The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-12-07
CHAPTER XVI.
In the Hands Of tho Crew.

The afternoon brought me increased
faith that the Imprisonment of Fergus
AcCann had practically ended the re-
bellion of the men forward. No doubt
the spirit of mutiny still fingered, but
without the leadership this had ceased
to be dangerous. Unbacked by the
New Workers. display of wealth. Liver
pool Red and Jim White were sudden
ly shorn Of power to control the crew.
Nor did anything occur during the
remainder of the day to lead me to re-
wise this conclusion. The weather held
fair, and the men worked cheerfully
Now that the liquor was out of them
they proved themselves fairly eff
Client crew, Obeying the orders of the
mates smartly. Apparently the crisis
had been passed, and the only problem
remaining to confront us was that of
navigation. With my mind at rest on
this point, / passed the hours of the
afternoon largely In my own stateroom,
sleeping for an hour or more In prep
aration for the nights watch on deck,
and later carefully figuring out in de-
tail the exact course should attempt
to follow during the period Of dark
ness.
Before the call to supper came, I
called on Bascom to explain to him the
situation, but found the man stupefied
by some drug, taken perhaps to allevi-
ate pain, and scarcely capable of COM
pretending my meaning. Satisfied that
could gain no assistance from him,
left the man lying helplessly in his
bunk, and returned to the main cabin.
Vera did not appear until after Lea
yord and / were seated at table, yet
she had been on deck during the after
noon, and had much to say relative to
the beauty of the ocean scene through
which we sailed.
1t was pleasant hour we passed at
the table, LeayOrd relieving Olson, but
the girl and l lingering in rather idle
conversation before we went on deck.
In spite Of the pleasant day, and that
the sun was still visible In the west
ern sky, the air on deck was chill, and
/ returned below for a heavier coat
and also brought back with me a cloak
belonging to the late commander with
which to protect Miss Darlington. But
for faint trail Of smoke far to the
westward, barely visible as the sun
sank below the horizon, no evidence
was discernible Of any other vessel In
the wide circle. hailed the lookout
In the maintop, but the wisp of smoke
was too for away for his eyes to deter
mine the course Of the distant steamer,
although as he swept his glasses bit
farther nortnwaru they neyuInv inxxSa
and motionless. AS / stared up at him,
his voice reported
sail how
where away?"
About three points off the port bow,
sir-a schooners tOpsall"
VERY we'll keep her in sight-a fish,
ing vessel likely"
Both watches were on deck, clus-
tered In restless bunch before the
forecastle, or overhanging the rail, evil
IDENTIFY deeply interested In observing
our efforts to get all possible speed out
or the Indian Chief. The fading light
gave me glimpse of their faces, and
1 noticed that both Liverpool and
White were circulating freely from
group to group. However, the men
responded readily enough to Clson's
orders, and sang cheeriiy as they tailed
onto the ropes, Liverpool himself lead
Ing the way up the ratlines and out
upon the mainyard as they sheeted
home.
The stars began to pop out in the
arch of sky above, silvering the wa
ters, and we could no longer perceive
what was taking place forward. The
night shades settled about us, and the
staunch Indian Chief drove her sharp
bows through the black waste of sea
In race to cross the zone of danger
before the coming of another dawn.
Apparently everything was in our IA
vor, and l stood there, leaning against
the rail- chatting with Miss Vera, our
conversation drifting idly.
1t must have been after nine when
the girl lett, complaining of being
chilled even in the protection of the
great cloak. L crossed the deck with
her to the head of the stairs, and our
hands clasped as we fingered there q
moment, the dim light revealing her
face uplifted toward mine.
you are not going below, then, Mr.
HollisT she questioned. "Surely all
goes well2"
$50 remarkably WELL" I admitted,
"as to rather puzzle me. No, l shall
remain Oh deck until morning; not
that / really anticipate trouble, but the
entire responsibility rests with me-"
"You do not feel that your officers
are efficiently"