The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

418 A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. Quick asa flash Latimer caught him a swinging blow which knocked him into the scuppers. ‘This is no time for your capers, my man!’ he said. ‘‘ Mr. Pepper, get a fire started under the engine. That’ll suck the bilge out of her in short order. Meanwhile, do you fellows keep these brakes going, or I’ll keelhaul every mother’s son of you.’’ Atwell picked himself up, and his hand stole into the bosom of his woolen shirt. ‘There was a lump there which assured the watchful T’horne that the fellow was armed. But the sailor did not draw the weapon. Instead; he slunk away to the forecastle. Jessop came aft to the pumps near which ‘Thorne stood. “That chap’s got it in for the cap’n, sir,’’ he muttered in Thorne’s ear. ‘There'll be bad times here yet. I wish we’d put in to Valparaiso, an’ I’d get out of her—I do !’’ ‘If there’s trouble, can we depend upon zn and Shields?’ asked the passenger. ‘“You can depend on Tom. an’ me to keep strictly nootral,’’ returned Jessop quickly. ‘‘ We ain’t lookin’ for trouble with eight or ten drunken fools—not we! An’ ev’ry one armed to the teeth, at that !’’ ‘“Drunken? What do you mean?’ asked Thorne. ‘“T mean, Mr. Thorne, that every one of ’em, save me'an’ Tom, if I can keep it away from him, will be fighting drunk ‘before night. Atwell’s gone for the stuff now.’’ es ‘““Great heavens !’’ whispered Thorne, in an agony of apprehension. ‘“ How can you speak so calmly about it?) Where does he keep the stuff ?”’ Jessop shook his head. ‘* Not in the fo’c’stle,’’ he said. ‘‘ That’s all 7 know about it.”’ Thorne quickly ran to the cabin, where Captain Latimer had gone. He found him with Sydney, anxiously bending over a chart, marking out the course for the nearest inhabited land, for reference, if the leak really proved serious: ‘The girl-was perfectly calm, and: even'in the midst of his own anx- iety ‘Thorne felt a flash of admiration for her. . He repeated what Jessop had told him. Mr. Sessions came out of his stater6éom while he was talking, and Monckton came from his. ‘The latter passed the group without a word and wention deck. But he had heard all Thorne had. to say. ‘“What had we better do, father?’’ asked Sydney. ‘“‘I fear the liquor ‘more than I do the men.”’ Search the forecastle and find it,’’ said Mr. Sessions. . ‘‘ I’ve suspected they had the stuff more than once. We’ll throw it overboard.’’ ‘Right ye are!’’ declared the captain. ‘‘ We'll destroy it.. I thought I had kept Atwell from bringing it aboard this voyage.’’ Thorne had stepped to the other side of the room where he could see: up the companionway. Monckton was listening at the head of the stairs. He disappeared the instant he saw himself ohserved. ‘If you want to do that,’’ exclaimed Thorne, quickly turning to the: offi- cers, ‘‘ go after that fellow and bring him back.’’ (E(0) AANiCel eye Ye) CS