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

give those OF US aft a new feeling of
confidence.
The sky cleared. although the wind
remained fresh and the sea heavy
enough to keep two men at the wheel.
The Indian Chief made good weather
of 1t. however. and l possessed faith
In Leayord's seamanship. For an hour.
perhaps, loitered about on deck. but
all remained so quiet that finally, with
q word TO the mate TO have me called
ut the slightest sign of need, went be-
low. and turned In.
did not remove my clothes, and the
new day was barely reddening the east
when was aroused by trampling of
feet on the deck overhead. There was
no call. and i was sailor enough to
comprehend what was going on above
- the watch was about to be
changed, and Leayord was using all
hands in cleaning ship. The activity,
the quietly spoken orders, the low
chant Of song as the men toiled at
rope, were evidence that my presence
was not required, and / felt 1t would
please both officers to be left alone In
charge. l opened the port and looked
out at the glorious morning. 1t was
a lonely ocean scene, yet wildly beau
tiful. Everywhere was the wild DESC
lation Of the sea, nothing on which !he
eye could rest except the restless
waves, the constant shifting Of co,TS
Satisfied that no other vessel was with
In range of vision, lay down again.
/ do not recall a pleasanter meal at
sea than our breakfast that morning.
All were in excellent humor. and no
premonition of trouble entered our
minds. The night had passed quietly,
both officers reporting the crew docile
and cheerful.
Olson was on watch, but Masters
Joined US at table, and reported all well
In the engine room, and together we
drank q toast to pleasant voyage, al
most convinced that before us were
only the ordinary vicissitudes Of the
sea. 1t was not until the men left the
table that I was reminded of cur pris-
oner In the nearby stateroom.
"Mr. Bascom seldom takes any
breakfast?" / said to Dade, who was
polishing the stair rail.
'No, sir; have orders to take him
d cup Of coffee at nine o'clock"
"And how about McCann?"
"The gentleman In number six, sir?
Hes locked in, and haven't the key"
That's true; I'd forgotten. I'll look
in on the man; and you get his break
fast ready to serve"
l unlocked and opened the door.
McCann was seated on the edge of his
bunk facing me, and, 1t was plainly
evident at first view that he was In no
pleasant humor.
"McCann," said, as he failed to
speak. lets have an understanding.
II Is no desire of mine to hold you
prisoner here for the next month. I'll
accept your pledge not to interfere
with the working of this vessel"
"On what other terms?"
THAT you stop holding communica-
tions with the crew. and consider your
self a passenger until the end of the
voyage. Give me your word to that,
and you may have the freedom Of this
cabin, and the after deck"
"What is the voyageT
ITO Hamburg"
He laughed, and there was an ugly
sound to II.
"Pshaw, do you think you ever will
get there?" he asked, glaring at me,
but making no effort to rise. "Are you
fool enough, Hollis, to imagine that the
English fleet will ever permit this ship
to pass through the Channel? Why,
your whole darn cargo, they tell me,
is contraband."
"Who tells your
"Never mind who. It's the truth,
isn't it?"
"Yes. you might as well know
mostly munitions of war. but contract
ed for months before war was de-
| clared. However, that's nothing TO do
with your status on board. 1t is moth
ing to you, is 1t, who gets the cargo, or
where 1t is finally landed?"
"It is something to me whether I'm
safe In New York, or rotting In an Eng
lish, or French prison." he said sullen"
| ly. Besides, that's not all. I've got
Il
a deal on there that means more than
n million dollars! I can't afford to
drift about here on this rotten tramp"
'The saving of this boat and cargo
means more TO Bascom than your mil
lion dollar trade does to you."
whats Bascom's affairs to mef he
sneered. HE took his chances. didn't
he? You seem to think owe the man
something. / suppose he told you, or
else the girl did, that I crippled him
for life. Wen. he deserved all he got.
l pay my debts, let me tell you, and
I've got some against you to be settled
yet. Don't preach Philip Bascom to
me. It's not for his sake you are hang
ing on here, and trying to get this ship
to Hamburg. I'm not SO blind as all
that"