Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-11-22
CHAPTER xI-(continued.)


-
1.-The glass is falling rapidly" an
swered, "and I suspect a 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 shutting about their work.
II hardly know; they-they look
awfully rough and-and disreputable.
Weren't some of them drunk?''
mo doubt, yes. Don't worry, Miss
Vera. Those things are frequent
enough on shipboard. We will have
these lads thoroughly tanned within an
other twenty-four hours. There is never
a mutiny without some leader and a
better cause. I am working under
your orders, you know
She glanced up quickly into my face.
"Under my orders? No, not that,
Mr.. Hollis. You told me it would be
your choice; I merely granted permits
sion"
Your permission was equivalent to
an order. I so accepted it,
But that is hardly fair. Not that
regret the choice, for / could never
have forgiven myself if my selfishness
had ruined Philip Bascom. He is really
an old friend"
$50 I supposed; a very interesting
man in spite of his misfortune"
HE was, indeed, before that bullet
wrecked him. 1t is sad; and to think
that the one who shot him is actually
on board-his guest
mot altogether q pleasant thought
to me-" said soberly. 'tFor Mccain is
the kind to breed more trouble if he
can find an excuse"
'You do not consider the man dam
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. 1 shall have to
tell Leayord the whole story"
'Leayord?'
'The man 1 named for first officer ;
he is standing abaft the foremost yon-
der"
1.-THE second officer is a Sweden
Yes; rather young, but I like his
face, and he seems to have the re-
spect of the men," turned and gazed
into the face of the compass, already
lighted.
"What is your name?" I asked of the
black at the wheel.
watson, sab; Charles Watson"
'Well, Watson, let her head fall off
a couple of points-that's it, my man.
Is this the signal cord to the engine
room?"
He nodded, the whites of his eyes
showing oddly, and I rang for an in
crease of speed. Watson, bracing the
wheel with one knee, wiped his lips on
his sleeve
.-Am yo' shorely amin fer ter sail
dis yere ship long ter Hamburg, sab p
he asked cautiously.
You heard what said to the men?'
'sYas, sab, done heerd dat. But ]
thought maybe best tell yer, sab, that
thar's sure a bad lot forward, an
they's plum set against goin' no far
ther"
"a bad lot, hey? And who seems tt
be the leader, Watsonf
He scratched his head.
"Wal, sab, there's two or three who
has lot ter say, but sorter reckon a:
how de real boss is a white pussor
Cttll 1iNeIpOOi 6S0-ne Qu4 StdTleQ Tel
knife me night afore last, and if
hadn't done got outer thar right lively
reckon I'd bin a dead niger sure
'sWhat objection does this fellow ant
the others with him have to fnishin,
this voyageT'
''Wal, mostly at first it wus jus
ordinary cussidness. sab; but now the,
got the war ter harp about. dat Liver
pool is a-playin' it up ter beat all, sab
He says this ship is loaded with wa
stuff, and bound ter be sunk or cap
tured; am dat SO, sah?'
I'VE have a miscellaneous cargo"
answered, land some of it might b
contraband- But it was shipped befor
war was declared, and we have ampl
time to reach port before the establish
ment of a blockade. There will be n
trouble. Watson, If the men only d
their duty You let them know tina
said SO when you 60 -or~ard--