Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 2 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

A MAN TO blood ’—-Tamada drew himself up slightly as he claimed his nobility—‘ that I make harikari. That I do not wish. I am Pro- gressive. I much rather cook on board Karluk and get my share of gold.” Lund surveyed him moodily, half con- vinced. The girl was all eager approval. “What is your plan, Tamada?”’ ‘We're losin’ time on that log,” cut in Lund. “ Git busy, Rainey. Look among Carlsen’s stuff. He may have kept one. Dope up one an’ burn the other. Now, Tamada, it’s got to be a good one.”’ Both Lund and the girl were laughing when Rainey came out into the main-cabin again with the records. Tamada had dis- appeared. | ‘“He’s some fox,” said Lund. ‘ Miss Peggy, you better superintend the the- atricals. It’s got to be done right. Rainey, not to interrupt you, what do you know about enteric fever?” . ce Nothing.” “ Well, it’s the same as typhoid. There'll be a surgeon aboard that gunboat. You got to bluff him. Say little an’ look wise ) as an’ owl. Don’t let him mix in with yore patient.” ‘““ My patient?” “Tamada! He’s got enteric fever. If there’s time he’ll give you all the dope.” “But I don’t see how that—” “You will see when you see Tamada,”’ Lund grinned. ‘“‘ How about them logs. Can you fix ’em?” . »« “T think so.” “Then hop to it. I’m goin’ to wise up the men and arrange a reception committee. Don’t forgit yore name’s Carlsen, an’ mine’s Simms.” : Rainey wrote rapidly in his log, erasing, eliminating pages without trace, imitating | the skipper’s phrasing. Fortunately Simms had made scant entries at first and, later on, as the drug held him, none at all. Carlsen had kept no record that he could find. The girl had gone forward to aid with Tamada’s plan which Lund had evidently accepted. Before he had quite finished he heard the tramp of men on deck and the blast of a steam whistle. He ended his task and went up to see the gunboat, gray and menacing, its brasses glistening, men on her HIS MATE, 269 decks at their tasks, oblivious of the schooner, and officers on her bridge watch- ing the progress of a launch toward the floe. It made landing smartly, and a lieuten- — ant, diminutive but highly effective in ap- pearance, led six men toward the Karluk. He wore a sword and revolver; the men, carried carbines. Their disciplined rank and smartness, the waiting launch, the gun- boat in the offing, were ominous with the suggestion of power, the will to administer it. The officer in command carried his chin at an arrogant tilt. Lund had rigged a gangway and stood at the head of it, salut- ing the lieutenant as the latter snappily an- swered the greeting. Rainey found the girl and put a hurried question. “What about Tamada? What’s the plan.” “ He’s in the galley, Dr..Carlsen. But he isn’t Tamada any more. He’s Jim Cufiee, nigger cook, sick with enteric fever, not to be disturbed.” Rainey stared. It was a clever device, if Tamada could carry it out, and he bear his own part in the masquerade. The will- ingness of Tamada to risk the disguise was assurance of his fidelity. | “Lund should have told me,” he said. ‘“T’ve got to change his name on the pa- pers. It won’t take a minute though; he doesn’t appear in the log.”’ The Japanese officer wasted no time on deck. For precaution, Rainey made his alteration in the skipper’s cabin, leaving the log there on the built-in desk. “This is Lieutenant Ito, Dr. Carlsen,” Where is he? said Lund. “ You want to see our papers, lieutenant?”’ “My orders .are to examine the schooner,” said Ito, in English, even more perfect than Tamada’s. ficially severe, though his slant eyes shifted constantly toward the girl. Evidently she was an unexpected feature of the visit. “Tl get the papers first,” said Lund. “Doctor, you an’ Peggy entertain the lieu- tenant.” Rainey set out some whisky, which the Japanese refused, some cigars His face was of-. that he passed over with a motion of his © hand. He sat down stiffly and ran through the papers. VOOK (C@ (E@)