The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-12-13
CHAPTER xiiI--(continued.)

"Amidship.'
"Petty officers quarters. Well, /
prefer having you aft. There Is a va
cant stateroom below. Walk ahead OF
me to the cabin. and go down the
steps,"
you'll pny 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 not my first voyage.
Move onF'
Sullenly he left the rail, and crossed
the deck to the companion, with me
trailing a step behind. i was aware
that Olson was leaning out over the
poop-rail watching our dim figures,
wondering. no doubt, what was occur
ring below. / did not venture to glance
upward. or remove my eyes from the
prisoner.
Below. there" the mate called,
grufiiy, "what's going on?'
ut is all right. Mr.. Olson" an
swered, speaking quietly. "rll explain
later. Open the door, 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. and across the de-
serted cabin. threw open the door
next to Bascom's stateroom. switched
on the light. and glanced within, keep
ing my grasp hard on McCann's arm.
His eyes met mine, black with a
towards hatred.
"By God II you wasn't armed"
I swung him about In sudden disgust,
finging him forward, and he fell
sprawling on the deck, overturning the
stool. The next instant / had closed
the door and locked 1t, dropping the
key into my jacket pocket. There had
been little noise, scarcely enough to
arouse the sleepers below, and 1t was
with feeling Of decided relief, that
! returned to the open deck.
I climbed the ladder. Joining Olson
at the port rail. Two men were at
the wheel, which bucked sufficiently
to keep them busy.
"You are OF n couple Of points, lads"
i said. Cant you hold her any
closer7"
"Not the way the sea is running,
SIR" answered a voice / recognized as
Simms', unless we raise n bit more
Jib. and the mate thought II best not
20 risk the canvas"
"Right. no doubt, but hold her down
the best you can"
"Aye, aye, SIR"
The response was cheerful enough.
and crossed the deck TO where Olson
stood. In somewhat better frame OF
mind.
"You are not exactly holding to the
course, Mr.. Olson" said, but not un-
kindly. "and Slmms tells me you
thought II best not to shake out an
other reef In the jlb."
at would only strain the old hooker
10 buck these seas, sir" he replied,
''and as you had no observation, /
hardly thought a point or two would
make much difference"
"Nor does It: only / prefer to be
consulted on such matters hereafter.
You must have had some other rea-
sonf
He glanced about to make sure of
our distance from the men at the
wheel.
swell, In a way suppose did, SIR"
he admitted slowly. "The watch for
ward is sullen, an had no desire to
stir them up unless there was some
real need. It's Liverpoors turn on
deck, Mr.. Hollis, an he an never was
no friends. II was to give an order.
and then had TO go forward TO make
'em hold, 1t might start up quite a
row, sir"
"Quite a sensible decision. II may
interest you to know that / have Just
cut Liverpool's claws-his friend Nc
Cam is below. safely locked up"
Exactly, sir. That was what oc-
CURED on the main deck just now? He
was very quiet about 1t, sir. Is II
true what hear that he is real New
York millionairef And you are not a
real sailor. Mr.. Hollis, but just u
yachtsman"
HAS McCann been circulating that
yarn forwardT
HE has, sir. Simms Just told me
the story at the Wheel"
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