Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-01-17
CHAPTER XIII.
Make Mccain Prisoner.


It was evident enough in my mind
aboard-liquor and McCann's wealth.
Either alone would have been bad
enough, but thus combined, they rem
,dered our situation more than perilous
and I was facing this peril COM
p%aratively alone. Masters would doubt
less perform his duty, but his work
would keep him below, and he would
prove of slight value on deck. My i'm
preston of Leayord and Olson was ia
vorable enough; they were, %undoubted-
ly,> the very best material on board;
yet, from long association with the
forecastle, it was only natural that
their sympathies should be with their
mates forward. An efficient sea Off
Ger is not made overnight, and either
man might fail me at a pinch. AS to
Bascom, he could never be counted on ;
while as regards Vera-but at thought
Of her, the cold perspiration beaded my
temples with q horror of what might
yet occur on board. No, the burden
was mine, mine practically alone. It
was up to me to strike first, to assert
my authority, and then maintain it.
This was the one thing which would
impress the mind of the sailor-a quick
decision, a, swift blow. This very night
we must win the ship, if ever, and the
first man for me to gain control w
must be Fergus Mccain.
reached this decision coolly and de-
1ihoro+o11, x,of with M o1oor rIor ~
action in my mind. At that moment
Olson sang out some order from the
rail overhead, and I could hear the
hustle of the watch along the black
deck.
My eyes distinguished no figures, but
suddenly a blaze of lightning seemed
to rip the sky asunder, and, in the
swift, CHASTITY glare, I perceived two
human figures against the %starboard
rail, safe from observation beneath a
boat swung in davits. The man direct.
.ly facing me, his< c~ountenance illu.
mined for a single instant by the fame,
was Liverpool Red. The very postures
of the two men, the position chosen
amidships, and in the shadow, led me
to identify Liverpool's companion and
guess their purpose. Very we'll, there
was no better time than now to start
nay task. Yet I had scarcely taken a
step forward when I became aware
that their secret conference was over,
and that the two were separating. ]
could not positively determine the
movement in the intense darkness, but
I felt assured that one Of the two men
had moved forward crouching along
the rail, leaving the second man stand.
ing alone. Unquestionably the n
thus left would be Mccain.
/ waited motionless until the fellow
stealing away was we'll beyond earshot,
and then advanced straight across the
pitching deck. The fellow, taken quite
by surprise, stared at my indistinct fg-
ure. unable to determine my identity
until I spoke. There was that about
his figure, black as the night was,
which convinced me he was the man
sought.
SWELL, McCann," I said shortly, you
:. seem to prefer associating with the
crew, rather than with your own class
aft. What is the gamer" -.
III was not aware there were any of
my own class on board" he answered
sneeringly.
perhaps you have not yet discov-
cred who are ON board. Do you chance
to know Who owns this vessel and
cargoT -
"Whoa owns themT" he laughed
coarsely. "What difference does that
maker"
1T, depends entirely on whether or
mot you have any decent manhood left
I'm you" I said coldly, "'and, frankly,