Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-01-17

poop-rail watching our dim figures,
wondering, no doubt, what was occur
ring below. I did not venture to glance
upward, or remove my eyes from the
prisoner.
"Below there" the mate called,
grufly, whats going onf"
ut is all right, Nj. Olson" 1 an.
swered, speaking quietly. "Ill explain
later. Open the door, Mccain, and go
Estraight down."
He must have realized the utter fu-
tility of resistance, for he never even
turned his head, marching before me
down the stairs, and across the de-
serted cabin. 1 threw open the door
next to Bascom's stateroorn, switched
on the light, and glanced within, keep
ing my grasp hard on McCann's arm.
His eyes met mine, black with q
towards hatred.
"By God! if you wasn't armed"
swung him about in sudden disgust,
flinging him forward, and he fell
sprawling on the deck, overturning the
stool. The next instant l had closed
the door and locked it, dropping the
key into my jacket pocket. There had
been little noise, scarcely enough to
arouse the sleepers below, and it was
with a feeling of decided relief, that
I returned to the open deck.
I climbed the ladder, joining Olson
at the port rail. Two men were at
the wheel, which bucked sufficiently
to keep them busy.
"You are off a couple of points, lads"
III said. Cant you hold her n
closer?"
"Not the way the sea is running,
Sir" answered a voice / recognized as
lSimms'. unless we raise a bit more
jib, and the mate thought it best nce
to risk the canvas"
fright, no doubt, but hold her down
the best you can"
AYE, aye, sir"
The response was cheerful enough,
and I crossed the deck to where Olson
stood, in somewhat better frame of
mind.
"You are not exactly holding to the
course, Mr.. Olson" I said, but not un-
kindly, land Simms tells me you
thought it best not to shake out an
other reef in the jib."
ut would only strain the old hooker
to buck these seas, SIR" he replied,
"and as you had NJ observation, ]
hardly thought a point or two would
make much difference"
"Nor does it; only I prefer to be
consulted on such matters hereafter.
You must have had some other rea.
son?"
He glanced about to make sure OF
u distance from the men at the
wheel.
swell, in a way I suppose I did, SIR
he admitted slowly. 1.-THE watch for.
ward is sullen, an I had no desire tc
stir them up unless there was some
real need. It's Liverpool's turn or
deck, Mr.. Hollis, an he an I never was
no friends. If I was to give an order
and then had to go forward to make
EN- hold, it might start up quite 6
row, sir"
"Quite a sensible decision. It may
interest you to know that I have JUS
cut L~iverpool's claws-his friend Nc
Cam is below, safely locked up"
Exactly, sir. That was what oc
Cured on the main deck just now? HI
was very quiet about it, sir. Is il
true what I hear that he is a real New
York millionaire? And you are not {
real sailor, Mr. Hollis, but just 6
yaahtsman?"
"Has Mccain been circulating thai
yarn forward?"
"He has, sir. Simms just told me
the story at the Wheel"
swell, then, listen to me, Mr.. Olson
and then see to it that the word gets
to the crew. I was a member of {
yachting party when we suffered ship
wreck, but I'm no yachtsman. I've
served before the mast, Mr.. Olson, ant
won every grade up to a captaincy il
the old Atlas line. I know the sea ant
its way from %forecastle to after cabin
and any time those lads forward there
want to take my measure, the chance
is wide open. You understand"
II do, SIR" and I thought there was
more respect in the tone.
"Good; there will be no trouble to
night?"
| 1T think not, sir; but by ~ngornins
they will begin to wonder what ha:
, become of this man Mccain, and MAJ
: grow ugly"
"We can handle them by daylight
It is darkness which gives them al
advantage. I'll return to the mair
deck, Mr.. Olson, and leave you IL
, charge here"
CHAPTER XIV.
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