, 1909-07-01

medium size, nut WIN tHe ueFii VI
big fellow a point or so to the north.
ANY land?"
Not a sign. sir. unless that's 1t
take for a big berg. The shadows look
lark enough for rock"
Ease her off two points. wheel
man"
Two points II is, sir."
We stood there. silent and motion
less. waiting anxiously. the men
ranged along the rail, with heir eyes
all turned forward. ! rang for full
speed. and the Sea Queen fairly
leaned ahead through the icy smoth-
er. hineing clouds of white spray over
the needless figures. Within ten min
utes we began to perceive the huge
mass we we're approaching from the
deck, and never before had my eyes
looked Upon so gigantic and majestic
a mountain of ice. 1t was n i'm
mense cliff towering into the upper
air. being fully 300 feet high. and not
less than 1900 feet in length, with
vast glittering pinnacles rising still
farther into the sky. its entire front
a sheer precipice. cleaning In cold
blue, with hardly a darker shadow
anywhere to yield relief to the eye.
We rounded its eastern edge so close
~ one could have tossed a biscuit from
the f%oreyard against its smooth front,
the swell of it's motion tossing the dar-
ing yacht like an eggshell. Symes
c,ung to his perch aloft with the grip
OF a monkey, swinging back and forth
% the wild swaying of the spar. Sud
denly he yelled down:
There's wind comm from the
sir"
Heavy
Looks to be a stiff breeze. an
it's bringing more snow"
Lay down from aloft."
| sprang over to consult the bin
nacle-card. n then cast one swift,
romprehending glance at the thicken-
'ng gloom in the southwest. Beyond
lnmh' the change had come.
Give her two more points north.
wheelsman: keep her head nor'eaSt
by nor'-steady so. Mr.. De Nova.
send another man up here to the
Wheel. All hands now; stow every
! i'm; tail on to those gaskets lively.
~ lads; we're in for a blow. and a
I'M for our lives"
To my amazement scarcely a man
among them stirred. the eyes of the
MATT lily turning toward Ande son
Evidently there was an understanding
between them; they intended TO revolt
and had chosen him their leader. He
stood just in front of the forecaslle.
n Jumping big figure in his heavy
clothes. his coarse face n ugly jaw
showing beneath a fur cap
What yer turnin' north for in such
a hurry. Mr., Stephens?" he growled,
h%oarseiy. It's not by vote O. the
crew, an we're the ones that's got
they say OF 1t onthis voyage. We're for
keepin' along this line O. latitude
for a day or so anyhow. futile might
"a got his figgers tangled an missed a
few leagues. Anyhow, We want the
lady to give us her reckoning first"
] felt the hot blood leap to my face,
and my teeth clenched as | leaned
over the rail gazing down at him.
Lads" l said. striving to master
myself. I've put you exactly where
/ promised ! would; I've shown you all
that was here. You can see for your.
selves what will happen If we hold on
any longer. The win has swept
around; it is going to bring that whole
pack OF Ice down on us. We've got TO
run for 1t, or be crushed. Now What
| want to know is. are YOU with NE
or with Bill Anderson"
They held off muttering. yet casting
uneasy g~lances over the rail. Ander.
son stamped angrily on the deck.
oh, to hell with yer fine words"
he said, grimly. What If the wind
has changed a bit? Can't we beat
on the foe under steam the same as
we did before? We're sailor-men. and
not afraid of a rough sea. For one I'm
damned If | leave that gold to rot
here without huntin' for it."
Words were clearly useless. and |
ripped back my heavy coat, dragging
on my gloves. all patience exhausted
Come on, De Nova" | exclaimed
you've got sense enough to realize
what this means"
| was over the rail with a lean. front.
ing them on the deck. Almost to INV
surprise the creole landed beside me
inc without a word We struck out at
the heads in IL front. 1t was a fierce
mix-up for a minute. yet only a man mr.
two stood with Anderson, he sud.
denness of our assault taking all the
hight out of most OF them. struck
Big BIZ twice squarely in the face
driving him back against the stems
leading 10 the ~forecastle deck: over
these he fell spraying, his head
humping the plank. The next instant
had De Nova's antagonists in the
a and together We laid them our
against the rail, and none too gently
The mates smile had become ugly
and he would have leaned into III.