Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-02-22
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object in this affair? You surely don't
hope to dispose of this vessel and
.argo?"
mo, I DON'T" and Mccain took a
step forward, his hand resting on the
desk. ITO be frank with you, Hollis,
this affair has gone further than
Intended; it got the start of me while
you held me prisoner aft here in the
cabin. There's nothing for me to do
now but work out of the fix as best
[ can''
"Mutiny, then, was not part of your
original plan?'
"Not open mutiny-nO. I'm no fool,
and / know what that means. / start
ed in to make the crew dissatisfied
so they would force you to put back
to an American port. l offered them
money, but with no intention of resort
ing to force. Then you locked me up,
and this other thing happened. We've
gone too far now to back out. We
don't mean to get caught. So it's up to
you TO decide whether the Indian Chief
remains afloat. and no lives lost: OK
whether the old hooker IS never he. id
Of again.
"You'd scuttle the ship?''
That's for you to decide; it's my
advice to you not to take the chance"
I could scarcely believe he meant
this; the proposition was SO abso-
lutely heartless, so cold-blooded. I
could hardly associate it even with
Fergus Mccain. Surely he was not
In reality the utter villain he now
coolly professed himself. My eyes left
his face, and sought Liverpool, who
was leering at me in drunken gravity.
us this true, Red? Have you fell
lows held council?"
"Some ov us have" he said sullenly,
"Jim Dugan, Simms and me, we talked
1t all over with Mr.. Mccain here, AM
agreed what wus best. That's why
the two ov us come ter see you"
unless I consent to sign report
showing your desertion of the ship
justified, you propose to sink the In
dian Chief?''
"YOu an Bascom-both ov yer"
"And if we do sign-what thenw
you'll sail us within fifty miles ov
the nearest open port, and We'll take
to the boats, and leave you to be picked
up.''
you'd report our condition ashore? p,
"NOthin' was said about that. Yer
drift would be southland, an would
soon bring yer in the track o. ships {;
besides there's enough left ter handle
the sails ter give the hooker steerage
way. We figured we'd be safe unless
there was big storm"
1t was certainly cold-blooded prop,
osition, but the fellows tone was so
matter-of-fact no longer doubted this
to be their final decision. I played my
last card.'
'See here, Red" and drew a paper
from the drawer of the desk. "Do you
fellows realize the value Of this ship,
and the cargo below hatches?
eve don't give darn
swell, you better, for it's a tidy
little sum. Now, see here-I'll pledge
the crew fifty thousand dollars, to be
divided as you choose, If you will dock
the Indian Chief at Hamburg"
who'll pay it,"
"The owner, within ten days of land
Ing"
"An' if we get snapped up by an
English or French cruiser ON the way
over, all we'd ever get would be Jail.
That sorter plan don't make no hit
with me nor my mates. We've talked
1t all over"
Mccain struck the desk with his fist,
impatient at the discussion.
"Your price is too low, Hollis. This
is no piker's game. Red knows it is
worth more than fifty thousand to me