Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-12-20
Copyright A. c. Nc Clurg & Co.
CHAPTER xVII.-Continued.


downed the owner and the second mate
easy, but Leayord and the engineer
made some trouble, and had to be
soaked We got 'em all quiet enough
now. where they can't make any
trouble"
Where are they confined?''
He winked at me in a half-drunken
ieer.
(which is none o. yer business
hey. Mr.. McCann?"
The impudent manner of the fell
low served to fully awaken me to
realization of the helpless position I
occupied. I held back the first hot
retort on my lips, and forced a smile.
II get the idea," said, pretending
good nature I was far from feeling.
81 am to merely work under orders.
Well, I'd rather do that than let you
wreck the ship, and perhaps drown
the whole company. What is your
object in this affair? You surely don't
hope to dispose of this vessel and
cargo?"
mo, L DON'T" and Mccain took a
step forward, his hand resting on the
desk. ITO be frank with you, Hollis,
this affair has gone further than I
intended; it got the start of me while
you held me prisoner aft here in the
cabin. There's nothing for me to do
now but work out of the fix as best
I can"
''Mutiny. then, was not part of your
original plano"
mot open mutiny-no. I'm no fool,
and know what that means. / start
ed in to make the crew dissatisfied,
so they would force you to put back
RI off hon
money but with no intention of resort
ing to force. Then you locked me up,
and this other thing happened. We've
gone too far now to back out. We
don't mean to get caught So it's up to
you to decide whether the Indian Chief
remains afloat, and no lives lost; or
whether the old hooker is never heard
of again."
you'd scuttle the ship?"
s"That's for you to decide; it's my
advice to you not to take the chance"
1 could scarcely believe he meant
this; the proposition was SO abso-
iutely heartless, SO cold-blooded. I
could hardly associate it even with
Fergus Mccain. Surely he was not
in reality the utter villain he now
coolly professed himself. My eyes left
his face, and sought Liverpool, who
was leering at me in drunken gravity.
SIS this true, Red? Have you fell
lows held council?"
"Some ov us have" he said sullenly.
Jim Dugan, Simms and me, we talked
1T all over with Mr.. Mccain here, an
agreed what wus best. That's why
the two ov us come ter see YOU
unless I consent to sign a report
showing your desertion of the ship
justified, you propose to sink the In
dian Chief?"
You an Bascom-both ov yer"
And if we do sign-what then?"
you'll sail US within fifty miles ov
the nearest open port, and Well take
to the boats, and leave you to be picked
up
you'd report our condition ashore?''
'Nothin' was said about that. Yer
drift would be southland, an would
soon bring yer in the track O. ships
the sails ter give the hooker steerage
way. We figured we'd be safe unless
there was big storm"
1t was certainly a cold-blooded prop
osition, but the fellows tone was SO
matter-of-fact 1 no longer doubted this
to be their final decision. I played my
last Card
''See here, Red" and drew a paper
from the drawer of the desk. do you
fellows realize the value of this ship
and the cargo below hatches?"
1--WE don't give a darn
s'Well, you better, for it's a tidy
little sum. Now, see here-Ill pledge
the crew fifty thousand dollars, to be
divided as you choose, if you will docl
the Indian Chief at Hamburg
who'll pay it?'
1.-The owner, within ten Gays of land
ing
AN If We get snapped up by al
English or Ftsnch cruiser on the wa,
over, all we'd ever get would be Jail
That sorter plan don't make no hi
with me nor my mates. We've talked
it all over"
Mccain struck the desk with his fist
impatient at the discussion.
"Your price is too low, Hollis. Thi
is no piker's game. Red knows it Il
worth more than fifty thousand to M
TO get back to New York. So now, will
you help us quietly. or shall we hav
to make your"
"What is 1t you desire of me?'
THAT you work out an observation
once day, and set the ships cours
as we direct; then tell us when q Ger
tain point has been reached"
ssWhat pointYs