 proudly we hail another proudly we hail one of radio's outstanding dramatic half hours starring Lee Tracy and presented transcribed by your army and your Air Force Radio City New York here is your star and host on proudly we hail the distinguished Broadway stage screen and radio star Lee Tracy thank you kind of bang heart and hello everyone welcome again to proudly we hail our play is entitled deadly passage and we invite you to join the captain and crew of the schooner mermaid on an ill-fated voyage which meant death for two men and fear and terror for all on board at the Ken Bang hearts message we'll be ready for our first act your United States Army has unlimited opportunities for high school graduates you'll be expertly trained in a useful skill and you'll proudly wear the uniform of your United States Army known the world over as the mark of a man visit your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station for all the details and now with your star Lee Tracy in the role of Captain Matthew Lincoln your army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production of deadly passage between the boot of the melee peninsula and the long snout of Sumatra on the Straits of Malacca on a bright day in June with a fresh following wind the schooner mermaid pounded northward through the Straits under full sail her course set for Rangoon on her quarter deck her master Matthew Lincoln stood wide-legged with telescope glued to his eye by his side was the passenger Roly Poly Reverend Nathaniel Fiddler the Reverend had bought passage at Singapore on his way to the jungles of Burma to spread the word of God amongst the heathens now he stood looking at his host with a questioning smile upon his angelic face I I must say captain you seem to have an uncommon interest in that vessel is she overtaking us huh huh oh yes Reverend I do have an interest in her I seem to recognize a friend of yours perhaps oh well that I can't say she flies no colors and with tales of piracy hear about bless it of the watchful is she a schooner nope varkentine the authorities suggested we give all ships of her nature a wide bird the hand of Gideon is with us I'm sure Captain Lincoln if this wind holds are we being overtaken not at present but if the wind slackens or shall not slacken captain I shall catch the ear of the Lord for how long must it favor us till nightfall and we can forget about them oh fear not captain I shall ask I shall depend on you Reverend fine we pass captain see air and prayer gives a man a stout appetite mmm indeed it does are you sure that you didn't overdo it though this wind seems to be blowing up a gale it's possible that I was over zealous I sometimes get carried away well we thank you anyway oh not at all I've had my field yes Mr. Murphy big card and sir winds out of here and into the northeast think we'd best be double reef and maybe you take it in a bit of safe do what you think best mister made I'll come above friendly hey captain a colorful man your mate and a good wonder bull if he didn't love the bottle as much as a sea he'd have his own ship pity strong drink is the curse of Satan I always say I don't you agree captain oh yes yes yes course yeah well you look excuse me now Reverend to be sure will we have a rough night it may get a bit rocky but I'm sure with prayer and see air you'll weather it hey indeed I shall captain indeed I shall we now sail double reef before a quartering wind which is fast reaching gale proportions should at all tomorrow we'll see us weathering the Nicobars and sticking our power split into the Andaman Sea except for catching sight of the bargain team with the aid of the good Reverend showing at our stern the voyage continues uneventful I shall feel easier however when we make grand goon it's the poor what gets the blame it's that makes the money I ain't at all a bleeding shame Dickson I like your helmsmanship far more than your voice hi sir how does she read and not only savvy sir hold her at that hi I said Murphy hi captain any report in a fired hold I've got Perkins and Blake down there I'll go down myself you think there's any need captain no no need mr. Murphy I have no reason to believe the cargo there isn't secure but with the sea as it is and the wind holding it's best to take no chance hi captain I've noticed Perkins Perkins man what is it hold yourself Perkins what happened what else yeah first Blake dude lady captain look out look out for he did he have Murphy get the bottle in the ward room lively assistance captain I know a little of medicine good he seemed to have fainted where is Blake what the devil happened man I'll be a stuffed headache if I'm no answer I was checking things on the port side of the forward hold and he on the starboard all of a sudden he lets out a great bloody scream and then another one and then he's off like a flesh up the companion way hollering like all the benches in Donegal were after him I collected me which is followed he's the bottom sir I'm afraid it's too late for that his soul is at rest you mean he's dead are you are you sure yes captain I'm sure go back to your station you can do nothing to help Perkins now but captain he wasn't sick he was as strong as a bull what what did he die from I don't know Blake mr. Murphy have two men bring Perkins body down to the ward room hi sir you men may go mr. Murphy see that we're not disturbed no no no don't go just stand there in a companion way well Reverend well captain I trust you observed the marks on the calf of Perkins leg I did sir that's why pulled his trouser down over it am I correct in supposing that you recognize them you are sir and you I believe so I would say that the fang marks of a deadly poisonous snake probably a cobra and unfortunately I would have to agree mr. Murphy you go on deck and take charge on every man out from below whether on watch or not get him busy doing something until I relieve you yes sir and may I be asking sir what you plan to do well I'm not loading this revolver to shoot fish mr. Murphy and as far as I know it's the only firearm we have a board but sir that's dangerous a cobra what would you have me do mr. Murphy order one of the crew down there no sir but I'd be glad I'm sure I'm sure you would I I thank you but you'll serve me best by going top-sized and taking charge I'll search out that forward hold I don't come upon it I'll close the bulk head anyway and trust that it's trapped in there nice sir good luck perhaps you'd better stay here Reverend in case anyone gets curious I wouldn't think of it captain Lincoln and carry the lantern and bring the power of the Lord with me there's no need to risk your life I have no fear I put my life in my master's hands come this is the forward hold watch your head Perkins Landon still hanging over there careful captain if you see anything that resembles what we're looking for don't hesitate to yell I'll shoot first and worry later I find it a might warm in here don't you as warm as I ever want it well we can't be sure but it looks like it's left here it can be anywhere on the ship anywhere come along we'll close the bulkhead door you know what Captain Lincoln and now Reverend I tell the crew that they're gonna sail with a cobra they have a right to know it the Tracy starring in the role of captain Matthew Lincoln and the proudy we hail production of deadly passage will return in just a moment for the second act your growing United States Army needs qualified young officers and a brand new regulation says you can apply for OCS officer candidate school before you enlist you must be at least 19 years old and able to pass the mental and physical exams for Army officers a high school diploma is your best qualification if you're accepted you'll take 14 weeks of basic then go to leadership school for eight weeks and be sent directly to Army OCS you'll be taught many interesting subjects and it will be a great day when you get your commission you'll be proud to be an officer in the United States Army with good pay and allowances for quarters and food this is a great opportunity for you young men and you should take advantage of it now young women too can apply for officers candidate school if you think you can make the grade get all the details at your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station you are listening to proudly we hail and now with your star Lee Tracy in the role of captain Matthew Lincoln we present the second act of deadly passage I've been confronted by problems and difficulties before but the problem before me now is as delicate and dangerous as a lighted keg of powder somewhere aboard the mermaid lurks a sudden and horrible death even as I sit here writing it might well be creeping upon me without arms were defenseless against this evil I've taken every precaution open to us men to stand watching the focus on the galley when possible all hands on deck we changed our course for Georgetown should nothing further occur the crew will stand by my orders but let this monster strike again and even the strongest of me become difficult to control tomorrow after the burial service I shall have another word with this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out the law game and the law this would be the name of the law it's a sad duty we've just performed but now knowing our danger we must all face it calmly and see that it does not happen again if there's no change in the weather we'll make Georgetown day after tomorrow if it improves we'll all be there all the sooner I want all hands to remain on deck for the time being I'm gonna search the ship again if I find nothing we'll set about rigging traps to catch the snake we've been in some tight spots before and I know you'll see this through like the good crew that you are let the man off duty and go below we searched everywhere could it have gone overboard I doubt that I'll relieve you shortly mr. Murphy Reverend you've spent a good bit of your life in these parts have you got any idea on how to go about trapping a cobra I've been thinking about that I've heard it said that the cobra is very fond of milk but it'd be fine if we had a cow on board nevertheless a snake must eat well I've thought of that but you've seen our cargo there's plenty for it to feed on there if we put the trap it's in the gallery don't move Murphy look at the size of the dirty devil captain another second tonight have been cold meat I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner mr. Murphy the Lord is merciful amen to that but today captain in our ways Reverend changed course of four I'm good again hi the harrowing experience I prayed mightily but where do you suppose it had been hiding oh no I'm glad it was a mate who made the discovery even though it did scare ten years off his life another man might have run speaking of running your mate seems to be doing just that sir sir could I be speaking to you right away in private like go ahead mr. Murphy what is it it's Lopez sir he didn't turn to so I went below to see what Ailey he was in his bunk the top one at the far end of the folks so he's dead sir dead how just you you may think me tough but I I noticed his arms all swole up and there were some marks on it I'd say he'd been bitten by one of them great bloody snakes like Perkins the captain has a word to say what's that gonna talk we're selling with a cargo everything's in order captain men cobras often travel in pairs now it would seem that we've only gotten rid of one half the danger we weathered the first half will weather the second we've changed course for Georgetown again off watch men had better sling their hammocks on deck for the time being now we all share this common danger I can understand your feelings is there my own but I'll suffer no in subordination my commands will be obeyed mr. Murphy let all the off watch men continue to work on the rigging of traps use anything you want wait yes what is it sir how do we know there's only one more to catch isn't two enough for your man now that's all I got to say keep a weather eye if you see anything anything that looks out of place sing out the Reverend tells me has the ear of the Lord so we'll all pray together that we make port without further incident I'm afraid I have no taste for food Perkins and Lopez two good men and as that fella said how do we know there are only two he seems likely there would be more Reverend it's hardly like that be one still what do you want Dixon big your pot and say I didn't mean to eat his quiet life but there's talk going on and the folks so you should know about focus all I ordered all hands on some of the lads was down getting their hammocks and the like well what is it but I ain't mentioning names captain because I ain't the kind that rats but I figured poor things gets out of hand like all right all right get on with it well sir some of them are talking about taking to the boats got the wind up and getting the wind up in others I've seen anything like this but getting on time when I was all that'll do Dixon thank you get above I'll handle it if you need any help that's all I'd like me to come with you thank you no Reverend this is one matter I'll handle along I ordered you met on deck what are you doing here well one of your speaker we we was just getting our duffel does it take this long well no sir it's come to my attention that some of your proposed taken to the boats I don't want to know who proposed it in fact I want to forget it such action without my orders would be considered mutiny I want no mutiny on this ship she's a good ship and you're a good crew better to take a grip on your courage and to face disgrace and a hangman's noose on a yard arm all right I get above and lively there was a feeling on the mermaid that had never been aboard before you could almost smell it it was fear thick and suffocating a fog that blanketed reason and left men thinking of only one thing escape and who could blame them shortly before dawn I went below for a catnap the Reverend and all hands were sleeping above deck but with a door to my cabin I saw no need to do likewise I left the vinegar light burning threw myself down on the bunk for a time sleep wouldn't come through my mind swam words and shapes and the awful realization that we were not done with deadly peril when sleep came it was troubled and filled with the stark edges of nightmare it may have been the ship's bell that woke me may have been a sound but I awoke suddenly lay on my back for a moment unmoving letting the tide of sleep ebb completely away then I turned my head preparatory to rising in my eye caught the shadow against the far wall at Howard flaring out at the head in it is relief it was a monstrous shadow that whoa back and forth with a terrible studied grace paralysis struck me and if a man's blood turns to water in such times mine did and then froze an instant and an eon later my eyes left the shadow and slid to the floor the thing reared in the center of the cabin not five feet from me his head nearly level with mine it's yellow hate filled eyes glared at me with hypnotic deadliness and its ugly forked tongue darted in and out with watchful anticipation I couldn't move I couldn't think I had one consuming desire and that was to get away I'd hung my coat on a hook at the head of the bunk my right hand pocket lay the revolver I had only to reach up behind me to grasp it but my just as well have been resting on the highest yard arm I knew at my first move the cobra would strike that there's no telling when the change came it was sudden my voice stuck in my throat as I tried to warn him then he was standing in the entrance away door in hand the cobra at the first knock at wheel to face the sound it now stood motionless on the verge of striking the reverend saw it at once he could elite back slam the door perhaps been quick enough but he didn't move he stood stock still his face gone gray and then he began to sing as though he'd lost his wits the reverend sang the snake began to weave its head back and forth slowly I edged my arm up behind me my hand touched the cloth of the coat then found the pocket and finally the cold welcome touch of metal I lifted the gun out and carefully aimed it when some movement caught the cobra's eye and a kind of a haze I saw him whip around and move toward me suddenly feeling the need of stimulant under the circumstances reverend I think it might be arranged rangoon we bid our passenger farewell and if ever a captain and his crew felt warmly toward a man it was that round smiling little preacher he'd risk certain death to save me and by his quick thinking and coolness I'd come through alive I shall always be in the death of the reverend Nathaniel archibald fiddler may fair wins favor his course amen to that our star Lee Tracy will return in a moment with a word about next week show I have an important message for you young men and young women a new United States Army regulation now permits you to apply for OCS officer candidate school before you enlist that's right if you're at least 19 years of age and can meet the physical and mental standards for Army officers regardless of whether you're a high school graduate you can go to your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station and volunteer as an officer candidate you'll take basic training attend leadership school and then go to the next available class at OCS you'll be promoted to corporal when you go to OCS and upon graduation you'll become a second lieutenant in the United States Army with good pay and allowances for food and quarters and remember young American women have the same opportunity to become officers in the women's Army Corps but you'd better act now for no one knows how long it will be before our growing Army has all the officers it needs go to your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station and get all the facts today this has been another program on proudly we hail presented in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and the United States Air Force recruiting service proudly we hail stars Lee Tracy supporting Mr. Tracy as Reverend Fiddler was Bill Lipton other members of the cast included Bill Adams Jeffrey Bryant and Cliff Oh deadly passage was written by the wit cop the original music was composed and conducted by John guanyeri this program was produced under the supervision of Charles and Rogers Productions and was directed by Charles Wilkes this is Kenneth Banghart speaking and here again as your host and star Lee Tracy next week my friend and colleague a great star and one of the finest actors in show business will inaugurate a new series on proudly we hail Mr. Paul Lucas will be with you on these weekly productions and I'm sure you won't want to miss a single program because the may I interrupt for a moment why of course can be on behalf of all your friends in the supporting cast the actors the musicians our director and everyone on the production staff of proudly we hail may we thank you sincerely for the privilege of working with you and speaking for the United States Army and the United States Air Force recruiting service may I say for them thanks for a job well done thanks for a real service to your country we'll be looking forward to your return on proudly we hail very very soon thank you Ken and thanks to everyone but thanks especially to our listening audience and the local radio stations all over the country who program proudly we hail each week until next week then when mr. Paul Lucas will be on hand over the same station this is Lee Tracy saying goodbye