The Ely miner., 1930-05-09

for. We have enough coal to get us
to Limon."
'Can you navigate" Bettington
asked. "Can you take us to Limon
now Leary's dead?"
"HalIett SHALL" Sam said suddenly,
with ferOcity. "I've handled men
stubborner than he is and I've broken
EN-" He clenched his gigantic hands
and the table groaned as he struck 1t.
"Tll break Hallett."
you've killed him." Bettington said
gravely. "We'll leave Hallett out Of
the question"
did get him, after all?" Sam
asked. He sat for moment think
ing of the excellence of his aim. He
did not realize the extent of the dis
aster until Bettington spoke.
"That leaves us with the task of
getting some one who can work out a
reckoning and get us where we want
to 90. Otherwise we drift hither and
yon till we are picked up by passing
vessel. or have to wireless for some
one who can navigate"
"H-l!" said Sam; he turned to the
engineer. Cant you?"
81 thought not" Bettington re-
marked. Apparently Metzger doesn't
know that Nicoya is on the Pacific
side of Costa Rica and to get there
we should have to go through the
Panama canal and come under the
Jurisdiction of the United States.
Find out who is capable of navigat-
ing"
A search revealed none capable.
Sam and Metzger looked at one an
other doubtfully. Metzger feared that
Sam was likely to favor the surgeons
plan and. for that reason, raised new
difficulties.
IF we do run back to New York."
he said plausibly, show are we going
to account for Hallett's murder?"
at wasn't murder" Sam contra
dicted. at was self-defense. Wasn't
Hallett armed?"
They'll call IT murder In New
York." Metzger assured him, "and
you'd go to the chair tUr it. The Doc
knows that as well as | do"
Sam was brought to a realization
of the effect of his shots which, for
the moment, he had considered unim-
portant. He looked angrily at Bet
tington.
"You want me to be put out of the
way so you get the money!"
The surgeon shrugged his shoulders.
Anything the majority can enforce
is BEST" he said graphically, from
their point of view. | am looking fur.
ther ahead than most of you. ! see
the Albatross drifting aimlessly
around the seas. which will soon be a
little too rough for vessel of this
sort. If she doesn't founder she'll be
reported by passing vessels and a
search will be instituted and we shall
all be taken into an American port
What is MetZger going to say to a
naval officer who may board us?"
"He's right" Metzger cried. He
turned IN ,rily to Sam. "What did you
want to plug him for? You'-e put US
all in the HI of a mess"
81 COULDN'T stop 70 think of that"
Sam cried as angrily.
"There is competent navigator
aboard" BettingtOn announced.
"Who?" they asked.
81 can navigate, if | want to-"
"If you want to!" Sam echoed
Don't you want to get out of it with
a whole skin? Amt you in as deep
as me-"
"We'i force you to it, Metzger
shouted.
you'll force me to do nothing" the
doctor snapped. I'm the one to make
Here they are: If the women are left
absolutely unharmed and alone. I'll
take the boat into LimOn."
He sat still utterly unmoved at the
blasphemous obscenity which poured
from the lips OF the two opposite.
'And when we get tt port" Metzger
cried "What then?"
Anything you like Bettington told
him. "A pistol. knife or bare hands !;
but not cards with man like you"
Sam turned on the fuming engineer
with an oath.
you'll get your chance in Limon,"
he said "None of that knife stuff
now. No quarreling with Doc till
then, or III take hand in it."
Metzger was full OF quick, passion
ate gestures; Bettingron remained i'm.
mobile. The doctors composure could
only mean that he was conscious of
triumph. While the fore part of the
ship would be barred to the engineer
1t was free to the surgeon. Madden.
ing images chased themselves across
Metzger's brain.
"You think you can amuse yourself
with her while we are working for
your safety. You think | shall per.
NIT it, eh?"
II shall be on the bridge. you poor
benighted ass, trying to take the ship
to I.imon. My bunk will be made up
in the chartroom and ] shall be work
ing when you and Sam are drinking
and gambling. You're filtby-minded
swine, MetZger, and I'm not so sure
| want to wait till Limon comes iE
sight"
Sans heavy frame sprang between
the two men.
"Not yet" he commanded roughly.
Its MetZger's fault, Doc, and he's
full of hoOch"
Bettington turned his back on the
engineer.
"Send Mike down to help me re-
moved Hailett's body. It's got to be
buried decently."
Anything you say Sam observed.
almost with gratitude. "Radway'll
have company now. I'll send Mike
down right away" ne added. as Bet.
tingto:. moved toward the door.
"He laughs at me-" hftZgpr StOrmed