Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-02-14

never entered his head. 1t did mine.
and felt sure we were here and not
on the Nanaimo, either because Isa-
behe desired it, or she didn't desire
| 1t and our fleshy host did.
We'll have to get off, that's ALL"
Blake concluded. 'If you'll stand by,
I'll make a demand on that hunk OF
| whales blubber tomorrow that he put
in to Guayaquil, or get into the
course of the coasters and transfer us.
If he refuses, we'll be free to act"
"How act?" I asked.
"Force the pig-headed idiot!" de-
clared Blake, hammering the table
with his fist.
asked time to think 1t over before
promising to stand by, agreeing to
give him an answer in the morning,
for / had to see Isabelle first, and we
turned in, Blake to sleep quickly, IL
noisily, to plan my course of action
in the better knowledge had of the
situation.
If Isabelle was ready to leave the
yacht, was, and didn't care how far
I went into piracy or mutiny, which
ever it might be, to get off. That re-
sponsibility I'd leave up to Blake from
Missouri. One question / must ask
Isabelle; did she want to leave the
yacht?
/ had my opportunity at breakfast,
for the signora did not get out at an
early hour. I made the inquiry in
Italian, and the answer was Certain
ly," just as IL should have known it
all the time. She wanted to get to
Durango as soon as she could, and,
she blushingly added, she wanted me
/ to go with her. didn't see how / was
to do it., with a promise to Blake and
mutiny on my hands, but l agreed
to the happiness of the proposal. Then
we resumed English and breakfast.
Back in our cabin, told Blake that
, my mind was made up to stay With
, him as far as he wanted to go, and he
went aft to deliver an ultimatum to
Belgrag. He returned frothing at the
mouth. "The smooth-voiced pig!" he
cried-he never lifted to better SIM
ilie than pig" "He be damned! I'll
dent in his carcass so deep it II new
er come out! I'll"
"What did he say?" 1 interrupted.
"Say? He asked me when bought
the ship! He trilled insults in So
prano, piped threats in tenor and
cursed in bass. He said could ride
in the cabin, the forehole or the brig
but ride I'd have to. He be damned!"
"And what's the answer"
Blake dropped into chair and mo-
toned me to sit down, and we went
at it.. For two hours we planned, and
1t all looked good to me except the
possible punishment, and that l meant
to leave to Blake. He was angry, but
he was cautious, and he knew the
laws of the sea. / could chance what
ever he would.
! We should accept the situation in
seeming agreement until we were off
Quayaquil, then take quiet possession
of the ship-as quiet as we could
make it-and run into that port,
where Blake was too well known for
any foreigner as he said, to get the
better of him. The Thurston Line
was prominent part of commercial
Ecuador, and Blake was certain of
having the ear of officlaldom.
When Signora Cesana came from
her stateroom, she gave evidence of
bad night. Her eyes were ed from
weeping, and Isabelle carried her
away to the bows, where / was GER
tain they did not want me, so l began
still-hunt for Kodani. needed to
ask several questions of the Jap, pri-
marily if he had meddled with my re-
volver and why then, to whom he
gave the key of my back door.
found a nice big gallay, with pig
tailed Chinese installed at the range,
who had never heard the name of
Kodani, and shrugged one shoulder
after another at the mention of jap
anese. He certainly did not like his
little brother across the Yellow Sea.
went down into the engine-room
where Burns was shoveling coal,
much to his disgust. for he was an A.
B., and l made the acquaintance of
First Engineer Hugh Wallace, canny
Scot.
Kodani was not in his crew; proba-
bly, the captains steward. For an
hour or more I explored the ship,
looking foor the Jap, but gave over
finally, heading for the bows, where
I was quiet sure Isabelle must be
tired of only the signora's company.
AS l wandered with seeming aim
lessness around the corner of the fore
companionhood, l overheard a re-
remark from Isabelle which brought
me up standing. There could be no
doubt" she said to the signora, "it
was Marnee Taafe." And leaned
against the rail, breathing fast, my
brain in whirl.
What could it mean? Marnee Taafe
was my niece, my sisters girl, far
away in Vienna. My sisters little girl,
just babe when had seen her last.
How long ago? Almost twenty years
was it possible Isabelle was speak
ing of her then-my niece. What had
Isabelle said?