The Pulaskian., 1917-10-26


 the same kidney. If I was you, sir, I'd have talk with Olson when he come on deck again. He'll tell you more'n I can."
 stood silent moment, staring out into the black void.
 'I presume, Mir. Leayord, can con fidently rely on your loyalty in case trouble develops?"
 You sure can, sir"
 And Olson?'
 Hell face it like man; and al- though Masters is bit of fool, I'm guessing he can be counted on in pinch"
 Are there any others?"
 That's hard to say, sir, offhand. I haven't been shipmates with them, or with any O this crew long enough yet to size 'em up; but there are few men forward who don't chum none with Liverpools crowd. Olson would know lem better than |"
 "Well, the sooner we learn exactly how we stand in this matter the better. I'll relieve you as soon as l have bite to eat"
 In spite of its general dinginess of paint and furnishings, the main cabin had look of coziness and comfort as I entered from the black gloom of the decks. Bascom and Miss Vera occu- pied seats on one side, while Olson, washed and brushed into state of rare discomfort sat alone opposite. A slim, narrow-chested man, his weak mouth partially concealed by strag- gling mustache, and who answered to the name of Dade, acted as steward, but the boy, Moon, was doing most of the work. drew out the single va- cant chair and sat down.
 Well" I said pleasantly, breaking the rather awkward silence, "I do not exactly know where we are going, but we are on our way"
 ''The sea is rising, I judge" re- marked Bascom.
 .There is every promise of a rough night, but nothing to worry over Dade, why did you set the table only for four? There is another passenger aboard.''
 "He has refused to mess aft, sir" "Oh, he hasI We'll, possibly, l may have something to say as to that. Did he give any reason?" Dade endeavored to hide grin. "Not exactly, reason, sir" he answered softly, "but took it from what he said that he was not overly proud O the l., ~oI eli I devoted few minutes to the meal, but when Dade departed on an errand forward, decided might just as well discuss the situation frankly.
 T am beginning to fear" said qui- etly, ''that Mir. Fergus McCann intends to make us all lne trouble possible, and is even now behind most of the dis satisfaction on board. Do you know anything definite, MT. Olson?' The mate paused in his eating, with knife and fork uplifted. q had not heard, sir. May ask If he is rich?"
 Quite so; he was guest on the yacht Esmeralda. Now that I have answered these questions, MT. Olson," and stared into his rather emotion less face intently, perhaps you will be kind enough to answer mine." T would know what I talk" he re- turned stubbornly. "He, this MT. Mo Cam, he offers ten thousand dollars to be put back in New York" "So that's his gamel Who brought the word forward?" Cookie, I think, sir. I overheard Jim White say that MT. McCann had belt on him with more money in it than they'd ever seen before in all their lives. The d. fool-I beg your pardon, miss-didn't know no more than to show it to lem. Why, the sight of 1t fairly drove them two wharf rats crazy.
 "There's half a dozen men forward" he went on slowly, "who would murder their grandfathers, sir, to get hold O all that coin. The rest O the crew are decent enough fellows as sailormen go, but there's liquor aboard yet and all this 'ere war talk has scared 'em against continuing the voyage" "McCann told them?" 'He told Cookie an Liverpool, an they circulated the news. Iris said we're chuck up with contraband, sir, an that if we're took, every man jack of us will be chucked into an English or French prison" You expect q mutiny, then, MT. Ol- son?"
 q don't know what'll stop 1t, sir" he answered solemnly. "The men went aft ter sorter take your measure, sir, and hear what 1t was you proposed do- ing. They ain't had no chance to git tergether an talk since, but it's my notion they're ripe enough for the job." looked him squarely in the .yes. "And how about you, MT. Olson" sMe, sir?" his lips grinned. If I hadn't intended for to stay with yer, sir, never would "a took the job." I reached out my hand, and our fin gers locked.