Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-02-15

the deck above, cast a CHASTITY yellow
ish glare over the interior, revealing
to me at least two-thirds of the crew,
clustered about, evidently awaiting
some such event. White held to my
collar, but Liverpool closed the en-
trance, shutting out even that faint
breath of pure air, before speaking a
word.
''Well, we've got the main guy, lads,
an no shindy," he said cheerfully, "an'
a gun came with him. Now few O. us
will see if we can persuade the first
mate into taking trip forward"
where's Billy Olson?" asked
voice.
"Oh, he's asleep below; there's plen-
ty O. time to attend to him, an We'll
let the engine-room gang alone till we
get control the deck. Simms, you
an Harris better come along with jim
an me on this job. Leayord is husky
buck, an we might not get him foul
like we caught Hollis here. We don't
want to hurt nobody unless we have
to. Where's the niger Watson?"
''Right hyar, sah.'
"COme on, then; it's your trick at
the wheel in five minutes; the rest o.
you fellers know yer business"
The five men slipped out cautiously,
sliding the door shut behind them, and
I stared about into the faces Of those
left with me, still daZed by the rough
handling to which I had been subject
ed, yet fully aroused to the fact that
the attack upon me had come from no
sudden impulse, but was the first step
in carefully formed plan to gain pos
session of the ship. My duty was to
warn the men aft of the approaching
danger. How should I act? In a
vague way / knew most of the faces of
those grouped about me, but [ could
recall only few names. They were a
rough lot, typical foremost hands,
many of pronounced foreign appear
ance, yet there was nothing especially
vicious about them. Ordinarily they
would obey orders without complaint
but now they were evidently under full
preston of their faces bespoke curl
osity rather than hatred. Determined
to test them | Strengthened up and
placed foot ON the lower step.
''NOne O. that now" voice grOwled
as hand gripped my arm. 'You don'ti
want ter git hurt none, do yer?'
faced the speaker, big, two-fisted
giant with a red face and slow draw
in his voice.
''YOu mean to hold me here"
Sure; we've gone too far on this
job now fer to back down. Thar'd be
row ov a time if we turned you
loose"
You're an Irishman?'
"'Twould be hard for a Dugan ia
deny that, s0r."
swell, Dugan, look here-you and
your mates. You are sailormen, and
know the rules of the sea. This is
mutiny, and mighty serious affair to
be caught in, lads"
"We're not lookin' at it that way
Dfr. Hollis. We shipped fer peaceful
voyage, not to run no cargo o. contra.
band fer the Dutch. This yere In.
dian Chief is chock-full o. munitions
O. variant that the truth, sor?''
YES" l admitted, "but shipped be.
fore war was declared. The sick man
back there in the cabin has his whole
fortune in this venture"
Devil take him an his fortune
The point is we're not Dutchmen, an
in wartimes it's no mutiny fer crew
to capture an inimy's ship"
"Who told you that?'
"Never mind who told us; it's the
truth, amt it?'
"Under some circumstances it might
be-" I said, casting my eyes about the
ring of faces. ''But the present con.
ditions do not justify any such action
Now look here, Dugan; you fellows
are in mighty bad boat in this mat
ter. You're merchant seamen; you've
signed on for a peaceful voyage, and ii
is no business of yours what's below
hatches. That's for the Warships to
find out The Indian Chief is under
American register. She's a neutral
boat, and your act is mutiny on the
high seas. You know what that will
mean to you and your mates, don't
you. if you're ever caught?'
"Who says that?"
81 do; and I know more Of sea law
than any of those fools who are steer.
ing you into this trouble. You XIII
a man on board here, ana it is mui
der, and the whole bunch of you car
be maSe to swing for it. Men have
got life for less than you have done
now. But I'll give you a chance"
what chance, sor?n
TO stand by the ship. Set me free
now, and back up the officers in main
tanning discipline aboard, and not one
of your names goes into the log"
can sail the bloomin' hooker tt
Hamburger
''Of course; that's the port yor
signed for"
There was an uneasy shutting OF
feet, and muttering of voices. The
light was too poor to enable me to de-
cipher the expressions on the faces
of the men, yet felt that my words