Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-12-20
CHAPTER XVIII.

Except for the absence of the regu-
lar officers from their stations, should
not have known any especial change
had taken place on board the ship.
Outwardly everything appeared about
as usual as I emerged behind Liver
pool, with Mccain trailing behind. The
latter paused to insert the key into the
lock of the door, and INDUCED in one
swift glance about the apartment
''Bascom occupies his own state
room?'
Liverpool nodded ungraciously
enough.
''And Miss Darlington retains hers?"
1--WE are not here to be interviewed,
Hollis broke in Mccain sharply. $50
along on deck, and keep your tongue
to yourself"
Realizing that silence was my best
weapon, 1 made no response, but
climbed the stairs The decks We're
clean-had evidently been scrubbed
that morning, and nowhere could I
perceive any signs that the ship was
in the hands of mutineers. Liverpool
gripped my shoulder.
up the ladder with you," he or
dered. "There's too little time left for
gaping about here"
although one could have attended to
speed, and the sea far from heavy.
recognized both faces, but couldn't re-
call their names; the shorter fellow,
deeply pitted, exhibited a fresh scar
where had struck him with my boot
heel the night before. He grinned good
naturally, and pointed to the bruised
flesh, as 1 caught his eye. White was
evidently the temporary officer in
charge, and the brutality of his face
was clearly revealed in the bright light
as he leaned against the rail. How
ever, had scarcely fine to more than
glance about, as the sun was already
at the zenith. The others stood around
silent, watching as I figured out our
position on the back of an old enve-
lope. I took my time at it, not only
from my own anxiety to be accurate,
but also because of other thoughts in
my mind, yet the calculation was COM
pleted at last, and I lifted my eyes
to McCann's gaze.
"Well?' he said.
/ gave him the figures.
"You are sure this is correct?"
Gas sure as / can be; the chronom-
| eter hasn't been corrected since the
| ship left Baltimore; except for pos=
sible variations on that account, the
| figures are right. Spread out the chart,
and I'll show you where we are within
ten miles. When did you furl the
sails?"
"After we started up the engines
| again; while we had all hands on
deck
'Wen," I announced, after a mo-
1 -
pretty close with the figuring. Our
present position is just about here,
where 1 put the red cross"
| Mccain took the compasses from my
hand. and began to measure distances.
1.-Two hundred and ten miles to the
northern extremity of Newfoundland
is that it?''
"a trifle more, I should say"
''This is ST. Johns here; what south
ing does that give?''
| cover two hundred"
He studied the map a few moments
longer, the three men talking earnest
| ly while I left them, and walked over
to the Starboard rail. It was of no
particular interest to me where they
decided to go-the one port meant the
same to me as another. Mccain got
up, rolling the chart in his hand.
There is no use, them" he called,
''of our going farther north?'
I turned and faced him.
Not if your port is st. Johns; the
course would be sou'-sou'west. Is
there anything more wanted of me at
present?''
Mccain turned and spoke to the
others. both answering him In low
tones.
NO." he said stifHy. ave will send
for you if you are needed again on
deck
81 am expected to keep be1ow?'
Below, and to your stateroom. If
you attempt to converse with any of
the crew, you will be locked in"
passed them without a word, and
clambered down the ladder to the main
deck, aware of the grinning faces of
the men at the wheel. Humiliating as
the situation was, this was no time for
resistance, or the exhibiting of spirit
of revolt. White crossed over to the
rail and watched until vanished with
in the companion I realized his pres
ence without so much as glaacing- up
There came to me, as i paused at the
foot of the stairs, sudden eagerness
! to speak to Vera. to explain to her the