VAGABOND VOYAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 June 1938, Page 10

VAGABOND VOYAGE

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

COPYRIGHT

BY 2

ALROY WEST

(Author of “Stratosphere Express”)

CHAPTER XII. In the cabin Wicks leaned against his bunk and stared at Peter. “You’ve given me a fair amount of trouble,” he said slowly. “It would serve you right if I put you ashore and left you to the Arabs.” Peter contented himself with a shrug of the shoulders. He knew that Wicks could not dispense with his services. “Yes,” the captain said thoughtfully. “You realise that you’re useful to me. But we’ve got to have an understanding, Mr Drew. I take it that you have rtot changed your mind about coming into partnership with me?” “Frankly I don’t see why you should make that offer to me. You want me to help you to take the ship across to America After that —well, how do I know that I should receive a share of the gold? I haven’t any guarantee.” Wicks stroked his short beard.

“I can see your point,” he admitted. “On the other hand I don’t see what security I can give you. And I think, maybe, that you have the wrong idea, Mr Drew. I am the captain. It so happens that you are in my hands. I don’t propose to leave you behind because you will be useful to me. And when the voyage is over I shall not knock you over the head for the very obvious reason that you will still be useful. There isn’t sufficient money for us to be able to retire for life. The main point about this money is that there is sufficient for us to earn more with it. Money really does make money. You can’t get away from that. And I know scores of ways of making money—given the required capital. You’re going to help me.” “I don’t seem to have any option—the moment,” Peter said quietly. Wicks stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder.

“You’ll be all right,” he encouraged. “As the days go by you’ll begin to realise that your wisest plan will be to fall in with my suggestions.” He cocked his head slightly on one side and his eyes screwed up slightly. Then he leaned nearer to Peter. “I’d better warn you about one thing,” he said in little more than a whisper. “We’ve extra trouble now—because of the girl you rescued. It’s going to be a hard crossing for us all. We may have to protect her from the crew. There’s no knowing what ideas they may get when they’ve spent several days in mid-ocean and it’s too hot to do any work. So you might as well bear in mind the thought that you are sharing a certain responsibility with me.” Peter was taken somewhat by surprise He hadn’t expected Wicks to adopt this attitude. “Surprised, eh? You shouldn’t be. I’m looking after the gold, man! I don’t want the added responsibility of a woman on my hands. I think the best thing that you can do is to look after her. And in order that there is not any trouble which we cannot manage, those rifles must be dropped over the side when we leave here. I don’t believe in the crew having weapons. It might put wrong notions into their heads.

“The guns might come in useful for when we get across to the other side,” Peter reminded him. “It’s just possible that we might get off our course and land along a coast just as wild as this one.” “You mean the Guiana coast? I’ve heard that it is bad in parts. But that is not our destination.” Wicks shook his head. “I think I prefer to run the risk.” he declared. “It will not be nearly so great as the risk of having rifles which might be obtained 'by a discontented crew. I’ve heard of locks being broken more than once.” He shook his head again. “They go over the side tonight,” he added. “I’ll see to it tonight when Crockett is on deck. I can trust him more than the others.” So it came about that as the trawler left the inlet and made her way southwards once more, the guns taken from the Arabs were dropped over the side. The following morning found Drew once more a prisoner in his cabin. He began to worry about Alla, but she came to the cabin in order to bring him some food, and stayed for a second or so to talk.

“We’re making for some place along the French part of the coast,” she confided. “Our main needs are water and oil. I think you are only being kept a prisoner until we start the next stage of the voyage.” ■ “That's some relief,” Peter said. “It’s too stifling in here to be really comfortable.” Alla hurried away, fastening the door behind her. After a time Wicks looked in. He gave Peter a pleasant nod and a smile. “Sorry to keep you fastened up,” he said in a very casual manner. “It’s only to prevent you from communicating with any of the people on shore. I’m trying to get some water for our tanks. We shall be dropping anchor shortly.” Late in the afternoon Wicks rounded Cape Blanco and came up to Port Entine. Peter heard the dinghy being lowered and knew that, the captain had gone ashore. About two hours later the dinghy returned and there was a confused medley of sound. Shortly after it had died away Gallop came to the cabin He seemed to be in an ill humour. “They expect me to get this ship across without any oil,” he grumbled. “It so happens that I can have some tomorrow, but Wicks is anxious to get away at dawn. I just told him that he’ll have to use sail. I’m waiting for my oil.” “What about water?” Peter wanted know. “That’s no concern of mine,” Gallop declared. “I have enough for my purposes. It is for Wicks to deal with the rest. I look after the engines and myself. And perhaps Gordon, who is a willing helper. I might even keep a paternal eye on you.”

‘•‘That’s kind of you,” Peter said drily. “The captain seems to have a similar idea.”

Gallop snorted. “He’ll have to look after himself,” he said menacingly. “It was a crazy idea to chuck those guns overboard. Gordon and Howe feel aggrieved over it. Nothing was said to them about it.” “Crockett told them, I suppose.”

“Yes. He sticks up for the captain. I’m not too comfortable about the way those chaps are divided.” “Have you sounded Howe?” “Not exactly. But I was watching him earlier on and I think I know which way he’ll go.” “Which way’s that?”

"Whichever way that Russian girl goes. It seems to me that'j hei’ doing. She’s trying to be pleasant to him.” “I expect you’ve imagined it,” Peter observed with a yawn.

Gallop contented himself with a snort of derision. Then he turned over in his bunk and went to sleep. Peter lit his pipe and started to smoke. He was pleased at the news concerning Howe. Alla was a smart girl and was obviously playing a very pretty game in order to make sure that the rival sides should be evenly matched. All the same it was a complicated situation, because while it would be possible to carry on without Wicks, they could not dispense with Gallop. It was absurd to think of persuading Gallop to turn the nearest port in order to give up the gold. He was as determined over it as the captain. So far as he could see the voyage to America would not be prevented. ■’For the time being the most necessary thing was to keep the peace between the two parties. At present both Wicks and Gallop were working in an underhand manner. ' An open quarrel could • only result in bloodshed and, whoever won, would only make the voyage more precarious. Peter realized that Alla was working along similar lines. It was easier for her to appear neutral than it was for himself, but he knew that he would have to do his utmost to follow her example. Thinking this over he let his pipe go out and finally fell asleep. When he awakened it was morning. Gallop had left his bunk, and there were sounds of activity on the deck. Wicks came along to release him. “We weigh anchor within the next hour or so,” he said. “I’ve been busy dealing with the fresh supplies of water. We’ve been able to get some oil for the engineer. Of course, he says that it. isn’t sufficient —but engineers always talk like that. I’ve never come across one yet who was absolutely contented with life. It’s a pity you have to share this place with Gallop. I’ve a mind to change with you.” He considered this and then shook his head. “It wouldn’t do,” he decided. The man’s in one of his awkward moods. There musn’t be a quarrel. We shall require all our energy for the crossing. I want to get away as soon as possible because I’ve had to use some of the gold.” Peter whistled softly. “That may give us away,” he pointed out.

Wicks shrugged his shoulders impatiently. “I know that,” he said crossly. “But it couldn’t be helped. We had to have the things in order to make the crossing.” After a time Peter was fastened up -in the cabin once more. A boat came alongside and he could hear a great deal of talking. There was plenty of laughter and then sounds of the visitors departing. Half an hour later the trawler was vibrating to the throb of the engine. It was not so long after this that Wicks came to release him. “We’ve left Cape Blanco astern,” he said exultantly. “Now we start the real voyage.”

Peter went on deck and looked out at the long waves of the Atlantic. On the horizon was the thin trail of smoke from some ship bound on her lawful business. He wished devoutly that he •could be upon her. He didn’t mind adventure, but this was not the sort of adventure which appealed to him. Wherever they went there would be a shadow pursuing them—the shadow of the law’s long arm. He felt convinced that, sooner or later, they would be caught. The prospect did not dismay him so much as the thought of what might happen in the interval. Gallop and Wicks were desperate men in the grip of one of the strongest passions —the lust for gold. Gold had driven men mad, had made them commit all manner of crimes, and had blazed a trail of ruin and vice. Here were all the elements for such a tragedy. And, as though the gold could not cause sufficient trouble, there was the girl. What would happen to her? Would she be caught up in it as well and become yet one more prize for the victor? He gave a sigh of despair and went aft in order to reach the galley. She was inside, busy with the preparing of a meal. She looked up and greeted him with a smile. “The prisoner is released then,’’ she observed. “Yes. I suppose the bondage is over now. I shall expect to be free until the end of the voyage.” “What do you think will happen?" she asked anxiously. “I couldn't say. Wicks and Gallop have to hang together for the time. Wicks may hope to win Gordon over, once he knows sufficient about the engines.” “I doubt it. He seems to worship the engineer.” “Yes. Just as much as Crockett adores the captain. I think the voyage is going to be very interesting. We are the neutrals.” “That’s what I’m afraid of,” said Peter, and then changed the topic as Howe drew near. Once the seaman

had moved away he continued: “Neutrals don’t always get along all that well in a first-class struggle. The combatants want to draw them into things.” Alla nodded her head. “That is so.” she said thoughtfully. "It is taking place already." “Have there been any fresh developments?" Peter asked. “There was one early this morning. The engineer came along to the galley." “What did he want?" Peter demanded. "He asked me again if I would learn something about the art of navigation. He was rather clumsy—he is that way inclined, I should imagine He tried shock tactics. He suggested that we should get across to America and then slip ashore with the gold. He was most enthusiastic about it. and even suggested that I should regard him as my future husband!” She laughed merrily, but Peter scowled. (To Be Continued)