The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1910-01-28
CHAPTER IV.-continued.

"Sacre! 1t has been as re devil
Drove" easily. re last was sandal.
wood In re South seas. I care little,
so re pay be good"
Then we'll get down to facts" and
l sat back in the chair fronting the
W of them. "Mr. futile, how many
men have you enlisted for this AFFAIR."
Twenty"
Those fellows out %yonder?" and I
nodded toward the closed door. He
exhibited his yellow teeth, his eyes
narrowing.
They'll be about all yell want to
tackle, l guess" he volunteered, with
some assumption of c~heerfulness, "un-
less maybe you decide to turn this
expedition into piracy, an give 'em
half the spoils. They're that sort, all
right"
Strengthened back in my chair, my
Jaws set hard, my gaze e%ndeavoring
vainiy to catch and hold his shifty
eye.
MI. Tuttle," 1 said, sternly, "as 1
understand matters I am captain this
cruise, and you're mate. Whenever /
desire your advice I'll probably ask for
1t. Just at present please confine
yourself to my questions. What crew
have your"
The expression of his face was
angry enough, yet he evidently
thought best to answer civilly.
First and second officers, boatswain
and gunner, five coal-heavers, the rest
seamen."
Nationality"
sky
you have no engineer?"
Couldn't pick up any; however,
there's n on board, and, no doubt,
we can persuade him to stick to the
job"
The mans manner. and tone re-
NAMED surly and insolent, but I
gripped my indignation and held back
the hot words burning my tongue. 1t
was necessary that 1 make the best of
1t now, but after we were once safely
at sea l 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, smilingly. "Maybee
a bit rough, but, sacre, wat would
your" his shoulders rising to the ques-
ton. "Mr. futile he grumble, but 1t
was all bark. I know him, an I raz-
ger have him SO ian hear him talk to
re spirits; wen he do Eat, It make me
sick, by gar!"
You disappearing, mongrel infidel,"
the whaleman's nasal voice rising
shrill with anger. II don't have to
count beads in order to lift my soul to
the other world"
There is liable to be fighting
enough before morning." I i~nterposed,
sharply, fearing a quarrel, without
comrades falling out about their be-
lief. Leave that for lubbers ashore
to argue over. Now tell me what ar
rangements have been made for board
ing the Esmeralda?"
futile spat into the sawdust, his
gaze still on De Nova.
1.-TWO boats concealed beneath the
piling of the Mercantile Company's
coal wharf; a wbaleboat and a CUTTER
"Any arms?"
"a dozen rifles, six in each boat"
arose to my feet. glancing at my
watch In the dim light. He had not
given me the customary ''sir'' in any
Of his replies, yet I ignored the omis-
sion, willing for the time being to
sink Formally for the sake of action.
Very well, Mr.. Tuttle. 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, sir-have them there in an hour,
sober. De Nova, you must know how
to bring sailor-men to their senses;
get busy with that gang. Now work
rapidly and quickly, both of you, for If
we get caught, this is likely to be a
hanging matter for all of U.S."
/ stared at the two of them for Just
an instant-De Nova ON his feet, Tut
tie leaning forward in his chair-and
stepped forth into the otter room,
closing the door behind me. A
drunken yell greeted my ~re-entrance