The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-23
CHAPTER XII.
! Select Ny Officers.

oclSCt wy OslSVtos
Tho dc was cast. However tho
strange adventure might eventually
end, Whatever perlfiurkcd ahead of us,
It was now too late for regret. The
full responsibility l had assumed a.
most overwhelmed me as l first
emerged upon deck, but there came to
me also II spirit Of rccklcssness, which
brought n laugh to my lips and II shrug
to my shoulders. Why should l care?
Il was her choice, not mine. A moment
I fingered ut tho port RAIL- staring out
into the smother Of the coming dusk,
wondering how 1t would Ill end, before
l climbed the ladder to the poop deck.
The negro was ut the wheel, while
Masters stood aft gazing astern. He
was not aware OF my presence until !
spoke sharply.
'Mr Masters"
"Ayc, aye, sir"
II have agreed TO take command of
the vessel for the remainder Of the voy-
Wv, SuiN uulCIiy, uhu "Oulu AuSC
q word with the crew."
'"rhc remainder OF the voyage, sir1''
Eyes; tho vessel has suffered no Sc
rlous damage. and there are surely
seamen on board to serve as watch Off.
GERS"
'"Fhc bOsun Ia a good man, SIR"
"WhAt Ia his nfme2"
"Leay ord"
every We'll; have the men piped aft."
"All hands, slr?"
"Ccrtalnly. Mr.. Masters. They have
had rest enough. imagine, tho past
few days. Now they are In for a spell
Of work."
was not altogether pleased with
the engineers manner, a vague suspl-
cion coming into my mind that he also
rather preferred return to Baltimore.
and that the crew might desire the
same decision. A I went forward to
the rail | noticed that both Vera and
Rascom had come up as far as the
head of the companion, and now stood
there In the shadow, where they could
both see and hear. Mccain, however,
did not appear, and was probably
asleep below, or still doctorlng his dis
colorcd optic. l had Just moment to
observe these things before the men
began to appear aft the mainmast. and
form In straggly line across the deck.
They were indeed a rough-looking lot,
even for frelghter's crew. plainly
showing the effects Of prolonged de.
bauches ashore, with several among
them stlll manifestly under the intlu.
ence of liquor. The re-establlshment
Of sea discipline on board was evi'
IDENTIFY to be my first task. and my
teeth clenched tightly as my eyes swept
their faces.
"Come farther aft. men," I ordered
sternly. "BoSun. bring them closer In
where they can hear what say-ay
that's more like 1t"
stared down into the upturned
faces. noting. 1t seemed to me, charac
tcriSticS of every race on earth. and
realizing that here before me was
grouped the scum Of the seven seas.
Men" began. gripping the rail and
speaking swiftly. "my name is Hollis
and I held command In the old Atlas
line The owner Of this vessel ant
cargo-Mr. Philip Bascom-has just
done rle the honor Of appointing me a
captain for the remainder of the vOy
age"
The fellows remained silent. excep
for the restless shutting Of their fee
on the deck.
and what ia the vige to be. mister?'
suddenly asked hOarSe voice back II
the group.
"The same one you signed on for. 0,
course"
"rer Hamburger
/ That's where we lay her head"
"Rut ter perditlon wild 1t: we've .
wrecked ship. an they tell US there's
war on"
"Who tells you thatT
1.-THE guy that come aboard along
with yer: he told the cook"
''Wetl. war or no war. this shll
cleared before there was any declara
ton, and You fellows shipped with he
for the -NoNags." ~-' =