Montana oil and mining journal., 1937-11-27

did not mind. In q situation where only
manhood counted he was supreme.
Besides. these passengers had ALREADY
played into his hands. Brooker and
his toughS would never forgive Raw
son g. Co, for siding against them
Gatrie had only 70 choose his moment
and his triumph over Rawson would De
as complete as his mastery Of the
stokers.
Rawson and Rearne and the rest
| steadily helped to their own undoing
1 Big and meaty men though they were
/ they never offered to take a spell af
the oars, and though Gatrie split the
crew into watches the ceaseless row.
4 ing under torrtd sun and through
! Squan chopped seas, exhausted and
Soured the men. Before the day was
! gone they we're muttering and shoot
ing evil glances at the idlers. Gatrie
knew that If he chose his crisis well
he'd have them on his side.
His chance came when an extra sharp
{ furry struck them. At the worst of 1t
Gatrie let the boat yaw and the wave
thus brought aboard flooded them to
the thwartS. As all shouted and shifted
in fear, Gatrie baWled:
Get the bailerS some Of you Look
lively If you don't want to be shark
meat"
Rawson snatched up floating pan
4lhnAs D1VOhcA uAtSu ulS aiALS 70 ttlc
bilge for the bailing bowls, bringing
up three. He handed one to DeViIin
and Kearne Snatched another.
Not you," Gatrie roared. Il need
beef at the oars to keep her head on.
Back to your thwarts Brooker /.
Devilin. Kearne take BuntS oar. Raw
son, take over from the steward :"
Damn you. I'm passenger" Raw
son began, but Gatrie was ready for
fhnff he HHend uhaFralU nFad the k5rtff1or
Of the boat in the cross seas and the
slapping Of wave heads inboard re-
awakened panic. Gatrie drove 1t home:
'FoolS-hOw can hold her If you don't
give me steerage way?"
BROKER and Devilin were seamen
enough to grab their oars; RawsOn and
Kearne followed through contagion of
fear. Bunt began TO dip and swing the
bailer at once, as did the boy steward.
But they weren't enough-also there
was Troy TO bring the heel. Gatrie
shouted: Hey. steward-Hey, what's
your name?"
Proctor, sir. David Proctor" said the
steward in SO cultivated a voice that /
Gatrte Sneered.
Hell, a college boy-wen, Mister
Proctor grab those spare bailers and !
bring EN- aft. Mr.. Troy here viii maybe
help to save his own life"
I'm sick man." Troy said as Proc
ter sloshed towards him.
That's better than being dead one.
Get busy, Troy"
The contempt in Gatrie's voice stung
5he millionaire.
you forget who am" he snapped,
and what you are. I don't take impu-
ience from underlingS-"
"I don't care who you are or anybody
s." Gatrie said. I'm in command here
md my word goes. Get to it, Troy"
For q moment the cold eyes that
lad browbeaten so many financial
,iants warred with Gatrie's hard, gray /
glance, but before either could drop
Jarol took one of the bailerS from
David Procter's hand.
AS she swung to her work, the line |
4 her long limbs and fine body show /
ng a splendid fluency under her wet
lothes, her smile met Gatrie's. She &
Understood him, she exulted in the [
nan in him, and he too, exulted. His s
ense Of power grew as Troy, shamed
Y her action, took a dipper and began s
) bail. c
He, Gatrie, had mastered the last and t
lost powerful element in the boat. I
rev, passengers, and now this arro-