The Argosy, October 1906 — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

THE ARGOSY., a8 Se as my own watch came below. _. [ noticed that the men from the deck did not, as usual, immediately turn in, but sat around smoking and with an air of expectancy. ‘Then I must have dozed off again. I was awakened by a heavy hand on my shoulder, and opened my eyes to find a knot of men elbowing each other in the a3 space between the berth and the table. “Up you get, Bantock,’ said Jack _ Harris. “ Yop’re wanted in the cabin!” = “ What’s that?” I mumbled through ~ my swollen jaw, rising to a sitting posture and Sirowing one leg over the + ‘wile. 2 3 _ “ Come alors aft, an’ ye’ll see!” was ‘the reply, and half- rushed, half-carried, I was borne along the deck—noticing, by : the way, that the ship was hove-to—and_ ae into the cuddy. 2. There a strange sight met my eyes. « In the big swinging chair at the head c= board watch and the enna of heavy 2 of the table, securely lashed, sat Captain — Milligan, his countenance doubly in- flamed by rage and drink. A gag ef- fectually stopped his. speech. In one corner, neatly trussed and like- wise bound, his wrists tied together under ~ his” knees, “Tay Hogan. He, too, was his right eye showed that he had not ___ yielded to numbers without pce up a stubborn fight. “There they be, the bloody mur- _ side of the deposed captain and shaking a dirty fist under his nose. . An ominous growl ran through the - crowd of rough seamen, which boded ill, for the captives. Every man was present ‘save one solitary hand at the wheel. | ‘‘ What have you done with Mrs. Milli- gan?” J asked. For answer there came a furious fusil- lade of thumps and kicks on the inner side of the door of our former first mate’s - cabin, and the shrill though muffled cries of a scolding woman. ““She’s in there, right enough ! ” said Bones. ‘‘She’s wuss’n them, bein’ a ss. womdn, but we ain’t hurted her, an’ she’ll +» sereech ’erself ’oarse “fore long!” and he spat on the carpeted floor with infinite = contempt and disgust. I looked around on the strange scene— possible, i gagged, while a great gashed bruise over - ‘derers!”” shouted Harris, striding to the at the faturiated faces of tiie -andechless = captain and mate, and the no less angry crew. ‘Well, mates,” I said, as coolly as ““what’s the meaning of all this?” cH means the ship’s ours!” retorted Harris 5 4S means that we’re tired o’ see- in’ mnurdeP done and bein’ treated wuss’n gutter dogs; it means that you're goin’ to take charge, seein’ as yowre { the only navigator among us, an’ that we're goin’ to cut the bloomin’ Vv’ yage short right ’ere!”’ _“ And suppose I decline?” I asked. “ Now see ’ere, matey, we don’t want no trouble alonger you,” said Bones truculently. “We've done all the dirty work, an’ we’re ready to take the blame if so be there’s any blame comin’ ; “but “we means wot we says. nificantly in the direction of the two pee. -OnerS. = “Tut, tut, eee ge rejoined quietly: “you can’t scare me. think best for all hands, eluded!" myself —in- I took in the situation at a glance. The alternatives were awkward enough in | either case. ; My notions of discipline were too strict to permit me to look with favor upon mutiny or piracy, no matter how black the provocation. The two: brutes had brought it upon themselves, and yet, as the only educated man forward, it lay in my power to mitigate the disaster, and perhaps save the ship and cargo. acc I had no intention of being classed as. a common mutineer, and thus ruin my future professional chances, to say noth- ing of spending a term in jail. sparred for time. . ‘“What are your plans?” I naked, turning to Harris, who seemed to. be ringleader and spokesman. ‘“T suppose you know the penalty for this job Sweet we get ashore?” : ‘Drat der penalty!” ’ growled a big German, Hans Sehwidi—=niclmanicd: ‘““Smiddy”; ‘“‘vat’s der penalty for let- tin’ a mans drown answer me dot!” he demanded fiercely, striking his fist in his palm. Harris waved his hand for silence. “?Ere’s wot we ve settled so far. Tf yer don’t we'll - make yer!” and he jerked his thumb sig- I shall -do what I s So I pefore our. eyes—_ ~ Wess