The Elbert County tribune., 1918-05-03
CHAPTER xIIl-tcontInued.,

"Amidship."
'Petty officers quarters. Well,
prefer having you aft. There is va
cant stateroom below. Walk ahead OF
me to the cabin. and 60 down the
steps"
you'll pay for this in the morn
Ing"
DO not worry about the morning,
my man. Trust me to take care of
your friends forward when the time
comes. This is not my first voyage.
Move on r.
Sullenly be left the rail, and crossed
the deck to the companion, with me
trailing step behind. / was aware
that Olson was leaning out over the
poop-rail watching our dim figures.
wondering, no doubt, what was occur
ring below. did not venture to glance
upward. or remove my eyes from the
prisoner.
Below there" the mate called,
grufIiy. whats going on7"
1T is all right, Mr.. Olson" an
swered, speaking quietly. "rl explain
later. Open the door, Mccain, and 90
straight down."
tility of resistance, for he never even
turned his head, marching before me
down the stairs. and across the de-
serted cabin. threw open the door
next to Bascom's si,,teroom, switched
on the light, and glanced within. keep
ing my grasp hard on McCann's arm.
His eyes met mine, black with a
towards hatred.
''By God II you wasn't armed"
! swung him about in sudden disgust,
hinging him forward. and he fell
sprawling on the deck. overturning the
stool. The next instant had closed
the door and locked 1t, dropping the
key into my jacket pocket. There had
been little noise. scarcely enough to
arouse the sleepers below. and 1t was
with feeling Of decided relief. that
returned to the open deck.
climbed the ladder, Joining Olson
at the port rail. Two men were ut
the wheel, which bucked sufficiently
to keep them busy.
"You are Off a couple Of points. lads"
said. Cant you hold her any
closer?"
"Not the way the sea Is running.
SIR answered voice recognized as
Simms'. unless we raise bit more
lib. and the mate thought It best not
to risk the canvas"
Fright, no doubt, but hold her down
the best you can"
AYE, aye, SIR"
The response was cheerful enough,
and l crossed the deck to where Olson
stood, In somewhat better frame of
mind.
'You are not exactly holding to the
course, Mr.. Olson" said, but not I'M
kindly. land Simms tells me you
thought 1t best not to shake out an
other reef in the jib."
'Tt would only strain the old hooker
to buck these seas. SIR" he replied,
"nnd as you had no observation,
hardly thought point or two would
make much difference"
''Nor does 1T: only prefer to be
consulted on such matters hereafter.
You must have had some other rea-
son7"
He glanced about to make sure of
our distance from the men at the
wheel.
swell. in way suppose did. sill"
he admitted slowly. "The watch for
ward is sullen, an had no desire to
stir them up unless there was some
real need. It's Liverpool's turn on
deck, Mr.. Hollis. an he nm 1 never was
NO friends. II I was to give an order.
and then had to. 60 forward to make
'em hold. 1t might start up quite a
row, SIR"
''Quite a sensible decision. 1t may
Interest you to know that 1 have just
cut Liverpool's claws-his friend Nc
Cam is below. safely locked up"
Exactly, sir. That was what oc-
CURED on the main deck just nowf He
was very quiet about 1t. sir. Is 1t
true what hear that he L. a real New
York millionairef And you are not \
real sailor, Mr.. Hollis. but just a
yachtsman7"
HAS McCann been circulating that
ySru torwardf~
"He has. sir. 6imms just told me
NE story at the Wheel"
~sy~.i. tbsa, nsesn 70 me, Mr.. Olson.