Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-06-24
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from Delng blown away, Il am no sea
orator, and what have to say will be
short. No doubt you know pretty
well already what has happened on
board during the night. All need say
Is, that Mr.. Tuttle Is dead; he went
crazy and shot himself. Now, the
reason l called you aft is this. You
are no regular articled crew. on an
ordinary voyage between ports. None
Of you have signed papers. and you
have no lawful officers to take charge.
1t happens I'm the only navigator on
board. and so I've called you aft. after
talking with Mr.. De Nova about 1t, to
get your ideas on what ought to be
done. Some of you speak up until we
can find out what your notions are"
No one among them made any re-
sponse. the long row Of eyes staring
DULY up at me. the feet shuflling in
uneasiness.
Come, Anderson, open, up. You've
been sounding the men for an hour
past. What's your plan?"
The boatswain. thus directly singled
out from the others. pushed his way
to the front. slancing sideways into
the faces OF his mates.
SWELL we have talked about II hit,
Mr.. Stephens. but dunno as we've
quite decided" his gruff voice borne
to US on the wind. How far are we
from the islands what Mr.. Tuttle told
about?"
NEARLY 200 miles to the northwest"
The big sailor cast his eyes over the
side at the sea view, slowly turning
the quid in his cheek.
"An' the wind right. 'Tain't much of
q run. sir. after what we've already
had gettin' here. recken you could
fnd that pint O. sea?"
YES" ! acknowledged. almost re-
luctantly. Il can find 1t. unless the ice
shuts US In first. But what's the use
in taking such a chance. Anderson?
Tuttle was probably Just as crazy
about that matter as he was over
other things. To my mind he never
saw any Islands where he said he did.
Government ships have surveyed all
these waters again and again. and the
charts show no land anywhere along
that latitude. I'm for calling II .
poor job. and turning back before we
get nipped. Look where we are now:
We haven't mile Of clear water eth.
er side OF US. and q shift Of wind will
crush our sides like an eggshell."
The silent men stared gloomily out
at that grim expanse Of sea. ice and
sky. but Anderson only scowled up
into my face. slapping his mittened
hands together.
To hell wid that sort O. rot. Mr..
Stephens" be broke forth. fiercely.
We're sailor-men. an the most Of US
have seen ice before. This channels
wide enough for the hooker. an what
the devil do we want more? Maybe the
or man was q bit nutty. but he knew
how to sail these seas. an he told .
dam straight yarn about that Span
ish ship. just the same. an I'm for
findin' out whether or not II was lie.
Maybe there amt no pesos awaitin'
for US out yonder. but. by God. sir. I
want to know It for sure. An SO do
my mates. Now. you say we're within
200 miles OF findin' out the truth. an
I'm hanged II I'll consent to go back
like whipped cur without takin' even
a squint along that latitude"
He stamped on the deck, glowering
about him like mad bull, evidently
daring the others to contradict. I
leaned farther out over the rail.
is that right. lads? Has Anderson
spoken your sentiments? Do you real.
ly mean to proceed in this crazy
search in spite Of all that ice out
yonder7'
No voice responded. although l
could hear the hoarse grumbling in
their throats and see their heads
shaking afiirmatively. l turned to-
ward the mate. who was standing just
behind me.
The men are all tongue-tied. How
Is II with you. Mr.. De Nova? Are you
for further south. or a quick run
homer"
! noticed him glance across toward
Celeste, crouching beneath the shelter
of the longboat, her face showing
white against the darker background. I
even imagined the girl lifted her hand
as II in some form Of signal: anyhow.
the creole smiled confidently. his Jet
mustaches clearly outlined against his
cheek.
wat I say. monsieur? Oh. oui.
was for get up re steam In re en-
gine. and make dash. BY gar. may
be rare was re monies to make us all
rich. Wy not? Wiz re steam we
sheat re ice-feld. Bah! seen It
worse as rat"
True" I urged In final effort. but
the season is wrong. We are driving
south in the face Of winter. the Ice
packs are forming. and not breaking
up. warn every one of you the
chances are we'll be nipped."
CTo BE CONTINUEDD
Hob-Would you like to see women
voters at the polls?
Nob-Yes. indeed. At the nosti, and