Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-03
DEVILS UNLEASHED
By EDWIN C. WOOD
A Story of Tropical Seas That VIII Hold
You From Beginning to End
Chapter I.
By ED WIN G. WOOD


in the long swell, as she moved slowly
ahead under her auxiliary power, toward
a blue-looking, cloudlke object on the
horizon, bearing on her starDoard bow.
! She was running at low speed, eau
tiously, as thought uncertain and feeling
her way.
The eyes Of the man at the wheel were
bloodshOt and heavy and he seemed TO be
| a little unsteady, although he had small
difficulty in holding the vessel to her
course. An alcoholic aura surrounded
him, the vile, stale smell Of heavy drink
ing, an odor that oozed through the pores
Of his skin as well as breathed from his
lungs, polluting the air about him.
In the waist stood a group Of men,
their voices rising now and then In an
CRY dispute, and the atmosphere sur
rounding them was also heavy with the
odor Of rum They had the appearance
of being well soaked; just enough to
make them reckless devils, while still re-
tanning control to a certain extent over
minds and bodies All but one, that Is, a
man about 6 feet tall, heavy In proper
ton, with long arms and huge, red fists
and coarse. determined features; this
man showed less evidence of drink than
the others
Just aft the cabin two figures were
leaning against the starboard rail, APP
pareutly intent on watching the clouS-
like object on the horizon; man OF
about 30 and a girl Of propaDly 3. The
{ mans face was pale and n look OF In
tense worry and anxiety hung about his
eyes The girl was pale and careworn.
too, and kept as near to the man AS
she could, without IN reality clingtng TO
him During the days these two haS
been fellow passengers they had ex-
, the present. Now they conyersed In
guarded tones, TO avoid being overheard
by the man az the wheel, who leered at
them now and again In suspicious man
ner, with the light Of the beast IN his
eyes when they rested on the girl.
Can you hear anything they are say
/ ing. Miss Jameson the man asked, bis
voice lowered almost to q whisper.
i NO Now and then an oath and few
disconnected words when they get eK-
cited that's ali. I can't get the meaning
Of what I DO hear"
The two remained silent FOR space,
straining their ears to catch the drift
Of anything they might hear, but getting
little satisfaction.
The girl spoke. "Mr Hunter. do you
suppose that blue-looking thing over
there IS an island?'
Most likely and uninhabited, by civil
lied beings at least, or they wouldn't
be putting ia toward It"
How far 90 you suppose II isf7
Heaven knows. I'm no Judge Of dis
tsnces on the water Not many miles,
though, I guess"
The man ar the wheel was scowling at
the two, his ugly face screwed UP with
anger in bis disappointment at being un-
able 20 hear what was being said "Avast
there. you two by the rail an stow that
gab!" he finally snarled, ending with an
cath
Hunter looked down at the girl as she
cringed closer 10 him. PAY no atten-
zion TO the beast" be muttered he'll
not leave the wheel II he starts any
thing"
Hunter paused significantly, while his
hand closed over an automatic in his coat
pocket.
The girl shuddered, then looked up
Did they leave you armedf'
Yes" he answered disgustedly. They
were so drunk and 80 crazy TO do away
wit the captain and first mate that they
didn't make a clean job Of anything eD-
ccpt the murder Of the two officers. And
/ the second mate. Jansen. for some reason
insisted that neither Of as should be
armed-at first. So there you are Can
you shoot2"
Yes"
Move little closer to She rail--nesrer
to me so as to hide our hands from that
beast at the wheel Now Hide that.
And kil-you hear2-kill, II you are at
tackled. but never give UP that gun, even
If you have"
Il understand" she answered quietly,
but with an inward shudder. But you?
You viii need this"
u have another. One was in my
trunk. Got II out while they wore SQUAD
bling There's a rife there. too. I was
equipped for huntng-after my intended
visit to Australia. But what brought you
here?'
u amor wss-going to Australia to
my brother Captain White was a friend,
chose this way to avoid people on pas
senger steamers. like quiet. sometimes
You sec, I've just lost my father--all I
had but my brother"
II see I was running away from
people. too But no matter. Listen -
The knot Of men In the waist had fallen
into a louder. angrier dispute. The big
bullying mate, Jansen was having
trouble TO keep the others in hand, was
facing them now, threateninEly, with a
revolver in his hand Some Of the men
were armed with iron Delaying pins
deadly weapons at close quarters; some
/ had knives Nothing but Jansens bully
ing front kept them back. for oil re-
spect for authority was dead in them
and they were insane in their determina-
ton to gain their ends. Jansens brain
was clearer than theirs. he having less
and he was looking further ahead.
Back, tell ye,' he stormed, waving
the revolver. do We want to ruin every
thing? I tell ye we don't want no
petticoat-"
Hunter suddenly glanced in the direc-
tion Of the wheel. The man there was
iu the act Of leaving his post, to spring
! forward with knife in his hand. Hunter
| turned swiftly and fired The man
! pitched to the deck, sending the knife
Gathering against the cabin.
Come" Hunter cried. selling the giri's
/ hand. into the cabin, quick"
/ The disputing, snarllng seamen stopped
| their wranglng in amazement at the
sound of the shot, and stood staring
with open mouths for moment, then re-
gaining themselves, charged aft with a
roar.
As Hunter and the girl reached the
companionway, he fired again, and
sailor in the lead threw up his hands
and slumped to the deck, those behind
stumbling over the body. This short
delay gave Hunter and the girl time to
dart into the cabin, close the two small
doors that swung together, slide the
hatch. and fasten both doors and hatch.
Hunter drew the girl into his own state
room. closed and bolted this door also.
~ ha hon ma