Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-03-29


-mised by agreeing to his company
go north. l would allow him to take
me back and deliver me, unironed, to
Thurston, the only man he recognized
as authority. San Francisco's chief
of police was nothing at all to this
sailor, but his own chief, the presi-
dent of the Thurston Line, was the
god of the machine.
We discussed our situation thor
oughly, but il bettered not at all by
analysis. Perhaps the fact that held
back all reference to Isabelle's con-
nection with the San Francisco mys-
terry, did not assist Blake's brain any.
So far as he knew, the Sakuntala and
the st. Dunstan were as far apart as
the toles, and that one might be the
reason for our detention on the other
never entered his head. 1t did mine,
and felt sure we were here and not
on the Nanaimo. either because Isa-
belle 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, Wen be free to act"
How act?" l asked.
Force the pig-headed idiot" de-
clared Blake, hammering the table
with his fist.
/ asked time to think it 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
/ 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 l must ask
Isabelle; did she want 70 leave the
yacht?
had my opportunity at breakfast,
for the signora did not get out at an
early hour. l made the inquiry in
Italian, and the answer was Certain
ly," just as if l 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, l 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.
lille than pig" "He be damned! I'll
dent in his carcass SO deep 1t. ii new.
er come OUT I'll"
what did he say?" / interrupted.
Say? He asked me when l bouglH
the ship He trilled insults in So
prano, piped threats in tenor, and
cursed in bass. He said l 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
it 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 a prominent part of commercial
Ecuador, and Blake was certain of
having the ear of officilldom.
When Signora Cessna came from
her stateroom, she gave evidence of
a bad night. Her eyes were red from
weeping, and Isabelle carried her
away to the bows, where l was Ger.
tain they did not want me, so began
n still-hunt for Kodani. / needed to
ask several questions of the Jap, pri-
marily il 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 / 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 l explored the ship,
looking foor the Jap, but gave over
finally HEADING for tho howo wbora