Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-04-15
CHAPTER Iv.-continued.

"Sacre! 1t has been as re devil
Drove" easily. "Ze last was sandal.
wood in re South seas. l care little.
SO ze pay be good"
Then we'll get down to facts" and
! sat back in the chair fronting the
two OF them. "Mr. Tuttle, how many
men have you enlisted for this AFFAIR.""
Twenty"
Those fellows out yonder?" and I
exhibited his yellow teeth. his eyes
narrowing.
They'll be about all yeIl want to
tackle. I guess" he volunteered. with
some assumption OF cheerfulness, "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 endeavoring
vainly to catch and hold his shifty
eye.
"Mr. Tuttle." I said. sternly. ''as I
understand matters I 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
hoye your"
VThe 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."
s.N,tS1uo1ttv
Every mongrei race under the
sky"
"You have no engineer?'
Couldn't pick up any: however.
there's one on board. and, no doubt,
We can persuade him to stick to the
job"
The mans manner and tone re-
mained suriy and insolent, but
gripped my indignation and held back
the hot words burning my tongue. 1t
was necessary that make the best OF
1t now. but after we were once safely
at sea I 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
bit rough. but, sacre, wat would
your" his shoulders rising to the ques-
ton. Mr.. Tuttle he grumble. but 1t
was all bark. I know him. an I raz-
zer have him SO ran hear him talk to
re spirits: wen he do zat. It make me
sick. by gar!"
You blaspheming. mongrel infdel,"
the whaleman's nasal voice rising
Grill 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 interposed.
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?"
Tuttle spat into the sawdust, his
gaze still on De Nova.
Two boats concealed beneath the
piling OF the Mercantile Company's
coal wharf: a whaleboat and 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 formality 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 II
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 outer room.
closing the door behind me. A
S(unken yell greeted my re-entrance