Courier Democrat., 1918-03-28


help yourself. That's better" He lift
ed his arm in signal. Call right sir,
swing away!"
1t was a good half hours Job, and a
hard one; twice the boat nearly
swamped, and went down. Liverpool
was the last to leave the boat, already
half filled with water. AS he rose slow
ly, gripping the rope with his hands,
unable to get foot in the moose, the
deserted craft floated away, the dead
body of Watson half covered with
water.
The four of them made sorry look
ing bunch on the deck, but now that
they were safe, my feeling of SYM
pathy had vanished. could only re-
call their treatment Of us, and the dam
ger we still ran in having them once
again aboard. Nothing was to be
gained by soft words With such as they.
I stepped across to front them, and o.
son and Dugan joined me.
"Now, look here" I said grlmly.
"We've taken you aboard because
we're human beings; but there's going
to be no mistake as to your exact
status on this ship. You'll take your
orders from me, and I'll kill the first
man-jack Of you who shows q sign Of
treachery. What became of Sachs?"
Mccain was still gasping from his
drop into the sea, and could not an
swer, although I addressed my ques-
tion to him. Liverpool replied:
"He knitted Watson, and Dubois
knocked him overheard with an oar F;
he never cum up"
"Was it in the fight Dubois got
ffurtT"
mo, he was hit by the boom, an
Tony there broke his arm when he fell
into the boat off the ships ladder"
"All right; three of you are fit for
work, and Tony can stand watch in the
engineroom. Have you had anything
I to eat?'
eyes, sir, in q way; there was food
in the boat"
"Then you have Jared in that respect
better than we have. White, you &C
below and hustle coal; you climb dow
also Yony, and relieve Masters. Tel
him to lie down and get some rest
Move along now; I'll be down there
myself presently
I turned to Mccain. "Get up from
there; you are a hand on board thi!
ship the rest of the voyage. Do yol
understand? Answer me-do you?'
"Yes."
''Do better than that"
"Yes, sir"
every we'll; now you and Liverpool
pick up Dubois, and put him in nun
Der seven stateroom. Make him as com
Portable ais possible, but don't be lon
about it. Then report on deck to MI
Olson; he'll keep you busy, and out o
mischief. A word with you, Olson"
The second mate crossed the decl
with me to the rail; the drifting boa
had disappeared. having either sunk
or being hidden in the hollow of tn
great surges. The screw was begin
i, the plankS trembling under foot and
bit of sunshine was streaming throug
the clouds overhead. I stood silent
moment, endeavoring to think out tn
situation, and Olson waited patiently
his eyes sweeping the sky and then tn
, sea.
, ''What do you think of our guests?
t I asked finally. "Can we trust ther
, Mt all?"
| "Not so far as you could swing
bull by the tail, sir" he answere
! soberly. "They aint forgot the nigl
in the boat vet, but there's just a
! much devil in 'em as there ever was.
| "Your opinion is, they will neve
help sail this ship into st. Jo,... 5,
any villainy will save them?"
''That's it, sir; they're so black nov
they won't mind little more"
''That's my judgment; we must kee
them apart as much as we can, an
| How about Dugan?'
"He talks straight enough and
i my notion means to play square"
THAT was my impression; he
] Irish, and hot-headed, but no crimina
We ought to be able to keep the fe
!, t'NS SSpditISN. oCSluSS 1 IL DC uDpl
most of the time"
"How long do you suppose it will b
| sir?"
To-day and another night likely;
can tell better when I get an obse
vation at noon. 1t will not give the
much time for plotting"
I sent the tvs, :forWard with Disc
When they returned to the deck fro
! the cabin, and he busted them gathe
ing up the rifle about the forecast
caused by the nights storm. McCar
moved as though scarcely able to exc
himself, but Red took hold as if gla
= to be occupied. Vera came down IL
y ladder, and we spoke together brief
- about what had occurred. She final
volunteered to get some food read
!, and went below with Fer, rousing U
- Dade. and putting him at work und.
>, her orders. An hour later all aboar
enjoyed warm meal, eating alike
the after cabin.