Argosy, September 1955 — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

BOTH -WATCHES OF THE HANDS 105 cleaning duties on upper deck. You, Lofty, take the starboard watch, and put ’em on cleaning between decks.” Michael watched the parties disperse and go about their newly appointed tasks with a sort of dumb insolence. He felt a certain sympathy for them. “Rough lot o’ customers,’ said Knocker, opening up the throttles again. As Michael stood silently in the wheelhouse, the first reaction began to set in. It could mean prison, or a heavy fine, or both. But he wasn’t quite sure under what category the charge would be made. It couldn’t be mutiny, as it was his own ship. As far as he could see, no actual physical violence had been used, though Brew’s language had at times come very near to it. Kidnapping, shanghai-ing, slavery were all words that crossed and recrossed his mind, without getting him anywhere. It would probably end up by coming under something vague like false pretences, or impersonation. But whatever happened, he knew it would be serious, and entail the loss of his licence. He was, he now considered, prepared for anything. But the next unexpected shock left him gasping. Brewis emerged from below, and came up onto the deck, shouting, ““ Enemy bearing Green Eight-O. Speed four to five knots.” Michael instinctively looked out to starboard and saw the Mary Lou, wallowing sluggishly about a mile inshore, as she turned slowly for home. ‘““Enemy altering course away,’ commented Knocker in a quiet, businesslike voice. He had also observed the Mary Lou, and was anxious to confirm his watchfulness to the Captain. ‘“ Action stations,’ came Brew’s powerful voice, followed by another of his ear-shattering whistles. ‘‘ Action stations . . . at the double, me hearties! ”’ Without waiting for orders, Knocker swung the wheel hard to starboard, and pushed the throttles forward to maximum. The Silver Streak responded instantly, and beneath her stern the water was chewed into a new, more violent pattern of gurgling, soapy foam, as she canted heavily to one side and began to sweep round. : “ Steady,”’ said Michael, more as a warning than a command. ““ Steady as she goes, sir,” repeated Knocker, centring the wheel. As the Szlver Streak steadied up on course, her bow was pointing directly at the distant, all-innocent Mary Lou. The frenzied call to action stations brought everyone on deck, including the somnolent Leo, who came clambering up from his comiclbooks.conn