The Huttig news., 1917-10-27

Under my orders? No, not that, Mir. Hollis. You told me it would be your choice; l merely granted permis- sion''
 Your permission was equivalent to an order. I so accepted it."
 "But that is hardly fair. Not that regret the choice, for I could never have forgiven myself if my selfishness had ruined Philip Bascom. He is really an old friend.''
 So l suppOsed; very interesting man in spite of his misfortune"
 "He was, indeed, before that bullet wrecked him. It is sad; and to think that the one who shot him is actually on board-his guest"
 "Not altogether a pleasant thought to me" said soberly. "For McCann is the kind to breed more trouble if he can find an excuse"
 You do not consider the man dan eerous?"
 Not in the sense you mean. He will never attack openly, or permit himself to be known in any conspiracy. But he will have to be watched neverthe- tess. He is the sort to harbor revenge, and as he feels hatred and distrust oward both Bascom and myself, we .annot be too careful. l shall have to tell Leayord the whole story"
 "Leayord?"
 "The man l named for first officer; ha e der
 ''The second officer is a SwedeY'
 "les; rather young, but I like his tace. and he seems to have the re- spect of the men," I turned and gazed into the face of the compass, already lighted
 What is your name?' I asked of the black at the wheel.
 "Watson, sah; Charles Watson"
 .Well, Watson. let her head fall off q couple of points-that's it, my man. Is this the signal cord to the engine room?n
 He nodded, the whites of his eyes showing oddly, and l rang for an in- crease of speed. Watson, bracing the wheel with one knee, wiped his lips on his sleeve.
 Am yo' shorely aimin' fer ter sail dis yere ship long ter Hamburg, sah?" he asked cautiously.
 "9ou heard what said to the men?"
 "Yas, sah, I done heerd dat. But I thought maybe best tell yer, sah, that thar's sure a bad lot forward, an they's plum set against goin' no far ther."
 "A bad lot, hey? And who seems to be the leader, Watson?.
 He scratched his head.
 'Wal, sah, there's two or three who has a lot ter say, but sorter reckon as how de real boss is white pusson eall' Liverpool Red-he dun started ter llnife me night afore last, and if hadn't done got outer thar right lively, 1 reckon I'd bin a dead nieger sure"
 "What objection does this fellow and the others with him have to finishing this veyage?"
 Wal, mostly at first it wus just prd'nary cussidness, sah: but now they sot the war ter harp about, dat Liver pool is a-playin' it up ter beat all, sah lie says this ship is loaded with war ruff, and bound ter be sunk or cap ured am dat so. sah?"
 "We have a miscellaneous cargo" I answered, and some of il might be 'ontraband. But it was shipped before 1ar was declared, and NC have ample ime to reach port before the establish ment of blockade. There will be no trouble, Watson. if the men only do their duty. You let them know that 1 said so when you go forward"
 "Yas, sah."
 1 left him, and walked over to the rail, realizing keenly the position of peril into which I had drifted. With loyal crew my task would prove no easy one, but with a crippled ship, and the men already on the verge of mu- tiny the situation was almost despe- rate