Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-07-24
CHAPTER Ill


"vivandiere?" l gasped. "vivan-
diere!"
THAT same" said Jerry. "wud ye
like to go down below and have a
look at the darlint?"
"If only to condole with her. !
would" l answered. If only to meet
a sister in misfortune. Lead the way,
stabbed: she was fretting at the mo-
ton of the Christina, and between
fear and the natural devilish temper
that had ruined her as q piece of rae
ing flesh, she was in g. wicked mood.
At a respectful distance from hel
hind fee ~ a burly deck-hand, evil
IDENTIFY, from the bucket of oats he
carried, told off to look after the
mares wants during the voyage. Jer-
watching the mans timid approach to
the make-shift stall, and his fearful
backing away when the mare, over
her shoulder, glimpsed him with
wicked eyes, and showed her great
powerful teeth.
The deck-hand turned and saw US;
he flushed angrily at Jerry's grin. He
turned back toward the stall and
lifted the bucket of oats. In his
anger he raised the heavy iron-bound
bucket above his head.
he snarled. And he hurled it. oats
and all. straight at h head of the
mare. 1t struck above her, on the
stalls wall. and aside from a tenn
porary blindness caused by the cloud
Of oats, did her no damage. But her
ears went back, and h squeaied
shrilly, flashing out with her hind
feet. I could feel. my, hands clench,
and I saw Jerry's teeth CLEAN.
STEADY, jerry" l warned him. HE
hasn't hurt her yet. and this isn't dry
land. We a report him to tho
ships officers"
But / didn't finish the sentence.
The d~eck-hand. turning. read the
contempt on our faces. he did not
faction would have happened. For he
picked up a heavy board. that should
have been used t O bar the rear OF the
mares stall, and swung it against her
quarters.
"ThatIu teach ye." he cried. Eye
black"
He leaped back, way from her
striking hoofs and danced in again
Old Jerry, grizzled and bent with the
But was quicker and elbowed my
brave Jerry aside. I caught him from
behind; my right arm vent around
him and my forearm frightened
against his throat, while my knee
found the small of his back. Hia
wooden bar fell to the deck - we
twisted around.
At the foot Of the companionway
that led to the 'tween-decks stood
Miss Leland. Her face was white and
her eyes blazed; her small hands were
knotted painfully and l saw hel
knuckles shine WHITLEY through
coat of tan. She was q picture OF
honest rage and in my surprise al
her presence l loosened my grip OF
the deck-hand. He broke from me
wheeled and faced me. fists raised
and doubled.
But the presence OF the girl cooled
my blood. l had no mind to figure
in a rouSh-and-tumble. brawl before
her. She might applaud the act and
dislike the actor. I spoke quietly te
the deck-hand.
Better co." I said. cor I'll report
you to your officers. Close thai
mouth OF yours and
ceased to issue from him. Beyond
glare and a muttered snarl that m,
being a passenger was all that savst
me. he said NO more and slOuchet
aft. I saw the girl put her hand II
her throat and saw the color com'
back to her cheeks. She put out 1
hand and steadied herself against tn
! railing Of the ganEway; had 2,
control of herself. ailuring pictur'
though she was. / felt q sudden sm
lbarrassment before her; q suddel
rush Of fealing that the proximity Q
no other woman had ever caused y
whelm me. For In that moFnen
when the deck.hand had been In m.
grip it seemed that she had barred he
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