Sioux County pioneer., 1917-12-13
CHAPTER xl,l-(continued.)


-
"Amidship."
"Petty officers quarters. Well,
prefer having yor aft. There is a va
cant stateroom below. Walk ahead of
me to the cabir, and go down the
steps,"
"You'll pay for this in the morn
Ing"
do not worry about the morning,
my man. Trust me to take care of
your friends forward when the time
comes. This is 1ot my first voyage.
Move on!'
Sullcnly he left the rail, and crossed
the deck to the companion, with me
trailing a step tfs.hind. I was aware
chat Olson was Scanning out over the
porp-rail watching our dim figures,
wondering, no doubt, what was occur
fiDg below. did not venture to glance
Onward, or remove my eyes from the
prisoner.
"Below there" the mate called,
6ruflly, "what's gt1ng on?"
ut is all righ', Mr.. Olson," an
awered, speaking 7uietly. "I'll explain
later. Open the ,",or, McCann, and go
straight down.
He must have realized the utter fu-
tility of resistance, for he never even
turned his head. marching before me
down the stairs, End across the de-
serted cabin. I threw open the door
next to Bascom'a stateroom. switched
on the light, and glanced within. keep
ing my grasp hard on McCann's arm.
His eyes met mine, black with q
towards hatred.
= "By God! If you wasn't armed"
swung him at out in sudden disgust,
finging him forward, and he fell
'sprawling on the deck, overturning the
atool. The next instant I had closed
the door and locked it, dropping the
key into my jacket pocket. There had
been little noise scarcely enough to
arouse the sleepcrs below, and it was
with feeling Of decided relief, that
returned to tho open deck.
I climbed the ladder, Joining Olson
at the port rail Two men were ut
the wheel, which bucked sufficiently
% keep them busy.
"You are off a couple of points, lads -
I said. Cant you hold her any
c!oser?"
"Not the way the sea is running,
sir," answered voice recognized as
Simms', sunless We raise bit more
jlb. and the matS thought it best not
to risk the canyna."
"Right, no dou'r.- but hold her down
the best you car"
AYE, aye. sir"
The response ~as cheerful enough
end crossed the deck to where Olson
stood, in somewhat better frame OF
mind.
"You are not Exactly holding to the
course. Mr.. Olsok," I said, but not un'
kindly. land Ss2np1s tells me you
thought it best sot to shake out an
other reef In thu jib."
'It would only strain the old hooker
to buck these seas, SIR" he replied
"and as you hwd no observation,
hardly thought point or two would
make much difference"
''Nor does it; only prefer to be
consulted on su"h matters hereafter
You must have bad some other rea
SOM"
He glanced aF'cut to make sure Of
our distance frssm the men at thu
wheel.
SWELL, in a wal I suppose did, SIR :
be admitted slowly. 'The watch for
ward is sullen, an had no desire tt
STIR them up unsess there was some
real need. It's Llverpool's turn OF
deck, Mr.. Hollis, an he an never was
40 friends. If I was to give an order
and then had to 60 forward to make
;em hold, 1t might start up quite 9
row, sir"
"Quite q sensible decision. It may
interest you to know that I have Just
cut Liverpool's claws-his friend Nc
nenn is below. safely locked up"
Exactly. sir. That was what oc
Cured on the main deck Just now7 HI
was very quiet about 1t. sir. Is I
true what hear that he Is real New
York millionaire3 And you are not ,
real sailor, Mr.. Hollis, but spst {
yachtsmau1"
"Has Mccain besn circulating tha
yarn forward1"
"Re has. cir. Simms Just told m
Ehe story ct the wheel"
-wssi. then. ustea 70 nc, NJ. Olsos