The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-08-18
CHAPTER IV.-cOntlnued.

'Sacre! Il has been as ze devi
drove, easily. ne last was sandal
wood in re South seas. care little
so ze pay be good"
Then Wen get down to facts" an,
j sat back In the chair fronting tn,
two Of them. 'Mr Tuttle, how man!
men have you enlisted for this AFFAIR {?
Twenty"
Those fellows out yonder?" and
nodded toward the closed door. II,
exhibited his yellow teeth, his eyei
narrowing.
They'll be about all yen want tC
tackle, / guess" he volunteered, Will
some assumption OF cheerfulness, "un
less maybe you decide to turn this
expedition into piracy, an give 'en
half the spoils. They're that sort, all
right"
Strengthened back in my chair, my
jaws set hard, my gaze endeavorina
vainly to catch and hold his shifty
eye.
Mr.. Tuttle,T said, sternly, "as !
understand matters | am captain this
cruise, and you're mate. Whenever ]
desire your advice I'll probably ask for
it. Just at present please confne
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"
Every mongrel 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 surly and insolent but |
gripped my indignation and held back
the hot words burning my tongue. It
was necessary that make the best of
1t now, but after we were once safely
at sea 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
you?" his shoulders rising to the ques-
tion. Mr.. Tuttle he grumble, but it
was all bark. know him, an l raz-
zer have him so zan hear him talk to
re spirits; wen he do zat, it make me
sick, by gar!"
You disappearing, mongrel infidel,
the whalemans 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
enough before morning" l 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; 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 / 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. l
hope, sir-have them there in an hour.
sober. De Nova, you must know how
10 bring sailor-men to their senses;
get busy with that gang. Now work
'apidly and quickly, both of you, for if |
We get caught, this is likely to be a !
hanging matter for all of us"
! stared at the two of them for just [
IN instant-De Nova on MS feet, Tut. /
lie leaning forward in his chair-and I
Sepped forth into the outer room, /
|s1sing the door behind me. A
lnken yell greeted my re-entFance /
the boisterous crowd, but ignor- n
everything, glancing neither to e
nor left, ! picked my way through b
2tley gathering out into the well 7
lackness of the night. a
Il