American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-11-30

CHAPTER xvn-conslnusd.

CHAPTER xvli-contlnued.
-
They're 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
soaked. We got 'em all quiet enough
now, where they can't make any
trouble
where are they connnedY'
He winked az me Ia a half-drunken
leer.
which Is none o yer business
hey, Mr.. McCannT"
The inpudent manner OF the fell
low served 70 fully awaken me 10 a
realization Of the helpless position l
occupied. l held back the FIRST hot
retort on my lips. and forced a smile.
7 get the idea" l said, pretending n
good nature I was far from feeling.
II am TO merely work under orders.
Well, I'd rather do hat 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 dlspasc 1sVeaSel and
nbr
mo, l don't" and Mccain took a
1tep forward. his hand resting on the
dcsk. ITO be frank with you, Hollis,
this anair has gone further than l
Intended Il 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
1 can"
"Mutiny, then, was not part OF your
original planT'
mot open mutiny-nO. I'm no fool.
and ! know what that means. l start
ed IN 20 make the crew dissatisfied.
40 they would force you 20 put hack
60 an American port. l offered them
money, but with no intention Of resort
ing 20 force Then you locked me up,
and this other thing happened. We've
gone too far now 70 back out. We
don't mean to get caught. SO It's up to
you 20 decide whether the Indian Chief
remains nfoht. and no lives lost or
whether the old hooker Is never heard
OF again."
You'd scuttle the ship7'
That's for you to decide; It's my
advice 10 you not TO take the chance"
] could scarcely believe he meant
this; the proposition was so abso-
lutely henrtless. 80 cold-biooded. l
could hardly associate Il even with
Fergus Mccain. Surely h. was not
In reality the utter villain he now
coolly PROGRESSED himself. My eyes left
his face, and sought Liverpool who
was leerlng Rt me In drunken gravity.
Is this true, RedI Have you fel-
lows held %councilf"
Some 0v MS have" he said sullenly.
"Jim Dugan. Slmms and me. we talked
n all over with Mr. Mccain here. an
agreed what "a best. That's why
the two pv as come ter see YOU
Unless consent 10 sign a report
showing your desertion Of the ship
Justified. you propose TO sink the In
dian Chief"
you an Bascom-both ov yer"
"Aud II Sc DO slgn-what thenf'
you'll sail US within nfty miles ov
the nearest open port, and well take
20 The boats, and leave you 70 be picked
up
You'd report our condition ashore?'
"Nothin' was said about that. Yer
drift would be southRrd. an would
spnr bring yer in the track O. ships,
besides there's enough left ter handle
The sails ter give the hooker steernee
way. We figured we'd be safe unless
there was a big storm"
Il was certainly a cold.blooded prom.
osiuon. but the fellows tone was so
matter-of-fnct I no longer doubted this
20 De their FINAL decision. l played my
last card"
"see here, Red. and I drew a paper
from the drawer OF the desk. DO Won
fellows realize the value Of this shin
and the cargo below h~atchesfs
we don't give a darn"
Well. you better. for it's a tidy
little sum Now. see here-rH pledge
the crew fifty thousand dollars. 10 be
divided as you choose. II you win dock
the Indian Chief at Hamburg"
"whoB pay III"
The owner, within ten days OF land
ing"
An II we get snapped up by an
English or French cruiser on the way
over, all we'd ever get would be a jail.
That sorter plan don't make no hit
with me nor iay mates. We've talked
IL all over.