The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-03-09
I;y,aaitnlys % catch ! and hold his Flhii,y


ffyainlyt 10 catch and bold his fuhif,y5f
ere. III
"Mr.S futile. = 4 said, sternly, sssr \
understand matters ! am captain this
cruise, and you're mate. WheneyerfI
desire your advice III probably ask for
It f Just at present please contlne
yourself to my questions. What crew,
have you?" u 4 II 81!
The expression Of his face was
angry enough, yet he evidently:
thought best to answer clvilly.
First and second officers. boatswaln
and gunner, five coal,heayers. the rest
seamen." q ( 800
Nationality" 81 ;..ij
Every mongrel race under the
sky" ~ - N iF5.
"You have no engIneer?" Fl
Couldn't pick up any; however,
there's one on board, and, no doubt,
we can persuade him. to stick to the
Job" lf
The mans manner and tone re-
manned surly and insolent, but I
gripped my indignation and held back
the hot words burning my tongue. It
was necessary that | make the best Of
It now, but after we were once safely
at sea intended very shortly to take
the measure OF this Yankee whaleman.
My eyes wandered toward the olive.
tinted face Of De Nova. barely visible
through the enveloping smoke Of his
cigarette. The latter nodded cheer.
fully, as though he Interpreted my
thought.
"Oh, re men was all right. mon.
sIeur," he put In, smllingly. "Maybee
bit rough. but. sacre, wat would
you?" his shoulders rising to the ques.
ton. "Mr. futile he grumble. but 1t
was all bark. | know him. an raz-
Ter have him SO zan hear him talk 10
20 spirits; wen he do Eat. It make me-
sick. by gar!"
you disappearing. mongrel lnfdel."
the whaleman's nasal voice rising
shrlll with anger. II don't have to
count beads In order to III my soul TO
the other world"
There Is liable to be fighting
enough before morning." | interposed,
sharply. fearing quarrel. without
comrades falling out about their be.
lief. Leave that for lubbers ashore
to argue over. Now tell me what ar
engagements have been made for board.
Ing the Esmeralda?"
futile spat into the sawdust, his
gaze still on De Nova.
Two boats concealed beneath the
plllng OF the Mercantile Company's
coal wharf; n whaleboat and cutter"
ANY arms?"
"a dozen rifles. six In each boat"
i arose to my feet, CHANGING at my
watch in the dim light. He had not
given me the customary "sir" in any
Of his replies, yet Ignored the omis-
sion, willing for the time being 10
sink Formally for the sake OF action.
VERY well. Mr. futile. Have your
men there In an hour from now, They
had better travel in parties Of two:
and see that they start out sober. You
understand these orders clearly. I
hope, slr-haye them there in an hour.
sober. De Nova. you must know how
to bring sallor.men to their senses:
get busy with that gang. Now work
rapidly and quickly. both Of you. for II
we get caught. this Is likely to be
hanging matter for all Of us."
stared at the two OF them for Just
an instant-De Nova on his feet, Tut.
tic leaning forward In his chalr-and
stepped forth into the outer room.
closing the door behind me-. a
drunken yell greeted my reentrahee
into the boisterous crowd, but ignor'
Ing everything, glancing neither 10
right nor left, picked my way through
the motley gathering out into the wei
come blackness Of the night.