Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-01-03
Author y "My Lady'r the
North. " Maid sf the Forest, etc.

Author q "My Lady II the g
North, !" "Maid sf the Pores" etc.
Copyright A. O No Uurs So
CHAPTER xvll.-contlnued
H.
'sTAey're oil right" broke in Liver
pool. "except for some sore heads. We
downed the owner and the second mate
easy. but Leayord and the engineer
made some trouble. and had to be
soaked. We got 'em all quiet enough
now, where they can't make any
trouble"
"Where are they confnedY'
He winked at me in q half drunken
ieer.
(Which is none o yer business
hey, Mr.. McCann?"
The impudent manner Of the fell
low served to fully awaken me to a
realization Of the helpless position I
occupied. held back the first hot
retort on my lips, and forced a smile.
Il get the idea," said, pretending a
good nature was far from feeling.
II am to merely work under orders.
Well, I'd rather do that than let you
wreck the ship, and perhaps drown
the whole company. What is your
object iii this affair? You surely don't
hope to dispose Of this vessel and
cargo?"
"No, DON'T" and Mccain took
step forward, his hand resting on the
desk. ITO be frank with you, Hollis,
this affair has gone further than I
intended; 1t got the start CT me while
you held me prisoner aft here in the
cabin. There's nothing for me to do
now but work out of the fix as best
can"
'Mutiny, then, was not part of your
original plan?"
mot open mutiny-no. I'm no fool,
and know what that means. I start
I'D In to make the crew dissatisfied,
20 they would force you to put back
60 an American port. I offered them
snoney, but with no intention of resort
ting to force. Then you locked me up,
aud this other thing happened. We've
gone too far now to back out. We
don't mean to get caught. So it's up to
you to decide whether the Indian Chief
remains afloat, and no lives lost; or
whether the old hooker is never heard
Of again."
"You'd scuttle the ship?''
'aThat's for you to decide; it's my
advice to you not to take the chance"
I could scarcely believe he meant
this; the proposition was SO abso-
1ntely heartless, so cold-blooded. I
could hardly associate it even with
Fergus Mccain. Surely he was not
IN reality the utter villain he now
eoolly professed himself. My eyes left
his face, and sought Liverpool, who
was leering at me in drunken gravity.
"Is this true, Redo Have you fell
lows held council?"
"Some ov us have" he said sullenly.
eJim Dugan, Simms and me, we talked
Il all over with Mr.. Mccain here, an
agreed what wus best. That's why
the two ov US come ter see you"
Sunless I consent to sign a report
showing your desertion Of the ship
justified, you propose to sink the In
dan Chief?"
"You an Bascom-both ov yer"
"And II we do sign-what then?"
"You'll sail us within fifty miles ov
the nearest open port, and we'll take
10 the boats, and leave you to be picked
vp."
"You'd report our condition ashore?'
"Nothin' was said about that. Yer
drift would be southard, an would
soon bring yer in the track o. ships;
besides there's enough left ter handle
che sails ter give the hooker steerage
way. We figured we'd be safe unless
there was big storm"
It was certainly a cold-blooded prop
saition, but the fellows tone was SO
nsatter-of-fact no longer doubted this
% be their final decision. I played my
Ast card.'
"Sce here, Red" and drew a paper
from the drawer Of the desk. do you
fellows realize the value Of this ship,
and the cargo below hatches7"
1--WE don't give darn"
"Well, you better, for it's a tidy
title sum. Now, see here-Tu pledge
the crew dfty thousand dollars. to be
divided as you choose, IL you will dock
Che Indian Chief at Hamburg"
"Who'l pay it,"
"The owner. within ten days Of land.
ing"
"An' IL we get snapped up by an
English or French cruiser on the way
ever, all we'd ever get would be Jail.
That sorter plan don't make NO hit
with me nor my mates. We've talked
Il all over"
AcCann struck the desk with his fist,
Impatient 1t the discussion.
your price Is too low, Hollis. This
y no piker's game. Red knows it is
worth more than fifty thousand to me
to get back to New York. So now, will
you help Us quietly, or shall we have
30 make you2"
''What Is it you desire Of met"