The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-05-16
WOLVES OF THE SEA
Bv RANDALL PARRISH

bacco and a pipe, and-yeg, wait O.
second-writing materials. And, by
the way, there are two stateroOms
astern. Who occupies the one to star.
board-Senor Estada?"
mo, senior; it is the young lady"
sob, the one brought aboard last
night. Have you seer her?"
ISL, senor; she is English and good
to look at, but she sit and stare out
the stern port. She will not speak or
eat. / take in her breakfast, but She
touch not a morsel. So I tell Senior
Estada, and he say, then bring her
out to dinner with me; I'll make the
hussy eat if / have to choke it down
her dainty throat"
Good; I'll have a look at her N.Y.
self then. Now hurry up those things,
steward, and remember what l sent
you after"
He brought the shaving set and
writing materials first, explaining that
he would have to go down into the
lazaret and break open some pack
ages for the tobacco and pipe. The
moment the fellow disappeared /
grasped the opportunity. dashed off
a note ~hurriedly-a brief line merely
stating my presence on board end beg
| ging her not to exhibit surprise at
meeting me. I had no time in which
to explain or make clear the situa-
ton. With this folded and concealed
in my hand l silently pushed open the
door.
l crept swiftly forward, following
the circle Of the s~taterooms, until 1
came to the closed door of the one I
sought aft. l bent here an instant,
listening for some sound from within,
but heard none. Beyond doubt the
girl was within and alone, and L must
trust her quick intelligence to respond
to my written message. thrust it
through the narrow opening above the
sill, and the moment it disappeared
within stole swiftly back to my own
room. The action had not been seen,
and yet I had scarcely :. moment to,
spare. Before l could lather my face
the steward returned, bearing in his
hands tobacco and pipe.
Estada, however, remained away
longer than / had anticipated he
would, and I was fully dressed and
comfortably smoking before he came
down from the deck and crossed the
cabin to my partially open door.
"The starboard watch has been
called" he said, "and you are to take
charge Of the deck, relieving LeVere.
l waited to explain the situation to
the men before you appeared. I sup
pose you are ready?"
cay, ay, senor," knocking the ashes
out Of my pipe and rising. He eyed
my clothes disapprovingly.
Rather a fancy rig, Gates, for a
first officer on duty"
"Some style, l admit, senior, but they
were all the steward offered me-"
you'll have to carry a hard fist,
my man, to back up that costume
aboard the Namur," he said coldly.
"ThOse black devils are apt to mis-.
take you for a %plaything." i followed
him up the stairs to the deck LeVere
was oIili ou uuty, anu SdIuc UIWdIu
and shook hands at my appearance.
Rather glad I didn't drown you,''
he said, intending to be pleasant. But
hope you'll not run amuck in the after
cabin"
II shall try not to unless I have
cause" I answered, looking him
square in the eyes and determining
to make my position clear at once.
"SenOr Estada tells me 1 am to re-
heve you. What is the course?"
"Sou'west by half SOU"
DO you know your position?"
"Only in a general way. We have
held an east by south course since
leaving the capes, until an hour ago.,
making about ten knots"
"Very we'll; I will figure it out as
best / can. There is nothing further
to reportw
mo, senior; all has been as 1t Is
now"
He glanced toward Estada, not
greatly pleased, I presume, with my
b~rusqueness, yet finding nothing in
either words or manner from which
to evoke a quarrel. The latter had
overheard our conversation, but he
stood now with back toward us look
ing out on the sea off the port quar-
ter. His silent Indifference caused
LeVere to shrug his shoulders and
disappear down the ladder on his way
below. / turned my face to the man
at the wheel-it was the giant negro,
Cochose.