Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-12-08
CHAPTER v.


/
watch, found Lund In the bows as he
walked forward, waiting for the bell
TO be struck. Lightly as he trOd, the
Slant heard him and instantly recog-
nized him. "Seen Sandy yetT'
II haven't had a chance. / i'm
agined it would be the best not to
be seen talking to him."
fright Matey, things are comm
10 head. There's ice In the air. l
can smell II. Feel the difference I'm
temperature? Ice. all right. An that
means two things. We're nigh one
of the Aleutians, an Boring strait Is
full of ice. Early, bit, but there's
nOthin' reg'lar bout the way ice
forms. I've got strong bunch some
thing'll break before we make the
strait.
There's one thing in our favor. Yore
savin' Sandy has set you solid with
the hunters. They won't be so keen
to maroon you. An they'll think
twice about putin me ashore blind.
! used TO git along fine with the hunt
ers. All said an done, they're men
at bottom. Got their hearts goId-plat-
ed right now. But"
He seemed obsessed with the idea
that the crew, with Carlson as prime
instigatOr, had determined to leave
them stranded on some volcanic. lone
ly barren islet. Rainey wondered
what actual foundations he had for
that theory.
He found no chance to talk with |
Sandy. He noticed the boy looking |
ut him once or twice, wistfully. he |
thought, and yet furtively Carlson
did not appear during the morning,
neither did the hunters. Nor the girl.
AT noon Carlson came up to take
his observation. He said nothing to
Rainey, but the latter noticed the doe
tors face seemed more sardonic than
usual as he tucked his sextant under
his arm.
With Hansen on deck they all assem-
bled at the table with the exception
of the captain. Tamada served per-
fectly and silently. The doctor con-
verSed with the girl in a low voice.
Once or twice she smiled across the
table at Rainey in friendly fashion.
Skipper emmy better?" asked Lund,
at the end of the meal.
Carlson ignored him, but the girl
answered:
i am afraid not" 1t was not often
she spoke to Lund at all, and Rainey
if she had experienced any
change of feeling toward the giant as
well as himself
Garrison got up, announcing his in.
IentiOn of going forward Lund nod
1ed significantly at Rainey as If to
suggest that the doctor was going to
with the hunters, and thaS
his might be an opportunity to talk
With Sandy.
Coin to turn ill.," he said. Eyes
lurt me. It's the ice in the wind"
Carlson had already vanished and
he girl went to her room.
The door from the galley corridor {
opened, and head was poked in eau
iously. Then Sandy came into the
'abin. :
BEG pardon, Mister Rainey, SIR" d
aid the roustabout, 81 was through f
With the dishes. | wanted to have
talk with yer." His pop-eyes roamed /
bout the cabin doubtfully.
Come in here" said Rainey, and 4
shered Sandy into his own quarters. n
Nov, then" he said, established
n the bunk, while Sandy stood by the t
slouching, irresoute, his Il
lack jaw working as if he was chew
lg something, what is 1t, my ladT' a
They'd kick the stuffin' out of me &
they knew this" said Sandy. "Ive II
in warned to hold my tongue Dem N
~ said he'd cut It out If Chartered
n he would. But" HI
"But what? Sit down, Sandy; 81
ont give you away"
you went overheard after me, sir.
one of them would. I've heard what II
Ir. Carlson said, that didn't ermount "
nothin'. Mebbe l don't, but I've |
1t my own reasons for hangin' on.
e, of course don't ermount to much. W
Thy would I? If / ever had mother pa
4 father, l never laid eyes on 'em. bt
We made my own Twin sence ! was tn
ght. I've never 'ad enough grub In w
y belly till I worked for Tamada. W
he Jap slips me prime film. He's So
lily Jap, but he's got more heart tn
an the rest o. that bloody bunch put
rgether." Il,
Rainey nodded. az
"Tell me what you know, quickly. th
,u may be wanted any minute" Al
The words seemed to stick In the
d's dry throat, and then they came RI
til a gush. II