The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-12-07
Copyright A. @. Nc Clurg q Co.
CHAPTER xvII.-continued.

-t2-
"They're all right" broke in Liver
pool, except for some sore heads. We
d0wned 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
leer.
(which is none o. yer business
hey, Mr.. McCann"
The impudent manner of the fell
low served to fully awaken me to a
realization Of the helpless position !
occupied. 1 held back the first hot
retort on my lips, and forced smile.
II get the idea," said, pretending a
good nature l 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 McCann took q
step forward, his hand resting on the
desk. ITO be frank with you, Hollis,
this affair has gone further than
intended; 1t 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 es best
I can"
"Mutiny, then, was not part of your
original PLAN"
"Not open mutiny-no. I'm no fool,
and know what that means. l start
ed in to make the crew dissatisfied,
so they would force you to put back
to an American port. 1 offered them
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 shipw
That's for you to decide; It's my
advice to you not to take the chance"
could scarcely believe he meant
this; the proposition was so abso-
lutely heartless. so cold-blooded. /
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.
as this true. Red? Have you fell
lows held council?"
"Some ov us have" he said sullenly.
"JIm Dugan, Simms and me, we talked
It all over with Mr.. Mccain here, an
agreed what wus best. That's why
the two ov us come ter see YOU"
"Unless 1 consent to sign q report
she wing your desertion of the ship
justified, you propose to sink the In
diau Chief?"
"You an Bascom-both Ov yer"
"And IL we do sign-what thenw
you'll sail us within fifty miles ov
the nearest open port, and We'll 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 ;
besides there's enough left ter handle
the sails ter give the hooker steerage
way. We figured we'd be safe unless
there was big Storm"
IL was certainly a cold-blooded prop
osition, but the fellows tone was so
matter-of-fact no longer doubted this
to be their final decision. 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 darn"
well, you better, for it's a tidy
little sum. Now, see here-I'1l pledge
the crew fifty thousand dollars. to be
divided as you choose, if you will dock
the Indian Chief at Hamburg"
"Who'll pay it?"
"1'he owner, within ten days of land
ing"
"hn' If we get snapped up by an
English or French cruiser on the way
over, all we'd ever get would be Jail.
That sorter plan don't make no hit
with me nor my mates. We've talked
IL all over"
MrCann struck the desk with his fist,
impatient at the discussion.
"yorr price Is too low. Hollis. This
II no piker's game. Red knows 1t is
worth more than fifty thousand to me
to get back to New York. SO now, will
you help us quietly. or shall we have
to make you"
"what Is 1t you desire of met"
"That you work out an observation
once day. and set the ships course
~ we direct; then tell us when a Ger.
tain point has been reached"
''what point7"
, 'Ts-tv miles northeast OF St Johns.