VAGABOND VOYAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1938, Page 12

VAGABOND VOYAGE

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT COPYRIGHT

BY

ALROY WEST

(Author of “Stratosphere Express”)

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued

“So that’s what you think—is it? I can tell you that Captain Wicks isn't as smart as he thinks. Those men will not be contented with two hundred apiece. You wait until we get a spell of fine weather, and they have a chance of gambling. They’ll lose their heads quick enough. And the one who loses his gold as well as his head will want more gold in order to recover his losses. I think Wicks has made a mistake. It stands to reason that they’ll turn awkward if he refuses to advance any more of the gold to them.”

Peter shook his head. “I don’t agree with you,” he declared. “You’re right about the gambling and the demands for more, but so long as they feel they can get money out of the captain they are not likely to do anything against him. He’s given up some of the gold, I know, but at the same time he has firmly placed himself right where he wants to be—at the top. If they want money they are to go to him —not to an engineer by the name of Gallop. Do you follow my line of argument.” Gallop shifted in his bunk. “I follow you,” he said. “But you’ve forgotten that one of those men works with me. He’s not too enthusiastic about' gambling with his money. He was ready enough to join the other two, but I doubt if he’ll play cards. So that means that only one man should win. And the loser having become over-excited —might be tempted to get his money back with pretty good interest. You seem to forget that Crockett is useful with a belaying pin. And I have an idea that Howe is uncommonly good with a knife. You mark my words, the captain has made, a mistake. He’s let himself in for a nasty packet of trouble. He’ll get it, sooner or later.”

“We shall see,” Peter said quietly. “We’ll see right enough,” Gallop retorted. “And one of the things we’ll see is a first-rate scrap between the captain and the engineer. I don’t trust Wicks, and he doesn’t trust me. But we both believe in laying low until the time is ripe for a bit of real action. And I don’t fancy the chance of the hands —with the exception of Gordon. He’s a good man. I’ll make a splendid engineer of him before I’ve finished.” Saying this, Gallop turned over and went to sleep.

When the course was altered to the south-west they ran into more settled weather. The sun blazed down pitilessly, and they had to erect a new awning in order’ to get some shade. It was exhausting to do any work, and both Gallop and Gordon came up from the engine room at intervals in order to douse themselves with water. Howe grumbled incessantly, and Crockett was in little better humour, though he was perfectly willing when it came to going on the bridge with the captain and learning some of the technicalities of navigation. ■ Both Peter and Gallop were uneasy about this. Peter knew that once Crockett could be relied upon, his own services could be dispensed with. Gallop felt that Peter would maintain a neutral state, but now Crockett belonged absolutely to the captain. “I don’t see why he should teach that skunk navigation,” he grumbled. “Maybe he doesn’t like the idea of you instructing Gordon,” Peter pointed out to him. “Why should he bother about that? Does he think that I can run the engines single-handed?” Gallop retorted angrily. He was displeased at the way things were going. Crockett and Howe were seizing every opportunity of playing cards, and Wicks, instead of keeping strictly to a system of watch and watch, permitted them to do it. Gordon was out of the way some of the time, but he knew what was going on and was becoming interested. Once or twice he played with Howe' and managed to win some of the money which Howe had won from Crockett. Crockett, outplayed by Howe, was anxious to have a shot at playing with Gordon, and pestered him at every possible opportunity. Wicks watched it all with a sardonic smile. He frequently came on the bridge when it was not his watch. “It’s good for them to be able to amuse themselves,” he commented, mopping his face with a handkerchief. “Not so good for the discipline you so often talk about,” Peter deminded him. Wicks chuckled.

“I don’t worry about discipline," he announced. “But I do insist on them regarding me as the captain of the ship. I’ve let them understand that this laxness is favour from me. This isn’t quite like a normal voyage, and I feel that it is a good thing to strengthen the bonds between the hands and myself. That also applies to the mate and the engineer.” “I trust I am carrying out my duties in a satisfactory manner,” Peter said stiffly.

Wicks laughed softly. “You are a most tactful man," he observed. “But you make some rather bad mistakes at times. The worst to date has been in making a better friend of the engineer than of the captain. That's foolish. Mr Drew. The captain is far more important—and also has the gold." “I’m not interested in the gold," said Peter firmly.

“Maybe. But there are other things of value on board this ship. There’s the Russian girl, for example. I notice that Gallop hasn’t let his friendship with you stand in his way so far as trying to woo the girl is concerned. But perhaps you don’t want her. If that is the case I feel exceedingly disappointed in you. I admire her immensely. In fact, were I the type of man who amused himself with women. I might consider paying her attentions myself.”

Peter's hands tightened on the wheel, but he managed to keep control over his temper.

“I’ve always thought that I possessed striking looks. I don’t claim to be handsome, mind you. Certainly I am far better to look at than the engineer. Do you know what progress he has made in winning the girl’s affections?”

Peter did not answer. “I asked you a question, Mr Drew,” the captain reminded him.

“I was one I was not able to answer, sir,” Peter said curtly. “I should suggest that you ask Miss Barlova.”

Wicks chuckled. “I don’t think I am entitled to ask that,” he said slowly. “However, it doesn’t matter. From what I have noticed it doesn’t seem that Gallop is having a very good time. Perhaps he will come to his senses before we reach our destination.” “I don’t quite understand,” Peter said.

“You should. No doubt Gallop feels that he would like all the gold himself. He had to know about it because it would not have been possible to have undertaken this little adventure without his help. But Gallop is a peculiar man. He can be exceedingly loyal—but on the other hand he can be just as treacherous. We were rivals at one time. I learnt several of his little tricks in those days.” “I knew that once Gallop had seen the gold he would either come along to me with a scheme for clearing out and dividing the lot between our two selves on a basis bf fifty-fifty; or else he would make overtures to you. He couldn’t manage .without somebody to navigate the ship— ; just as I couldn’t manage without an engineer. Gallop didn’t come to me. The inference is obvious.

“So I thought I might as well warn you that the position is complicated. Gallop will want the girl as well as the gold. I merely want the gold. I should advise you to do a fair amount of thinking, Mr Drew, and I should do it quickly if I were in your shoes.” Peter nodded his head. “Thanks for the warning,” he said. “I am not interested in the gold however.” “But you are in the girl,” Wicks reminded him. Suddenly he stiffened and shouted out. There was trouble on deck. Crockett and Howe were standing up. the cards scattered between them. Crockett had his fists clenched and was ready to attack. Howe had backed away. His hand went down to his side. When it came away there was the flash of steel. Captain Wicks raced from the bridge. CHAPTER XV. The captain acted at lightning speed. He shot between the two men, swerved and grasped Howe’s hand. For a second or so they struggled, Crockett making no move to separate them. Then there was a cry of pain and the knife clattered to the deck. Wicks released Howe, who backed to the rail, nursing his injured wrist. “Pick chat knife up, Crockett!” Wicks ordered. The man obeyed willingly enough. “Now drop it over the side.” Howe moved slightly as though to protest, but Wicks glared savagely after him, and he drew back again. Crockett, grinning broadly, threw the knife over the side Mhd spat after it. Then he returned to the captain. “Anything else, sir?" he asked. Wicks looked him full in the face. “Pick the cards up,” he commanded. Crockett hesitated, a frown creasing his low forehead. “Pick them up!" Wicks repeated. “What do I have to do with them, sir?” Crockett’ asked. “That’s my business. Pick them up.” For a few seconds the two mefi stared at one another, then Crockett stooped down and gathered the cards together. He glanced at them and then looked at the captain. “Give them to me,” Wicks ordered. “They’re mine!” Howe cried out. Wicks made no comment. He reached out and took the pack from Crockett. He shuffled them thoughtfully and then looked at the man again. “You played with these?” he asked. “Yes, sir,” said Crockett. “More fool you. They’re marked.” Crockett took a deep breath and then turned to Howe, who cringed against the rail.

“You dirty cheat!" he cried. “That proves it!" “Be quiet!" Wicks snapped. He moved over and flung the cards away. They scattered and spread out as they reached the water. Soon they were left astern floating bravely for a short time before they vanished from sight. “It wasn’t my fault!” Howe exclaimed. “They were the only cards we had. I didn't mark them. They were marked when I had them. We had to play with something!” Wicks turned to Crockett. “That will teach you to be more careful.” he said briskly. “I’m not having trouble on board this ship. Time enough for that sort of thing when we reach our destination. You'd better get to work cleaning some of the brass. It will occupy your mind. I’ll deal with Howe." Crockett hesitated for the fraction of a second and then nodded his head.

“Very good, sir,” he said, and moved away.

Wicks swung round and faced Howe

“You’d better come below," he said quietly. “I’ll put that wrist right for you. Come along!” He raised his voice sharply as Howe drew back. He swung round went towards his cabin. Howe following him sheepishly. Peter, at the wheel, was thoughtful. It seemed to him that Gallop was right. Wicks had made a mistake in .letting the men have some of the money. It was causing trouble already. This was

only the first part of the quarrel, what would happen when Crockett and Howe came face to face once more.

But, surprisingly enough, there was no further trouble. Wicks made no reference to the incident, and neither of the men said anything about it to Gordon.

“It’s been hushed up, wonderfully,” Gallop confided. “I couldn’t have managed it half as well myself. To give Wicks his due he can be exceedingly smart.”

“He’s smart enough,” Peter declared. “He suspects you of plotting against him.” Gallop lit his pipe. This talk, like most of the others, took place in the tiny cabin which they shared. “Of course, he suspects,” he said. “He suspects me and I suspect him. You’ll find it will become very difficult to balance on top of the fence much longer. One of these days there is going to be a show-down.” He chuckled. “I’ll lay a bet with you that I have the strongest hand when the day comes,” he added. “It doesn’t look that way to me,” Peter told him. Gallop winked at him. “I may have one or two cards up my sleeve,” he hinted. Peter nodded his head.

“That’s always possible,” he agreed. “Main trouble is that Wicks may have similar ideas.’

Gallop refused to answer. Peter stayed with him for a time and then went on deck. Wicks was on the bridge, and Crockett was in the bows polishing up some brasswork. It was getting late in the afternoon, and there was a slight breeze which brought a refreshing coolness to the trawler. Alla was aft, near the dinghy, leaning over the port rail and gazing into the distance. Peter joined her. She glanced up at him with a smile of welcome.

“It makes you feel almost afraid,” she said thoughtfully. “There’s so much sea. Doesn’t it ever make you wonder if there is such a thing as the land It seems to me that it may be something of which I dreamed—years ago. Probably a long way back in another life.” Peter put a hand on her shoulder. “I though that when a woman became a captain she was all efficiency—from head to toe.” “Not so loud!’.’ Somebody might hear. I’m only a cook —and not a very good one at that. But you have strange ideas about women who do things. A woman is always a woman —at heart. You can’t really change her—any more than you can change the sea.” Peter sighed. “That was a sigh of relief,” he hastened to say. “I was afraid that you might be very different —especially after all your training.” “I went to sea because I was a wanderer, I suppose. But I haven’t found what I want yet. Have you ever chased a dream? No! Of course you have not. You wouldn’t do things like that. I expect you’ l only believe in things if you can actually see them marked on a chart.”

“Not always then!” Peter said with a laugh. “But I think I should like to know a bit more about chasing dreams. Will you tell me about it? It sounds a fascinating game to me.” Alla smiled at him and shook her head.

• “You’ll have to do it on your own,” she said. “I expect you could manage it all right.”

Gallop came on deck and joined them. He scowled at Peter, who gave no indication that he noticed it. “Going to have good weather for some days yet,” Gallop said loudly. “I’m glad. Being tossed up and down like- a cork isn’t good for engines—not even the best engines. Mind you —these aren’t so bad. But I don’t expect that I shall have much more to do with them. I’m going to lead a different life after this. I always have wanted to settle down and do things the right way.” “Have you always been at sea?” Alla asked him.

Peter frowned. He though the question unnecessary.

“Most of my life,” Gallop said. “Always with engines, mind you. I was brought up to believe that a man should specialize in order to get on in this world. Up to now, I’ve believed it.”

“Then you do not feel so sure?” Alla questioned. “I begin to feel uncertain,” Gallop said. “I'm afraid that there are one or two things I’ve rather neglected.”

Peter could not resist the opportunity of giving him a sly dig. “Navigation being one of them?” he asked innocently. Gallop scowled at him, and then grinned. “Maybe. But I was thinking more of the social arts—if that’s what they call them. A man ought to be able to do a lot of things. He should be moderately well educated. But it’s hard to keep up without learning. It seems to me that each generation gets to know a sight more than the one before it. There isn’t any standing still in life.” After a time he went away. Alla moved slightly nearer to Peter. “I feel a bit afraid of him at times,” she said. “He’s so big and strong. But I believe that I’m even more afraid of the captain for all his pleasant manners when he speaks to me." “They're both villains,” said Peter in an uncompromising tone. “It would give me great pleasure to get them both arrested. And they know it.” “Which is rather a pity,” Alla commented.

“I suppose I should have managed things better. But I didn't know what on earth to do. I can’t trust either of them, so I thought my best plan was to admit it. It has made them both take considerable pains to win over me. But I’m still on the fence, despite all their efforts.”

“The worst of fences is that they can. be pushed over very easily," Alla said wisely. Peter was going to ask her just what she meant, but it went four bells and it was time for him to relieve Wicks on the bridge for the second dogwatch. Wicks gave him the bearing and then hesitated. “Has Gallop been talking to you?” he asked suddenly. (To be Continued).