The spectator., 1922-03-31
CHAPTER xiI-Continued.

an empty one rom llle Hoiu III us place. We got plenty without usin' that one for a while, an I only haG pened to notice it this morning by chance. They've bin drinkin all night, reckon They're ugly, Mir. Rainey. It's the crew this time. They got the booze The hunters are sober. Deming ain't in on this They did it on their own. I don't know how they got it. 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. Mir. Lund can handle them, I 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, menacng. 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 certain gravity that communi- cated 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 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 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.
 "Not 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 it.. But, after they had eaten, he talked to all the men.
 1.-Two more days of it, lads, and we're 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. We'll go back with full pockets an heavy ones The sharesI he half as large again as we've fingered. I wouldn't wonder if they averaged six teen or seventeen thousand dollars apiece"
 Ra,ney had picked out a black beard 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 10 see him shrug his shoulders and lead the way to the beach. Perhaps breakfast had sobered them, though the fumes of liquor still clung cloudily on the air
 Lund went down. with Rainey be- side him, reporting Sandy.
 "Ill work it out of 'em" said Lund That boozell he 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 replenlshing the fires.
 They stood little away from the hunters and Hansen and the sailors. The Finn, talking to his comrades in low growl. was with a separate group.
 There was an air of defiance mani fest. feeling of suspense in the tiny valley, backed by the drowning cone, ribbed by the two icy promontories. Lund surveyed them sharply.
 What In h-'s the matter with you?" he parked. "Hansen, send up a man for the drills an shovels. Tore works laid out: hop to 1t '"
 "We ain't goin' to work no more" said the Finn aggressively. Not fo' no sich wage like you give"
 "Oh, you ain't, ain't you?' r,ocked Lund. He was standing with Rainey in the middle of the space they cleared nN al xlx ,I,