The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-11-06

least fatfgued.
And you have seen nothing? no
smoke, no sail?'
She shook her head, her eyes grown
grave.
lutely alone In the immensity of the
sea-just one great wave after the
other. It-it'gets on my nerves"
ut certainly does; such sight has
driven more than one insane. But
what does this mean? Why is the bis
cult bag out here?"
pointed to the bottom of the boat,
beyond her feet. Her eyes met mine,
her answer made In a whisper.
"He-he crept back here while was
adjusting my oar, and took two"
"McCann?'
"Yes, he had the bag before I no.
ticed, and thought 1t best not to anger
him then. for he held that open knife
in his hand"
"You should have called me-"
"The mischief was done before / had
any time. Besides / knew you needed
the sleep. What are you going to do?"
L smiled bit grimly, glimpsing him
beneath the sail.
81 am about to give Mr.. Fergus Nc
Cam, late of New York. little speci-
men of sea discipline which hope may
last him for the remainder of this voy-
age" 1 replied quietly. "Hold the boat
steady, Miss Vera, and leave me to at
tend to this degenerate son of wealth."
L crept forward, scarcely jarring the
frail craft, and was beyond the jury
mast before the fellow had aroused
sufficiently from his knife play even to
note my approach. He stared at me in
solently, leaving the keen blade trem-
bling in the plank.
"McCann," / began, wasting no time
In preliminaries, lifting myself on one
knee, and facing him, "the young lady
says you took advantage of my being
sound asleep to help yourself to bis
cults; is that so?"
"Well, what If did? l was hungry"
$50 am /; so no doubt Is the lady,
for the matter of that. Hunger is no
justification for stealing. You were
not starving; you received exactly the
same share we did. More than that, l
L,
because i am the only one on board
knowing the ways of the sea. / told
you plainly what you were to do, and
1 propose to enforce my orders. Not
another bite will be given you today,
or tomorrow"
"Is that SOP" he drawled, wicked
smile revealing his teeth. "You must
think you are dealing with q foremast
hand. 1t takes something besides
threats to run me, Mr.. Robert Hollis"
He half arose to his feet, but forced
him back onto the thwart none too
gently. His face was red with passion,
his eyes malevolent.
% you! take your hands off
mew he snarled. "No clustering sea
bully is going to make me jump at the
crook of his finger. You touch me
again, and I'll show you who am, you
big brute. Me take orders from you ?
Why, pooh; I've got more money in
New York than you ever saw"
"If you owned the Bank of England
1t would mean nothing to me. You will
do what 1 say, or I'll make YOU"
"You will? How?"
mo matter how; I've trained more
men than you to obedience In my time,
and always found way"
Huh the bucko-mate business,
hey?' he sneered. "Well, just try that
on me, If you think 1t safe. I'll show
you"
His hand darted back toward his hip
pocket, but was looking for the move
ment, and ready. His fingers had bare
ly gripped the butt of his weapon when
my clinched fist crashed into his face.
have struck harder blows, for I was
not poised to put my whole weight be-
hind 1t. yet the man went over as
though fioored by an ak, and lay hud-
died In the bows quivering like a
jelly fish. / jerked the revolver from
the grip of his hand, dropped 1t into
my pocket, wrenched the open knife
from the wood in which 1t stuck, and
closed the blade.
"Get up now, you fool" I ordered
sharply. "Oh, yes, you WILL" and
gripped him by the collar and lifted
him roughly to his knees. "That Is
likely to be the last time you will ever
attempt to pull gun on me. Make an
! other movement. McCann, and III
throw you overheard. You take your
Uroo.. -.va.. me, and you must jump
when I speak. or shall take pleasure
in breaking every bone In your body.
Do you understand thatf"
I doubt II he could see out of one