The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-11-20

other twenty-four hours. There is never
a mutiny without some leader and a
better cause. 1 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 Il would he
your choice; merely granted permis-
sion"
Your permission was equivalent to
an order. i so accepted IT."
But that is hardly fair. Not that I
regret the choice. for 1 could never
have forgiven myself II my selfishness
had ruined Philip Bascom. He Is really
an old friend"
$50 1 supposed; 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"
"Not altogether a pleasant thought
to me-" I said soberly. "For McCann is
the kind to breed more trouble II he
can find an excuse"
You do not consider the man dan
gerousI"
Not In the sense you near He will
never attack openly, or permit himself
to be known in any conspiracy. But
he wifi have to be watched. neverthe-
less. He is the sort 10 harbor revenge.
and as he feels hatred and distrust
toward both Bascom and myself, we
cannot be too careful. shall have to
tell Leayord the whole story"
"Leayord"
The man / named for first officer;
ne is standing ahaft the foremast yon-
der"
THE second officer is a Swede?"
"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 2" asked of the
black at the wheel.
Watson, sab; Charles Watson"
"Well, Watson, let her head fall Off
couple of points-that's 1t, my man.
Is this the signal cord to the engine
room?"
He nodded, the whites Of his eyes
showing oddly, and 1 rang for an in
crease of speed. Watson, Sracing the
wheel with one knee, wiped his lips on
his sleeve
'Am yo' shorely amin fer ter sail
dis yere ship long ter Hamburg, sah?"
he asked cautiously.
''You heard what said to the men?"
'Yas, sab, done heerd dat. But
thought maybe best tell yer, sab, that
nr'u
they's plum set against goin' no far
rher"
"A bad lot hey7 And who seems to
be the leader, Watson7"
He scratched his head.
"Wal, sab, there's two or three who
has lot ter say, but sorter reckon as
how de real boss Is q white pusson
CALI Liverpool Red-he dun started ter
knife me night afore last, and IL
hadn't done got outer thar right lively,
l reckon I'd bin dead niger sure"
"What objection does this fellow and
the others with him have to finishing
this voyageT
"Wal, mostly at first II wus Just
ordinary cussidness, sab but now they
got the war ter harp about, dat Liver
pool is a-playin' 1t up ter beat all, sab.
He says this ship is loaded with war
stun, and bound ter be sunk or cap
tured am dat so, sah?"
I'VE bave a miscellaneous CARGO
answered, "and some of 1t might be
contraband. But 1t was shipped before
war was declared, and we have ample
time to reach port before the establish
ment of blockade. There will be no
trouble, Watson. II the men only do
their duty. You let them know that
/ said 30 when you go forward"
"Yas, sah."
left him, and walked over to the
rail, realizing keenly the position Of
peril into which / had drifted. With
loyal crew my task would prove no
easy one. but with a crippled ship, and
the men already on the verge Of mu-
tiny, the situation was almost despe-
rate.
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