The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-12-04


the mess yet by long ways. Those
wolves have got scent of McCann's
gold, and they'll never leave the trail
until they get It,"
'You don't think they would actually
attempt mutiny2"
They're not calling 1t that, sir. It's
the cargo aboard, and your determlna-
ton to land it safe at Hamburg, which
is going to make the trouble. There
is only one German In the crew, sir
the rest are all English and Swedes, ex-
cept couple of niggers. The Swedes
and niggers will do whatever the 9TH
ers tell 'em to, an the argument for
ward, according to Dade, Is, that it'll
be no crime to capture this ship and
run her into an English port. They're
not ready yet, but the devil will break
loose presently, according to my no
tions. Wait until they hear what has
happened to McCann."
"Well," said deliberately. "we shall
have to meet whatever comes. Mr.. Lea
yord. l talked with McCann again this
morning and offered him his freedom
aft If he would promise to keep away
from the crew. He refused to accept
parole, so 1 locked him up again. DO
you suggest any other course?"
"No, sir, l don't" he said slowly,
after Il pause for thought. "This Miss
Darlington now, by any chance is she
the same lady these two men got to
shooting about?'
"No, she was not involved In the
nm rrpl Mp('npn hnI pnynr mot hnr-
personally until we escaped from the
wreck of the yacht together"
"She was passenger, alsow
"She was the owners daughter"
'Then she's rich, too?"
Her father is one of New York's
multimillionaires. What difference
does that make, Mr.. Leayord2"
Nothing, much. likely" he an
swered, leaning against the rail, his
eyes on the distant bank of cloud,
"only maybe we might play money
against money In this game, with fur
chance to win. reckon gold, no mat
ter where 1T comes from, would look
good to those devils forward"
Scarcely manly act on our part
to suggest such thing"
"Well, l don't know about that. sir"
he insisted stubbornly. 81 reckon old
man Darlington would be willing
enough to pay the price, rather than
have his girl left in the hands of those
fellows. They'll be no lambs If they
ever get control of the ship. But may
be you know best, sir"
left him and walked forward to
where l could look down on the main
deck. AS deeply as l despised the
thought of ever resorting to this last
suggestion made by Leayord, yet /
could not remain entirely Indifferent
to its possibilities. If matters on board
were, indeed, as serious as he pictured
them, our situation was far from pleas
ant. To keep on probably meant bat
tie to preserve the ship, and involved
not only our own rough handling, even
possible death in the melee, but also
unspeakable horror to the woman left
alone, and unprotected, on board. What
would be her fate II we failed to up
hold discipline. and those unDridied
ruffians once obtained control OF the
vessel? The thought staggered me.
Yet / could reach no other conclu-
sion except to continue the voyage,
meeting Its problems as they present
ed themselves. There was no turning
back now. All hope lay in keeping Nc
Cam prisoner, entirely isolated from
his confederates, and dealing with the
men forward with harsh firmness
sufficient to strike terror into their
souls. The slightest movement of re-
volt on their part must be my signal
for action.
The day held fair, with a stiff breeze
blowing over the port quarter, and the
expanse of sea about us vacant Of
either sail or smoke. As noon ap-
preached had Dade fetch the sextant
from the captains stateroom. and took
my observation with considerable
care, going below to work out my fig
ures alone, as the many years passed
ashore had left me bit doubtful of my
facility. No one appeared to take any
deep interest in the event, although I
noted a group of men forward watch
ing as | disappeared.
With nothing to guide me, or check
my figures with on the chart, / went
over them twice to be assured of ac-
curacy, finally marking our position
as carefully as POSSIBLE, and determin-
Ing our future course. LeayOrd had
just been called for his watch, and
both officers were upon the after deck,
waiting for my appearance. They re-
mained silent as approached, and, as
l turned and faced forward, my eyes
observed a largely increasad urnuniny