Adventure, November 1915 — page 163: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

| Gold at Sea Island, at the most. We'll get there to- night.” : “Then [ve got to get busy with Podd,”’ he said. “Oh, he is coming along nicely— walking circles around himself, batty as a loon. He’s ripe to work upon.”’ “But it is all guesswork,” I said. For the first time Dooin showed a glimpse of the strain he was under. “T know it is,” he said. ‘It is a long shot, but we have to takeit. It is our one chances Good Lord, Mac, don’t you realize our posi- tion? You don’t for a moment suppose that this crowd will allow us to get away to blab-what we know. When they are ready to leave the Wasp, you may be sure they will reckon with us. They’ll leave us behind with our throats slit.” “Yes, I realize that,” I said. “But I’m worrying about that girl, Dooin. What will happen to her? We must think of her, too?” “Huh! Don’t worry about her,” he re- torted. “She’s all right. Dacy will look after her. I wish our skins were as safe as hers is.”’ He dodged the wrench I threw at him, and fled for the deck. : the bridge suddenly commanded the slowing of the engines. At half- speed we ran for some fifteen minutes, and then came the order to stop. ; I brought the engines to rest. Dacy’s voice came through the speaking-tube. “We are going to lay by for a couple of hours, McNeil. Keep a full head of steam and be prepared to start at a moment’s no- tice.”’ I communicated the orders to the fire- rooms, admonished my oilers to stay watch- ful at their tasks and mounted to the deck. The dusk of twilight had disappeared, but the night was bright with stars and an early moon. I gazed about eagerly, but we had made no landfall, nor was any light to be seen. The Wasp lay motionless upon a deserted sea. But on board there was life in plenty. It seemed to me, as I climbed _ through the engine-room hatch, that the very air was alive with subtle, sinister sug- gestions, though, of course, this was but the strain and the sleeplessness of the past days. The decks were a patchwork in the night light, alternate silver and black. Forward, upon the forecastle head, I could see dim bulks moving about. From forward, not p. 4 ABOUT eight o’clock a bell from an a" 161 very loud, came laughter and a snatch of song. When I drew nearer I saw that the sounds of revelry came through the open ports of the forecastle, the door of which was closed. I looked up at the bridge, but it seemed deserted. There was something in the air, an uncanniness, a subtle whisper of evil to come, that made me restless and fearful. Through the open door of the lighted chart-room over my head came voices— Dacy’s voice roundly cursing, and Farley’s soft tones expostulating. “By Heaven! I’ll cut that nigger’s heart out!”’ cried Dacy. “No, no, Captain, it was not Turk, I as- sure you,” came Farley’s smooth, unemo- tional accents. ‘Then how did they get the booze?”’ came from Dacy. “They discovered it beneath a bunk—a jugful of it. Worden confessed to me. This is an English warship, you know—some of the former crew were saving their whack. It is all gone now; you got the last of it.< The voices sank to an indistinguishable murmur, and I turned away aft. As I neared the splotch of light that marked the cabin entrance I became aware of a figure seated upon the quarter-bitts. A hoarse, cracked voice commenced to hum a chantey, “Sally Brown I Love Your Daugh- ter,” when I approached. It was Hot- Scotch Henderson, drunk as a lord. “Hello, Mac, old scout!” he hailed me as I reached the cabin ladder. ‘Goin’ down to see the ladies? Ho, ho, you don’t want to interrupt Ralder—bad man, old Rald- er” “‘What’s that?” I demanded sharply, as something of the meaning of his jargon struck me. “Skipper thinks he’s cute,” he rambled on. ‘Thinks he’ll keep us dry—fooled him. Thinks he’s got bird all safe. Ho, ho! Ral- der steals a march.” A nameless fear clutched me, and I start- ed to descend the ladder. From below came Von Werner’s voice. “Nein, nein! Get oudt—you vas drunk! I will nod allow!” A curse and a thud followed the words, and then a woman’s scream. I took the steps at a single bound. For an instant I paused, then I saw red. For the door ofthe Captain’s cabin was Gomichbooks (C@) res eae Ns TOR SIY S