The Huttig news., 1917-12-01

certain yet what hand I held, but determined to play the cards coolly.
 "So you fellows are in control; and you come to me now with some sort of proposition. All right; what is it?"
 I've need a navigator for q few days; one who will lay out the course We decide on.'
 And l am the only one on board"
 You are by far the most compe= tent" he confessed. But you need not think from that we are helpless without you. I have no doubt I could figure the matter out fairly well if had to, and I am perfectly aware that Miss Darlington possesses some knowl- edge of navigation. I imagine you might prefer doing this yourself, rather than having her compelled to show her efficiency"
 "Where is Miss Carrington?' "In her own stateroom; I have not seen her since we took possession of the ship"
 And the others-Bascom, and the officers?''
 "Theyre all right" broke in Liver pool except for some sore heads. We downed the owner and the second mate easy, but Leayord and the engineer made some trouble, and had to be now, where they can't make any trouble"
 "Where are they confinedT"
 He winked at me in half-drunken leer.
 (Which is none O yer business hey, MT. McCann?n The inpudent manner of the fel- low served to fully awaken me to realization of the helpless position I occupied. l held back the first hot retort on my lips, and forced a smile.
 T get the idea," said, pretending Il good nature I was far from feeling. II am to merely work under orders. 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?"
 No, I don't" and McCann took a step forward, his hand resting on the desk. "To be frank with you, Hollis, this affair has gone further than l intended; it got the start of me while you held me prisoner aft here in the cabin. There's nothing for me to dc now but work out of the fix as best I ean.''
 "Mutiny. then. was not part of your original plang'
 l Not open mutiny-no. I'm no fool, ed in to make the crew dissatisfied. so they would force you to put back to an American port. l 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 afioat, and no lives lost; or whether the old hooker is never heard of again."
 You'd scuttle the ship?'
 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. I could hardly associate it even with Fergus McCann. Surely he was not Tn 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.
 "ls this true, Red? Have you fel- lows held council?"
 'Some ov us have,' he said sullenly. "Jim Dugan, Simms and me, we talked 1t all over with MT. MeCann here, an agreed what wus best. That's why the two ov us come ter see you"
 Unless l consent to sign report showing your desertion of the ship Justified, you propose to sink the h. dian Chief?"
 You an Bascom-both ov yer"
 And if We do sgn-what then?" 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 southard, 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"
 It was certainly cold-blooded prop Osition, but the fellows tone was so matter-of-fact 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?'
 We don't give darn"
 Well. you better, for it's a tidy little sum. Now, see here-Tll pledge the crew fifty thousand dollars, to be divided as you choose, if you will dock l,A To- iaf aEI Ia,