The Pulaskian., 1917-11-16

buI SOlhS SOuhu Ol lily Idll IuuSL nave carried aft, for Leayord sang out through the fog:
 Forward therei Whats all that racket about?"
 Whites fingers choked me into help less silence, his knee crunching hard into my breast. It was Liverpool Red who answered sullenly:
 T knocked over capstan bar, sir l; never saw it in the bloomin' fog"
 Leayord growled something, the words failing to carry to us against the wind, but moment later, satisfied that no further investigation was to be made, Liverpool thrust White aside and lifted me to my feet, his eyes glaring into mine.
 One whimper from you, an yer | overboard," he muttered hoarsely. Take it from me we know what we're about. Come on now, an don't attempt nuthin'. There's nobody forard here ter give yer hand. Take him by the collar, Jim."
 With Whites hand gripping me, and my own revolver at my head, any at tempt to break away would have been simply suicide. The thick fog hid the scene from those on watch aft, and that the two men were reckless and desperate, their plans well laid, was evident. The gray light revealed their faces, and there was no mercy in the scowling eyes.
 Forward yer go, sirl" growled White, his fingers twisted in the jacket collar. "It's little more yer1 hav' ter say aboard this hooker"
 ''What do you propose doing? This is mutiny, men,"
 Then it'll have to be mutiny. It's war, an we're Englishmen; this ships loaded with war stuffs, bound fer Ger many. That sort O talk means nuthin' --so come on, and stow that gaff."
 They forced me around the bulk of the windlass to the head of the fore castle steps, slid back the door in it's grooves and thrust me staggering down into the murky depths below. A slush light, swinging to blackened beam in the deck above, cast ghastly yellow ish glare over the interior, revealing to me at least two-thirds of the crew, clustered about, evidently awaiting some such event. White held to my collar, but Liverpool closed the en- trance, shutting out even that faint breath of pure air, before speaking a word.
 Well, we've got the main guy, lads, an no shindy," he said cheerfully, ian gun came with him. Now few O us will see if we can persuade the first mate into taking trip forward"
 Where's Billy Olsonf' asked a voice.
 "Oh, he's asleep below; there's plen- 1 ty O time to attend to him, an we'll let the engine-room gang alone till we | get control the deck. Simms, you an Harris better come along with Jim | an me on this job. Leayord is husky buck, an we might not get him foul | like we caught Hollis here. We don't want to hurt nobody unless we have to. Where's the nigger Watson"
 'Right hyar, sah."
 "Come on, then; it's your trick at | the wheel in five minutes; the rest O l you fellerS know yer business"
 The five men slipped out cautiously, | sliding the door shut behind them, and I stared about into the faces of those | left with me, still dazed by the rough | handling to which I had been subject ed, yet fully aroused to the fact that | the attack upon me had come from no l sudden impulse, but was the first step | in a carefully formed plan to gain pos session of the ship. My duty was to warn the men aft of the approaching 1 danger. How should l act? In a | vague way 1 knew most of the faces of those grouped about me, but I could recall only few names. They were a rough lot, typical foremast hands, many of pronounced foreign appear ance, yet there was nothing especially vicious about them. Ordinarily they would obey orders without complaint, but now they were evidently under full control of their leaders; yet the ex- pression of their faces bespoke curi- osity rather than hatred. Determined | to test them l strengthened up and placed foot on the lower step. None O that now" voice growled as hand gripped my arm. "You don't? want ter git hurt none, do yer?"
 I faced the speaker, big, two-fisted giant with a red face and slow drawl in his voice.
 "You mean to hold me here?"
 Sure; we've gone too far on this job now fer to back down. Thar'd be row ov a time if we turned you loose."
 You're an IrishmanY
 "'Twould be hard for Dugan to deny that, sor."
 Well, Dugan, look here-you and your mates. You are sailormen, and know the rules of the sea. This is mutiny, and mighty serious affair to be caught in, lads.'
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