The St. Charles herald., 1922-04-29
CHAPTER Xil-Continued.

CHAPTER xiI-continued.
-13-
They've swiped It," he said. "Put
an empty one from the hold In Its
place. We got plenty without usin'
that one for a while, an / only hap
pened to notice it this morning by
chance. They've bin drinkin' ali night,
/ reckon. They're ugly, Mr.. Rainey.
It's the crew this time. They got the
booze. The hunters are sober. Deming
amt in on this. They did it on their
own. don't know how they got it.
I didn't get it for 'em, sir. They must
have worked plumb through the hold
an got to it that way"
"All right, Sandy. Thanks. Mr.. Lund
can handle them, guess. He's COM
ing now"
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-
fident, 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 it 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
hiccoughed.
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.
cod
He'll handle It."
Lund seemed still pondering the
problem Of the fee. At first he did
not notice the condition Of the sailors.
= Then he apparently ignored it. But
after they had eaten, he talked to all
the men.
"Two more days Of 1t, lads, and
we're through. The beach is nigh
cleared. We can git out Of the foe
to blue water easy enough, an Wen
git good start on the patrol-ship.
Wen go back with full pockets an
heavy ones. The shares1l be, half as
large again as we've figgered. l
wouldn't wonder If they averaged six
teen or seventeen thousand dollars
apiece"
Rainey had picked out blackboard
ed Finn as the leader of the sailors in
their debauch. The liquor seemed to
have unclaimed in him a spirit of re-
volt that bordered on insOlence. He
stood with his bowed legs apart, nit
tened hands on hips, staring at Lund
with a covert grin.
Next to Lund he was the biggest
man aboard. With the rum giving an
unusual coordination to his usually
sluggish nervous system, he promised
to be a source of trouble.
Rainey was surprised to see him
shrug his shoulders and lead the way
to the beach. Perhaps breakfast had
sobered them, though the fumes of
liquor still chung cloudily on the air.
Lund went down. with Rainey be-
side him, reporting Sandy.
'I1l work 1t out Of 'em," said Lund.
'"That booze1l be an expensive luxury
to 'em. paid for In hard labor"
They found the men ranged up in
three groups. Deming and Beale,
against custom, had gone down to the
beach. They were supposed to help
clean the food utensils. and aid Tama-
da after a meal. besides replenishing
the fires.
They stood a little away from the
hunters and Hansen and the sailors.
The Finn, talking to his comrades In
. low growl, was with . separate
group.
There was an air Of defiance mani
fest, q feeling Of suspense in the tiny
valley, backed by the frowning cone.
ribbed by the two icy promontories.
Iund surveyed them sharply.
'What In his the matter with
Your he barked Hansen, send up
I man for the drills an shovels. Yore
works laid out: hop to I'll"
I'VE ain't goin' to work no more. :"
said the Finn aggressively. mot 70
no sich wage ike you give"
..Oh. you amt. amt your Laocked
Lund. He was standing with Rainey
n the middle Of the space they cleared
~ gravel. the seamen lower down the