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"
"
Men are often glad to die for an ideal--an ideal of patriotism, perhaps," I replied;
and a willingness to martyr themselves includes a willingness to sacrifice others,
even those who love them. Women are much the same, except that they will go
even further than most men--they will sacrifice everything, even honor, for love."
I watched her face carefully as I spoke, and I thought that I detected a very faint
flush mounting her cheek. Seeing an opening and an advantage, I sought to
follow it up.
"
Take von Schoenvorts, for instance," I continued: "he would doubtless be glad to
die and take us all with him, could he prevent in no other way the falling of his
vessel into enemy hands. He would sacrifice anyone, even you; and if you still
love him, you might be his ready tool. Do you understand me?"
She looked at me in wide-eyed consternation for a moment, and then she went
very white and rose from her seat. "I do," she replied, and turning her back upon
me, she walked quickly toward her room. I started to follow, for even believing
what I did, I was sorry that I had hurt her. I reached the door to the crew's room
just behind her and in time to see von Schoenvorts lean forward and whisper
something to her as she passed; but she must have guessed that she might be
watched, for she passed on.
That afternoon it clouded over; the wind mounted to a gale, and the sea rose until
the craft was wallowing and rolling frightfully. Nearly everyone aboard was sick;
the air became foul and oppressive. For twenty-four hours I did not leave my post
in the conning tower, as both Olson and Bradley were sick. Finally I found that I
must get a little rest, and so I looked about for some one to relieve me. Benson
volunteered. He had not been sick, and assured me that he was a former R.N.
man and had been detailed for submarine duty for over two years. I was glad that
it was he, for I had considerable confidence in his loyalty, and so it was with a
feeling of security that I went below and lay down.
I slept twelve hours straight, and when I awoke and discovered what I had done, I
lost no time in getting to the conning tower. There sat Benson as wide awake as
could be, and the compass showed that we were heading straight into the west.
The storm was still raging; nor did it abate its fury until the fourth day. We were
all pretty well done up and looked forward to the time when we could go on deck
and fill our lungs with fresh air. During the whole four days I had not seen the
girl, as she evidently kept closely to her room; and during this time no untoward
incident had occurred aboard the boat--a fact which seemed to strengthen the
web of circumstantial evidence about her.
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