Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1922-06-16

They're Drunk, an They're Coin on
Strike" Said sandy.
The men had got to the ice, hidden
from Lund, who was walking to the
Karluk on the opposite side Of the
vessel. The seamen were gesticulating
freely; the sound Of their voices came
up to him where he stood. tinged with
new freedom Of speech. rough, con-
fldent, menacing. As they climbed the
trail their legs betrayed them and con-
firmed the boys story. Behind them
came the four hunters. with Hansen.
walking apart, watching the sailors
with a certain gravity that communi-
Gated itself despite the distance.
Lund showed at the far rail Of the
schooner with his bar. He glanced to-
ward the men going to work, went be-
low. and came up with sweater. He
had left the bar behind him In the
cabin. where II was used for stove
poker
The men filed by Rainey, their faces
flushed and their eyes unusually bright.
They seemed to share a prime joke
that wanted to bubble up and over, yet
held a restraint upon themselves that
was eased by digs in one another's
ribs. In laughs when one stumbled or
hiccoughcd.
But Hansen was stolid as ever, and
the hunters had evidently not shared
the stolen liquor. Only Deming's eyes
roved over the group Of men as they
gathered round for their cups and
pannikins Of food. He seemed to be
calculating what advantage he could
! gain out of this unexpected happening.
| Peggy Simms. under cover of pour
ing the coffee. sweetened heavily with
condensed milk, found time to speak
to Rainey.
"They're all drunk" she said.
mot all of them. Here comes Lund
He'll handle it,"
Lund seemed still pondering the
problem of the foe. At first he did
not notice the condition Of the sailors
Then he apparently ignored il. But
after they had eaten. he talked to al
the men.
1.-TWO more days Of It, lads, ant
we're through. The beach Is nlgi
cleared. We can git out of the flO'
10 blue water easy enough. an vel
git a good start on the patrOl-ship
Wen 70 hack w'h full pockets an
heavy ones. The .hro~ll he half ~
large again as Vc'N" t@gered.
wouldn't wonder II they averaged six
teen or seventeen lhDuNand dnllar'
apiece"
Raincy had picked ont blackboard
pd Finn as the l"ah"r Of the sailors II
their drhnuch. Th" liquor seemed IL
have unclaimed in him II spirit of re
volt that hordrrcd on ins"lence, III
stood with his bowed legs apart. nit
tened hands on hips. staring at Lun'
with Il covert grin.
Next to Lund he was the higgeS
man aboard. with the rum giving al
unusual coordination to his usual
sluggish nervous system, he promise
to be a source of trouble.
Rainey was surprised 10 see hiT
shrug his shoulders and lead the wa
to the beach Perhaps breakfast ha
s0hered them. though the fumes
liquor still clung cloudily on the al
Lund went DOWN with Rainey b'
: side him, reporting Sandy.
. "rll work IL out Of EN-" said Lun'
= "That boozr'll he an expensive luxur
! to 'em. paid for In hard labor"
p They found the men ranged up
< three groups, Demng and Beal
a against custom had gone down TO Il
Y beach. They were supposed TO hc'
:. clean the food utensils, and aid Tam'
n da after a meal. besides rcplenishir
the fires.
They stood n little away from n
= hunters and Hansen and the sailor
q The Finn, talking 70 his comrades
n low growl. was with a sennra
: group.
X There was m mir of defiance mar
+ fest. feeling of suspense in the til
valley, hacked by the frowninc con
1t ribbed by the two icy prOmontorit
- I.und surveyed them sharply.
n "What In h--'s the matter. wi
D. you?" he hnrked. "Hansen. send
y a man for the drills an shovels. 70
I. works laid out; hop to II I"
v. "Wp aint goin' 70 work no more
le said the Finn aggrPssively. mot
lg no sich wage like you give"
ir "Oh. you amt, amt you?" mock
i. Lund He was standing with Rain
st In the middle Of the space they clear
Id Of gravel. the seamen lower down I
beach, nearer the sea, their ran
ID compacted. "Why. you booze-bitt
n. lousy hunky. what In HI do you wal
You never saN twenty ddiars II