation with the lady and even occasionally addressing a remark to mcconn cCann RI who replied in assumed good humor limmor wine was seram although previously I 1 had no knowledge knowl edgo of any being on board and tho the party developed into a ruther rather pleasant occasion the girl played her part well and I 1 could read bascoms Ba bewilderment lis as lie ho endeavored to join with them in the some spirit to relieve his embarrassment barras I 1 managed maringer ma ringed to keep keel up 11 deoul desultory tory conversation with him of although roy my thoughts were busy enough elsewhere endeavoring to figure out the lie meaning of nil all this byplay it was n decided relief when the party finally broke up and mccann conducted the lady back to her stateroom pausing for a final farewell at the door CHAPTER the depth of despair mccanns manner changed instantly with the closing of the door although lie indulged in no remark except to order liverpool to take charge of tile the dock deck and pert permit litt white to take ills his place nt at the table he passed me ino by without a word or glance and dij appeared into his own stateroom tile he further farther one aft to starboard I 1 waited until dade had assisted bascom to retire end and then sought my iny own berth to think the whole affair over bus bas corns coals appearance shock shocked ea me and I 1 felt there was a death look in ills his face but obrown our own perilous position kept my mind from dwelling long on this th thettia ettic there was little nothing in ili fact that I 1 could do I 1 must be content to leave vera vcra to evolve soine settle means leans for tho the final overthrow of these men who held us prisoners dubols remained ira in the cabin on guard probably with instructions to prevent my holding any private interviews and tile tho only assistance I 1 could give lay in tile buggi juggling ing of flarea fl urea in which I 1 could not be too cautious the main doubt assailing me had come from a dim suspicion on in tho the deck by mccanns questioning and a sly illy glauce exchanged between hire him end and liverpool were the follows fellows really contemplating making a landing el elsewhere on tho the newfoundland coast instead of at st johns this flits was not impossible and the fact that it would take us thoroughly by surprise would appeal to the conspirators yet I 1 dla die covered absolutely nothing on which to base such an assumption mccann was wa evidently in no haste baste to reach the ind tulle of st johns johnb and take to the bonts boats for the ho indian chief was pro seceding with greatly reduced speed and as tho the afternoon wore slowly away it seemed to me lue we were scarce ly moving the reverberation of the screw being barely perceptible to Us ns suro sure myself that tho the course I 1 had bad mopped mapped out was still being adhered to I 1 ventured into the cabin for a n glance nt at tile alio telltale compass wo we were headed to the west of south the man simms was on guard lolling against the butt of the mizzen must mast with no one else visible to test his orders I 1 turned toward tho the closed door of bliss ons stateroom om instantly he was on ills his feet to interfere you are not to do that sir not to do what speak alone with the lady those were my orders I 1 raised my voice in remonstrance but had find scarcely uttered a word when mccann emerged from his stateroom leaving the door ajar and crossed the deck to face me what Is the trouble here simms he asked the harshness of ills hla tone differing greatly from the pleasant conversation nt at dinner mr hollis was going to rap on the ladys door sir 11 oil oh lie ho was hey laeyt I 1 well now see here hollis you understood that you were to have no communication W with ith any prisoners aboard you 1 I was not aware that miss bliss car arington rington was considered a prisoner well whether she Is or not sl she to Is no longer bonge r to be bothered with your attentions tent ions with no attempt to control fits ats temper 1 I consider that you have broken your word you will go back to your stateroom and stay there supposing I 1 refuse t lie ile grinned exposing his teth teeth like a great eat cat 1 I r advise you to try that lie ho sneered for there Is crew enough on deck to manhandle man handle you to a finish you can go in quietly or ill call them down and hayo you thrown in so take your choice I 1 looked lit at the two of 0 them eager enough myself to make it a fight yet what wils was the use any excuse enabling him to confine TOO me more closely would evidently bo be to his advantage I 1 conquered myself anil and hands clinched crossed tile the deck space and enter entered edmy my stateroom closing the door I 1 heard mccann laugh and say something to simms then I 1 knew lie ho crossed tile the cabin and went up the lie stairs to better control myself I 1 thrust roy my face out through the open port breathing in the salty frostiness freshness of the air suddenly I 1 became aware that others had entered the main cabin there was no sound of voices nothing to tell me the purpose of this invasion yet I 1 felt certain that at least a dozen men had descended the steps from froin the companion I 1 stood erect listening thoro there was fumbling at my door had mccann changed hla his mind were they about to attack me in force Il revolver in hand band I 1 took a step forward halt half ready to welcome any open hostility the first sen sea rat to open mt door I 1 called will get coming to it him I 1 ni 1 there was a mocking laugh in answer in which more than one voice joined then whito growled reply no one Is a comin in mister mis ter an damn me if youre coln ter get out I 1 grasped tho the I 1 kob avob throwing my whole weight against the wood it you are not to do that sir yielded scarcely halt half in an inch just enough to reveal a 0 stout bar th this Is tinie time I 1 was a prisoner beyond doubt they had left rae me no loophole of escape but why what hud had I 1 dono done to wa warrant araut them in br breaking ealing their pie pledge dge could IL 11 bo be that Ble mccann Calin ha had d no lurther aurther tur ther us use for me no desire for another observation it if tills this was true then it must bo tile tho men proposed deserting the bill chip p tint that very night and taking a chance at getting ashore in one of those northern bays and they had nailed me lu in to die like a rat ant in this hole when tho the indian chief went down for tho the instant as this fear gripped rap raf I 1 was lazed dazed and incapable of thought woven clearly comprehend C nd the full horror ido I 1 do not bs bileve it was my own situation which so ito completely unmanned me but the of vern vera what would become of lierl her she would mould bo be alone in ble mccanns Canns rower power without a human being I 1 g alt to 0 w ll 11 0 ll 11 I 1 s sho hc c could 0 u I 1 e 1 u appeal 1 P e RI S she 1 ic vi would v 0 d b be e f forced 0 r cc d in into t 0 the f i a b boat 0 a t despite losi il t e her struggles laughed nt at am mocked she might even be compelled to witness the slow blow sinking of tile the still ship carrying us down into the depths anil then what the I 1 conjure dup was bigony and I 1 sank back epou the stool my face burled buried in ili my iny hands A it Is not evou even yet clear in my mind how the remaining hours of 0 unit that afternoon Plis passed sed I 1 WAS conscious only of 11 rand mod impotent rage wild schemes lashed flashed through my brain only to full fall of execution thoro there could bo be only ono one reason for mccanns Ic Canns action desertion deberti 11 of tho the ship that same night if tt the to mutineers muti were really no is pretended intending to land their boats in the harbor of st johns they would require my services for at least another day yet no ono one else on board could place the vessel at tho the point designated their actions however plainly evidenced that I 1 was no longer needed aji and that their plans had bud been changed indeed no ono one held field communication with me nil all that afternoon occasionally I 1 overheard movements in ili the cabin but could scarcely peer through ray my door and was unal llo to ascertain who were present while the few words distinguished brought roe me no specific information that some movement of secret importance was going on aboard seemed more than probable I 1 became impressed with tile the conviction that food supplies were being conveyed from the cazarette laz arette to the bonts boats and stowed away supper wits was served durly in n tile the cabin but |