The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-02-18
CHAPTER Iv.-Continued.

"Sacfe! It has been as ze devil
Drove! easily. re last was sandal
wood IN re South 1 care little,
- ze pay be good"
Then we'll get down to facts" and
sat back in the chair fronting the
two of them. MIR. futile. how many
men have you enlisted for this AFFAIR.""
~"Tw}nty."
Those fellows out yonder?" and l
nodded toward the closed door. He
exhibited his yellow teeth, his eyes
narrowfng.
They'll be about all yen want to
tackle: I guess" he volunteered, with
some assumption of ch%eerfulness, "un.
less maybe you decide to turn this
expedition into piracy, an give 'em
half the spells. They're that sort, all
right.
Strengthened back in my chair, my
Jaws SET hard, my gaze endeavoring
vainly to catch and hold his shifty
eye.
Mr.. Tuttle," l said, sternly, "as l
understand matters l am captain this
cruise, and you're mate. Whenever !
desire your advice I'll probably ask for
It. Just at present please confine
yourself to my questions. What crew
have you?"
The expression of his face a
angry enough, yet he evidently
thought best to answer civilly.
First and second officers, boatswain
and gunner, five coal-heavers, the rest
seamen."
Nationality?
every mongrel race under the
sky"
You have no engineer"
Couldn't pick up any; however,
there's one on board, and, no doubt,
Job"
The mans manne and tone re-
manned surly and insolent, but
xrfpped my indignation and held back
the hot words burning my tongue. 1t
vas necessary that l make the best of
Il now, but after We were once safely
at sea intended very shortly to take
the measure of this Yankee whaleman.
Ny eyes wandered toward the olive
tntsd face of De Nova, barely visible
through the. envel0ping smoke of his
cigarette. The latter nodded cheer
fully, as though he Interpreted my
thought.
"Oh. : men was all right. mon
sieur," he put in, smilingly. "Maybee
you?" his shoulders rising to the ques-
ton. Mr.. futile he grumble, but it
VAS al bark. l know him, an l raz-
1er have him SO zan hear him talk to
- spirits; wen he do Eat. 1t make me
aick, by gar!"
You disappearing. mongrel inidel,"
the whaleman's nasal voice rising
shrill with anger. Il don't have to
count beads in order to lift my soul to
the other world"
There Is liable to be fighting
onough before morning." l interposed,
sharply. fearing a quarrel, without
comrades falling out about their be-
l1ef. Leave that for lubbers ashore
- argue yer. Now tell me what ar
rangements have been made for board
Ing the Esmeralda?"
futile spat into the sawdust, his
oAse still on De Nova.
Two boats concealed beneath the
plling Of the Mercantile Company's
coal wharf; q whaleboat and a cutter"
ANY arms?"
"A dozen rifles, six in each boat"
I arose to my feet, glancing at my
watch In the dim light. He had not
even me the customary 'sir" in any
q his replies. yet l ignored the omis-
sion, willing for the time being to
sink formality for the sake Of action.
.very well. Mr.. Tuttle. Have your
men there IN an hour from now. They,
alAd- better travel in parties on 1.-TWO;
md rec that they start out sober. You
understand these orders clearly. I
Nope, sfr-haye them there In IN hour,
dpber. De Nova, you must know how
. bring sailor-men to heir senses;
ut busy with that gang. Now work
rapidly and quickly. both Of you. for If
Ne get caught. this is likely to be a
hanging matter Tor all Of us"
I stared ct the two of them for just
a iAatant-De Nova ON his feet, Tut
~ leaning forward in his chair-and
a9apood fortA Into the outer room,
Galcs3nG the door behind me. A
epe4esyAll greeted ny rs-entrance