, 1914-12-03
Cspyrreht, 1913. BY the Mcclure Pubheansn,. lac
Cspyrighf. 1914, BY Mary Robern RInsharr

asked Singleton. the first mate. for
permission tt sleep on deck and was
refused. | went down. obediently
enough. to be driven back with nau-
sea. And so. watching my chance. l
waited until the first mate. on watch.
disappeared into the forward cabin to
eat the night lunch always prepared
by the cook and left there. Then.
with a blanket and pillow. l crawled
into the starboard lifeboat and settled
myself for the night. The lookout saw
me. but gave no sign.
1t was not a bad berth. AS the snip
listed the stars seemed to sway above
me. and my last recollection was of
the Great Dipper performing digniied
gyrations in the sky.
l was aroused by n of the two
lookouts. a young fellow named Burns.
He was standing below. rapping on
the side of the boat with his knuckles..
I sat up and peered over at him and
was conscious for the first time that
the weather had changed. A fine rain
was falling. My hair and shirt were
wet
Something doing in the chart ROOM"
he said cautiously. Thought you might
not want to miss it."
He was in his bare feet. as was l..
Together We hurried to the after house.
The steersman. in oilskins. was at his
post. but was peering through the
barred window into the chart room.
which was brilliantly lighted He step
ped aside e hal to let US look In.
The loud and furious voices which had
guided us had quieted. but the situa-
tion had not relaxed.
q Singleton, the first mate. and Turner
were sitting at a table Uttered with
bottles and glasses. and standing over
them. white with fury. was Captain
Richardson. In the doorway to the
main cabin. dressed in pajamas and a
bathrobe, Vail was watching the scene.
~ told you last night MI. Turner"
the captain said. banging the table
with his fist. Il won't have you inter
fering with my officers or with my
ship. That mans IN duty, n he's
drunk
"Your ship" Turner sneered thickly.
.It,s my ship. and IL discharge you!"
He got to his feet. holding to the Ia
BILE. "Mr. Singleton (hic, from now on
you're captain = Captain Singleton.
How-how dye like itT'
Mr.. Vail came forward. the only cool
one Of the four.
Don't be a fool. Marsh" he protest
ed. Come to bed. The captains
right"
Turner turned his pale blue eyes on
Vail. and they were as full Of danger
ms n snakes. "You go to -" he
said. Singleton. you're the captain.
dye hear? If Rich-if Richardson gets
funny put HMM irons"
Singleton stood up. with a sort or
He was less intoxicated
than Turner. but ugly enough. He
faced the captain with a leer.
-sorry. old fellow" he said. but you
heard what Turner saidF'
The captain drew a deep breath.
Then. without any warning. he lean
ed across the table and shot out his
clinehed fist. Ii tool the mate on the
point Of the chin. and he folded up In
a heap on the floor.
Turner picked up a bottle from the
table and made the same inco-ordinate
pass with 1t at the captain as he had
at me the morning before with his
magazine. The captain did not move.
He was a big man. and he folded his
arms with their hairy wrists across his
chest.
"Mr. Turner" he said. while we are
on the sea I am in command here
You know that well enough. You are
drunk tonight. In the morning you