Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-09-11
CHAPTER v.
In Which We Begin to Understand
Our UnweIcome Passenger.

Our UnweIcome Passenger.
AS l yawned and looked out of my
cabin soon after dawn, about 4 80
next morning, there was no wind at
ALL and no hope of wind.
As / stood out of the cabin hatch,
however, there was enough breeze to
fiutter a piece of paper that had been
caught in the mainsail halyard; it flut-
tered there lonely in the morning.
Nothing else was astir but it and |,
and I took it up in my hand idly. As
did so George reared his head for'ard.
morning, George" / said; 81 guess
we've got to run on gasoline today"
''There amt no gasoline, sir. It's
run out in the night"
1.-THE tanks were filled when we
started, weren't they?" / asked.
Eyes, sir"
1--WE can't have used them up so
soon
mo, sir-but someone has turned
the cocks
I stood dazed for moment, wonder
ing how this could have happened
then a thought slowly dawned upon
me.
"Who has charge of them?" I said.
George looked a little stupid, then
defiant.
II see," I said; and, suddenly, with
out remembering Charlie Webster's adj
vice not to lose your temper with ne
gro-I realized that this was no acct
dent, but deliberate trick, something
indeed in the nature of miniature
mutiny. That fiuttering paper l had
picked from the halyard lay near my
breakfast table. / had only half read
1t. Now its import came to me with
full force. / had no firearms with me.
Having a quick temper, have made it
habit all my life never to carry a gun
because they go off SO easily. But
one most essential part of a gentle
mans education had been mine, so
applied it instantly on George, with
the result that a well-directed blow
under the peak of the jaw sent him
sprawling, and for awhile speeches.
in the cockpit.
mo gasolinew I said.
And then my passenger must give
him credit for the courage-put up his
head for'ard, and called out:
II protest against that; it's COW
ardly outrage. You wouldn't dare tt
do it to a white man."
ooh, see,'' rejoined. $50 You ar'
the author of this precious paper here
are you? Come over here and talk 1
over, if you've the courage"
1--WE got the courage" he answered
in a shaking voice.
"All right" said; you're safe TO
the present-and, George, who is 81
fond of sleep, will take quite nap 70
a while, / think"
"You English brutel" he said.
You English brute !" he had said
and the words had impelled me to in
vite him aft; for I cannot deny a Gel
tain admiration for him that had mys
teriously grown up in me-
Come herei" / said 'for your lif
is safe for the time being woul
like to discuss this paper with YOU"
He came and we read it together
futtering as | had seen it f1utter in hi
fingers as he read it for'ard to the er
gineer and to the deckhand. 1t began
Think how many we are! Thin
what we could do! 1t isn't either tha
we haven't intelligence-if only W
were to use it. We don't lack leader
we don't lack courage-we don't lac
martyrs; all are ready"
stopped reading.
why don't you start them" aske'
Were waiting for Jamaica" he al
swered; 'she's almost ready"
ut sounds pretty good idea I
me-" remarked, ''from your point {
view. From your point of view r
member, / said; but you mustn't thin
that yours is mine-not for one M
ment-O dear no! On the contrar
my point Of view is that Of the 60