The Pulaskian., 1917-10-26
CHAPTER xl-(continued.)

-9
 'sThe glass is falling rapidly" an- gwered, sand I suspect storm is brooding behind that curtain; that is why am so anxious to make all clear. What do you think of the crew?'
 She glanced aside toward the mo- tionless negro at the wheel, and then at the men shuffiing about their work. @I-I hardly know: they-they look awfuily rough and-and disreputable. Weren't some of them drunk?"
 sNO doubt, yes. Don't worry, Miss Vera. Those things are frequent enough on shipboard. We will have these lads thoroughly tanned within an- sther twenty-four hours. There is never a mutiny without some leader and better cause. I am working under your orders, you know"
 She glanced up quickly into my face. ~Under my orders? No, not that, Mir. Hollis. You told me it would be your choice; l merely granted permis- Son."
 ~Your permission was equivalent to an order. so accepted it."
 ~But that is hardly fair. Not that regret the choice, for I could never have forgiven myself if my selfishness had ruined Philip Bascom. He is really an old friend"
 sSO supposed: very interesting nan in spite of his misfortune"
 ~He was, indeed. before that bullet wrecked him. It is sad; and to think fhat the one who shot him is actually on board-his guest"
 ~Not altogether pleasant thought to me-" said soberly. "For McCann is the kind to breed more trouble if he tRn find an excuse"
 "You do not consider the man dan gerous?"
 Mot in the sense you mean. He will never attack openly, or permit himself to be known in any conspiracy. But he will have to be watched, neverthe- less. He is the sort to harbor revenge, and as he feels hatred and distrust toward both Bascom and myself, we cannot be too careful. shall have to tell Leayord the whole story"
 sLeayord?"
 ~The man I named for first officer 1: he Is standing abaft the foremast yon- Ger"
 The second officer is a Swede7"
 @Yes; rather young, but I like his lace. and he seems to have the re- spect of the men," I turned and gazed Into the face of the compass. already lighted.
 @what is your name7' asked of the black at the, wheel.
 Watson, sah; Charles Watson"
 sfWell. Watson, let her head fall of s couple of points-that's it, my man. Is this the signal cord to the engine room7"
 He nodded, the whites of his eyes showing oddly, and rang for an in- crease of speed. Watson, bracing the wheel with one knee, wiped his lips on his sleeve.
 @Am yo' shorely aimin' fer ter sail dis we're ship long ter Hamburg, sah?" he asked cautiously.
 "You heard what said to the men?" ~YaS, sah, I done heerd dat. But I thought maybe best tell yer, sah, that thar's sure a bad lot forward, an they's plum set against goin' no far fher.s
 "A bad lot, hey? And who seems to be the leader, Watson?"
 He scratched his head.
 Wal, sah, there's two or three who has lot ter say. but sorter reckon as bow de real boss is white pusson ealr Liverpool Red-he dun started ter knife me night afore last, and if I hadn't done got outer thar right lively, reckon I'd bin a dead nigger sure." 4What objection does this fellow and the others with him have to finishing this voyage?"
 Wal, mostly at first it wus just ordinary cussidness, sah: but now they got the war ter harp about, dat Liver pool is a-playin' it up ter beat all. sah. He says this ship Is loaded with war stuff. and bound ter be sunk or cap tured; am dat so, sah?"
 We have miscellaneous cargo" I answered, land some of it might be contraband. But it was shipped before war was declared, and we have ample ume to reach port before the establish ment of blockade. There will be no trouble, Watson. if the men only do their duty. You let them know that said so when you go forward