Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-02-11
CHAPTER xIl-continued.
II

that one for a While, an ! only hap
Dpned 10 notice it this morning by
chance. They've bin drinkin' all night,
I 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 go. TO 1t that way"
"Ail right, Sandy. Thanks. Mr.. Lund
car 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 a
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 a sweater. He
mad left the bar behind him in the
cabin, where it was used for a 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 Demings eyes
roved over the group of men as they
gathered round for their cups and
pannikns 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.
"Not all Of them. Here comes Lund.
He'll handle It,"
Lund seemed still bordering the
problem Of the foe. 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 it, lads, and
were through. The beach is nigh
cleared. We can git out of the foe
TO blue water easy enough, an we'll
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 fggered. l
wouldn't wonder if they averaged six
teen or seventeen thousand dollars
apiece"
Rainey had picked out black beard
ed Finn as the leader of the sailors in
their debauch. The liquor seemed to
have unclaimed in him spirit of re
volt that bordered on insolence. He
stood with his bowed legs apart, nit
tened hands on hips, staring at Lund
with 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 lc1d the way
10 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.
III work it out of EN-" said Lund.
THAT boOze'n be an expensive luxury
to EN-, paid for in hard labor"
They found the men ranged up In
three groups. Deming and Beale,
against custom, had gone down to the
reach They were supposed TO help
clean the food utensils, and aid Tama-
ia after meal, besides replenlshing
the fires.
They stood little away from the
hunters and Hansen and the sailors.
The Finn. talking to his comrades in
a low growl, was with separate
group.
There was an air Of defiance mani
Test feeling of suspense IN the tiny
valley backed by the frowning cone.
ribbed by the two icy promontories
Lund surveyed them sharply.
What In his the matter with
your he barked Hansen, send up
man for the drills an shovels. Yore
works laid out; hop to it,"
we amt goln' to work no more"
said the Finn aggressively. mot TO
no sich wage Ike you give"
"oh. you amt. amt your raocked
Lund. He was standing with Rainey
N The middle Of the space they cleared
q gravel the seamen lower down the
'each. nearer the sea. their ranks
eomnacted. "Wby voa booze-bltten.
.o0Sy hunky. what in III DO you want?
oa never saw twenty dollars I'm