Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1919-04-09
mar amt nutnin' kin skeer that black

mar amt nutntn' kin Skeer that black
brute"
HE amt got no human in him. It's
HI when English sailormen hes got
ter take orders from a ID niger,
an be knocked round if they don't
jump when he banks. He's goin' ter
get knife in his ribs sum day."
maybe he is; but yer better hold
yer tongue, Tom. Sanchez don't stand
fer tibet talk, an he's back o. LeVere.
Let's go in; them gaskets will hold all
right nOw-cum long"
] could now perceive now clearly the
character 1 was destined to assume
when once safely aboard the Namur.
Such an assumption would involve but
slight danger of discovery. 1t was as
though miracle had opened the way,
revealed to me by the unconscious lips
of these two half-drunken, gossiping
sailors. The story told fitted my ne
cessities exactly. Had / planned the
circumstances myself nothing could
have been better prearranged. No one
on board had seen the missing man by
daylight; he was believed to have
sunk without struggle. Yet no one
knew positively that this was so, be-
cause no one cared. The death of the
lad had simply been taken for granted
when LeVere had failed 20 see his
body rise again to the surface. Yet it
was quite within the realm of posi-
bility for the fellow to come up once
more in that darkness, beyond Lee
Veres range of vision, and even to
have remained afioat, buoyed up by
clinging to the anchor hawser, until
strong enough to return on board. At
least there was no one aboard the Ma
muir able to deny that this had been
done.
Satisfied by this reasoning of being
able to pass myself off as the dead
man, began slowly and cautiously to
drag myself up the taut hawser. 1
had chosen fortunate moment for my
effort; no one needed the little noise
l made, and, when finally topped the
rail and was able to look inboard it
was to discover a deserted fore deck,
with the watch all engaged at some
task amidships. l crept down the fore
castle ladder and worked my way aft
beneath the black shadow of the port
rail, until able thus to drift unnoticed
into a group failing onto a mainsail
halyard. The fellow next to me, with
out releasing his grip, turned his head
and stared, but without discerning nv
features.
"Whar did yer cum frum?" he
growled, and ] as instantly recognized
Bill Haines. Been sojerin', have yer?
Well, now, lay to an pull"
Before / could attempt an answer
tall figure doomed up before us, the
same high-pitched voice 1 had noticed
previously calling out sharply:
There, that's enough, men! Now
make fast. We can head the old girl
out from here in jiffy, if it really be-
gins to blow. Jose, you stand by at
the wheel, in case you're needed; some
of the rest ship the capstan bars, and
remain near for a CALL"
What are We swingin' the yards
tur, anyhow. LeVere?" asked Haines
insolently. "Just fer exerciseY"
Because / am sailor, Haines," he
replied angrily. Anyhow it is none
of your business; was left in COM
mand here. Those clouds don't look
good to me; there is going to be a
blow before morning"
Haines growled something and Lee
We're wheeled sharply about to go for
ward. This movement placed him
face to face with me.
what are you loafing here fer?
Who are your"
"Joe Gates, sir" I answered quickly,
mounting the first name which came
to my lips.
"Gates-Joe GatesY peering saw
agely into my face but unable to dis
tinguish the features. 81 never heard
of anybody on board by that name.
Who is the fellow, Haines?"
The Englishman gripped me by the
sleeve to whirl me about, but as his