The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-12-06
CHAPTER xI-(continued.)

SVSV SNs-NSSVs's~SS
-
'-The glass Is falling rapidly" an
swered. "and suspect q storm is
brooding behind that curtain; that is
Why l am so anxious to make all clear.
What do you think of the crew.
She glanced aside toward the mo-
Uop,ess negro at the wheel, and then
ut the men shuffiing about their work.
IL hardly know; they-they look
awfully rough and--and disreputable.
Weren't some Of them drunkT'
mo doubt, yes. Don't worry, Miss
Vera. Those things are frequent
enough on shipboard. We will have
these lads thoroughly tanned within an
other twenty-four hours. There is never
. mutiny without some leader and &
better cause. am working under
your orders, you know"
She glanced up quickly into my face.
"Under my orders2 No, not that.
Mr.. Hollis. You told me 1t would be
your choice; merely granted permis-
sion."
-Your permission was equivalent to
m order. SO accepted It,"
"But that is hardly fair. Not that I
regret the choice, for could never
have forgiven myself II my selfishness
had ruined Philip Bascom. He is really
IN old friend"
$50 I supposed; a very interesting
man in spite Of his misfortune"
sHe was, indeed, before that bullet
wrecked him. 1t Is sad; and to think
that the one who shot him Is actually
o. board-his guest"
.Not altogether pleasant thought
% me-" said soberly. "For McCann Is
he kind to breed more trouble II he
can fnd an excuse"
"You do not consider the man dan
gerousY
"Not in the sense you mean. He will
never attack openly, or permit himself
to be known in any conspiracy. But
he will have to be watched, neverthe-
less. He Is the sort to harbor revenge,
and as he feels hatred and distrust
toward both Bascom and myself, we
cannot be too careful. i shall have to
tell Leayord the whole story"
"LeayordT
"The man I named for first oflcer ;
As il standing abaft the foremast yon-
der"
~The second officer is a Sweder
Eyes; rather young, but I like his
face, and he seems to have the re-
spect of the men," I turned and gazed
into the face Of the compass, already
lighted.
"what is your namei" ! asked Of the
black at the wheel.
"Watson, sab; Charles Watson"
"Well, Watson, let her head fall of
Q couple Of points-that's 1t, my man.
Il this the signal cord to the engine
roomr'
He nodded, the whites Of his eyes
showing oddly. and rang for an in.
crease Of speed. Watson. bracing the
wheel with one knee, wiped his lips on
his sleeve.
"Am yO' shorely aimin' fer ter sail
dis yere ship long ter Hamburg. sahT
he asked cautiously.
"You heard what said to the menr
"Yas, sab, I done heerd dat. But
thought maybe best tell yer. sab, that
rthar's sure q bad lot forward. an
they's plum set against goin' no far
Hher."
"A bad lot. hey7 And who seems tt
b the leader, Watsonf"
He scratched his head.
"Wal, sab, there's two or three who
has lot ter say. but sorter reckon al
how de real boss Is white pussoI
CALI Liverpool Red-he dun started tel
knife me night afore last, and II
hadn't done got outer thar right lively
] reckon I'd bin dead Niger sure
"What objection does this fellow ant
the others with him have to finishing
this voyageT
"Wal, mostly ut first 1t wus Jus
ordinary cussidness, sab; but now the!
got the war ter harp about. dat Liver
pool is a-playin' 1t up ter beat all, sab
He says this ship Is loaded with wa
stun. and bound ter be sunk or cap
tured; am dat so, sah?"
1--WE have a miscellaneous cargo"
answered, "and some of 1t might b,
contraband. But II was shipped befor,
war was declared. and we have ampl
time to reach port before the establish
ment Of blockade. There will be n,
trouble, Watson, II the men only d
their duty. You let them know tina
\ said 70 when you 70 forward"