Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-12-06


swered. leaning against the rail. his
eyes on the distant bank of cloud,
"only maybe we might play money
against money in this game, with fair
chance to win. / reckon gold, no mat
ter where it comes from. would look
good to those devils forward"
Scarcely a manly act on our part
to suggest such thing"
"WeIl, don't know about that, sir"
he insisted stubbornly. II reckon old
man Darlington would be willing
enough to pay the price, rather than
have his girl left in the hands of those
fellows. They'll be no lambs if they
ever get control of the ship. But may
be you know best, sir"
left him and walked forward to
where ! could look down on the main
deck. AS deeply as I despised the
thought of ever resorting to this last
suggestion made by Leayord, yet ]
could not remain entirely Indifferent
to it's possibilities. If matters on board
were, indeed, as serious as he pictured
them, our situation was far from pleas
ant. To keep on probably meant bat
tie to preserve the ship, and involved
not only our own rough handling, even
unspeakable horror to the woman left
alone, and unprotected, on board. What
would be her fate if we failed to up
hold discipline, and those unbridled
ruffians once obtained control of the
vessel? The thought staggered me.
Yet I could reach no other conclu-
sion except to continue the voyage,
meeting its problems as they present
back now. All hope lay in keeping Nc
Cam prisoner, entirely isolated from
his confederates, and dealing with the
men forward with a harsh firmness
sufficient to strike terror into their
souls. The slightest movement of re-
volt on their part must be my signal
for action.
The day held fair, with a stiff breeze
blowing over the port quarter, and the
expanse of sea about US vacant of
either sail or smoke. As noon ap-
preached I had Dade fetch the sextant
from the captains stateroom, and took
my observation with considerable
care, going below to work out my fig
ures alone, as the many years passed
ashore had left me a bit doubtful of my
facility. No one appeared to take any
noted a group of men forward watch
ing as disappeared.
With nothing to guide me, or check
my figures with ON the chart, I went
over them twice to be assured of ac-
curacy, finally marking our position
as carefully as possible, and determin-
ing our future course. LeayOrd had
just been called for his watch, and
hnf off ho
waiting for my appearance. They re-
manned silent as 1 approached, and, as
1 turned and faced forward, my eyes
observed a largely increased grouping
of men about the forecastle, and all
staring aft.
'Are both watches on deck, Mr.. Lea
yord?" I asked. ''Has there been any
call for all hands?'
NO, SIR" he answered, his own gaze
| shifting. Its the change of watch,
| and the second mates men haven't
| gone below yet. Maybe the cook is
slow, or else they are a bit curious to
| find out where the ship is, sir. Would
| you mind giving them the figures?'
mot at all; the wheelsman would
| spread the news fast enough as soon
as relieved. We, are at fifty-two de-
| gress, thirty-five minutes west longi-
| tude, and forty degrees, ten minutes
north latitude, approximately"
"And where does that put us from
| New York;"
ABOUT five hundred miles, a little
| north of east; Halifax is the nearest
port, two hundred and seventy-five
miles nor nor by west. We are be-
| tween the North Atlantic steamer
| lanes and the direct course to the Med
| iterranean, more in line with the
| Azores, should say. That accounts
| for the deserted sea-we're out of the
| beaten track"
| "How's the coal, sir?'
"All but one bunker full yet; We'll
not steam heavy except tonight
| Personally don't see any objection
to making a try of it," Leayord added,
but I don't know how the crew may
feel. This isn't exactly the sort of
| voyage they shipped for"
I'VE may as well test them first as
| last" said determined to have it over
with. Both watches are mostly on
deck. Have the bosun call them aft. -
The fellows responded quickly
enough, a. few slouching along in pre-
tended Indifference, but the majority
exhibiting a real interest. Liverpool
Red stood directly below me, step in
advance of his mates His cap hid his
eyes, but there was an ugly, defiant
grin on his face, which angered me.