Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-11
CHAPTER NXI-(Continued)

..NH. he's asleep below; there's plenty o
" time to attend to him, an we'll let the
engiueroom gang alone till We get control o
the deck Smms. you an Harris better
come along with Jim an me on this job.
Leayord is a husky buck. an we might not
get him foul like We caught Hollis here. We
don't want TO hurt nobody unless we have
to- Where's the niger Watson?'
Right hyar sar"
Come on then: it's your trick at the
wheel In five minutes the rest o you fellers
know Yer business
The five men slipped out cautiously, slid
ing the door shut behind them, and I stared
about into the faces of those left with me,
still dazed by the rough handling to which
| had been subjected. yet fully aroused to
the fact that the attack on me had come
from no sudden impulse, but was the first
step in a carefully formed plan to gain pos
session of the ship. Whatever might be the
secret purpose of those leading the revolt,
their first intention was to overpower the
officers and attain control My duty was to
warn the men aft of the approaching
danger. How should / act? What possible
course could l pursue to win my liberty!
In vague way / knew most of the faces
of those grouped about me, but could recall
only few names,
They were a rough lot. typical foremast
hands, many of pronounced foreign appear
ance yet there was nothing especially
VICIOUS about them. ordinarily they would
obey orders without a complaint, but now
they were evidently under full control OF
their leaders: yet the expression of their
faces bespoke curiosity rather than hatred.
Determined to test them I Strengthened up
and placed foot on the lower step.
"None o. that now" a voice growled as
a hand gripped my arm. Turn him around.
Bill so he won't be tempted mono to make
a fool o. himself Now, Mister, you don't
want to git hurt none. do yef?"
l faced the speaker, big two-tisted
giant with red face and a slow drawl in
his voice.
"You mean to hold me here?"
Sure; we've gone too far on this Job
now fer to back down. The lads are of ter
bag the furst mate. Thard be a hell ov
tonne If we turned you loose
You're an Irishman?"
""Twould be hard for n Ougan to deny
that, sor."
We'll, Dugan, look here-you and your
mates You are sailormen and know the
rules of the sea, This is mutny, and
mighty serious affair to be caught in. lads"
Were not lookin at II that way, Mister
Hollis. We shipped fer a peaceful voyage,
not TO run no cargo o contraband fer the
Dutch. This we're Indian Chief is chock
full o. munitions O. variant that the
truth, sor?"
Yes" admitted, "but shipped before
war was declared The sick man back there
in the cabin has his whole fortune in this
venture
ITO hell wild him an his fortune The
point Is we're not Dutchmen, an in war
times it's no mutiny fer crew to capture
an inimy's ship"
WHO told you that?"
Never mind who told us; It's the truth
amt it?'
"Under some circumstances II might be-"
7 said, casting my eyes about the ring of
faces. But the present conditions do not
justify any such action. Now look here
Dugan: you fellows are In mighty bad
boat in this matter. You're merchant sea-
men; you've signed on for n peaceful voy-
age and 1t Is no business of yours what's
below the matches. That's for the warships
to find out The Indian Chief is under
American register She's a neutral boat and
your act is mutiny on the high seas. You
know what that will mean TO you and your
mates. don't you, If you're ever caught?"
who says that?'
81 do: and l know more Of sea Iasg than
any of those fools who are steering you into
this trouble You kill a man on board here
and It is murder, and the whole bunch of
you can be made to swing for 1t. Men
have got life for less than you have done
now. But I'll give you chance"
what chance, sorg
ITO stand by the ship. Set me free now
and back up the officers In maintaining dis
cipline aboard, and not one of your names
goes into the log"
"An' sail the bloomin' hooker to Ham,
burg?"
T"of course; that's the port you signed
on for"
There was an uneasy shuffiing of feet and
a muttering Of voices. The light was too
poor 70 enable me TO decipher the express
sions on the faces Of the men. yet felt