Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-14
CHAPTER XIII. (Continued)

NNHE eyes of the two men met, and
i Liverpool burted out.
They'll all do what we say; there's none
ov 'em yer kin count on fer ter fight on
your side: but maybe there's a couple we
won't have no use for when we take to
the boats"
who are they?"
"Thar's no need o. my telln' yer that"
well, even with those two this will only
give us six ablebodied men; that Is not
enough with which to bring the Indian
Chief into port"
"It will be all you'll have, anyhow
said Mccain grimly. And you are mighty
lucky at that. The drift will be south
ward and will take you directly into the
steamer lane. All you need do is to keep
steerage way and wait until you are picked
up. You don't imagine we want you sail
ing into the harbor at st. Johns the same
time we get there do you? Come on now
stop this talk and give us an answer
For a long moment stood motionless,
staring out through the open port at the
sunlit waters. 1t seemed to me my pest
course was to at least pretend TO yieid
to their wishes. Nothing certainly could
be gained through refusal, for they pos
sessed the power to compel obedience. TO
acquiesce would insure me measure or
freedom on board, an opportunity to learn
the exact conditions and might enable me
to save the ship from destruction Ihe
mutineers had already gone too far 10 with
draw: their position was sufficiently des-
perate to render them reckless as TO other
crimes Probably there was no act they
would hesitate to resort 10 now to insure
their escape from the punishment already
due under the law. Not even murder, the
sinking of the vessel at sea, would be be-
yond them
As to Mccain, he had some object In all
this far more important than appeared on
the surface He was never assuming TINS
risk or investing all this money In an
illegal cause without more serious pur-
nose than an idle desire to return 10 New
York. He was taking a tremendous chance'
driven by some impulse ! could not compre-
hend What was the secret-hatc, revenge.
greed. love? / would find out some time
but now | could only gropc In the dark,
guessing at his motives. Yet ! knew this
his promises were lies. lie would make use
| of me he would induce me to pilot the snip
| TO the spot he desired to attain on the
broad bosom Of the ocean and then--what'
| The man would never be fool enough TO
narn,it the Indian Chief to sail into any
10 rhor 10 accuse him of such crime. Back
of all his words his explanations, his APP
| parent fairness lurked treachery. l felt 1t
| and knew IT, and the very suspicion led me
| 10 reach swift decision My eyes met MS
with smile -, ,, ,,,,
| cboice" said quietly 1T Is to either do
| this in freedom or under compulslon Nat
| ural,v I prefer the former. This isn't my
boat. YOU know. or my cargo. merely
agreed to navigate 1t as kindness to Bas-
com and in a spirit of adventure, My head
| ,s worth more to me than few dollars
and there is no reason why shouldn't fig
ure out the position for you Indeed ! must
| do II for the safety OF the ship It's nearly
| noon now" 80 .s,.,,,
| "yss, | will figure out the proper course
| ranort 10 YOU when the vessel is al
the place you designate. That is all that
"a asked Of me. In return have your
n,edee that the ship will be left In good
condition with all who are loyal safe on
| board?.
| "Yes" ,., ,-,
4 xWhat?"
THAT Miss Darlington be left absolutely
Iunmoissted by either you or your men until
1 ~ tims ooines tor vow p take 20 m
4 94 a X I. y, M V Z. 4 " x y. \ u, u.