VAGABOND VOYAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1938, Page 12

VAGABOND VOYAGE

PUBLISHED. BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

COPYRIGHT

BY

ALROY WEST

(Author of “Stratosphere Express”)

CHAPTER XV. .—Continued.

“He came aft when I was having a word with the cook,” Peter replied diplomatically. “I thought so. Crockett told me about it. We’ve got to keep an eye on that man, Mr Drew. He’s after my gold and your girl. I still think a partnership is suggested.” “I’ll think it over,” Peter promised him. There were no further developments until they reached latitude 45 W, bearing due west in order to come up to the coast of Venezuela. The hands were heartily sick of the constant expanse of sea and the blistering heat. They were anxious for a spell ashore in order to be able to spend some .of the gold and to have a good time. The

nearer the trawler drew to the land the more impatient they became. Discipline was relaxed considerably, and it was by no means unusual for one of the men to come up on the bridge in order to find out the distance to the nearest land. Wicks became rather grave. ■ “I don’t like it” he confessed to Peter. “They haven’t the sense to realize that we must keep as far away from Georgetown as we can. I think we’d better give them false information from now on.”’

“But you’ve taught Crockett a bit about navigation,” Peter reminded him. “Do you think it will be possible to deceive him? I feel doubtful about it. Wicks shrugged his shoulders. “We shall have to try it,” he said thoughtfully. “It’s a good thing that he’s the least troublesome. I notice that Gordon‘is getting nearly as impatient as Howe.”

“It’s a wonder they’ve stood so well,’’ Peter observed. “Especially as they’ve had the gold to think about. That quarrel didn’t help matters either.” 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 thought 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 crook—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 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 am 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 thought 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 with 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 though my best plan was to admitit. It has made them both take considerable pains to win me over. 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 dog-watch. Wicks gave him the bearing and then hesitated.

“Has Gallop been talking to you?” he asked suddenly.

“He came aft when I was having a word with the cook,” Peter replied diplomatically.

“I thought' so. Crockett told me about it. We’ve got to keep an eye on that man, Mr Drew. He’s after my gold and your girl. I still think a partnership is suggested.” “I’ll think it over,” Peter promised him.

There were not further developments until they reached latitude 45 W, bearing due west in order to come up to the coast of Venezuela. The hands were heartily sick of the constant expanse of sea and the blistering heat. They were anxious for a spell ashore in order to be able to spend some of the gold and have a good time. The nearer the trawler drew to the land the more impatient they became. Discipline was relaxed considerably, and it was by no means unusual for one of the men to come up on the bridge in order to find out the distance to the nearest land. Wicks became rather grave.

“I don’t like it,” he confessed to Peter." They haven’t the sense to realize that we must keep as far away from Georgetown as we can. I think we’d better give them false information from now on.”

“But you’ve taught Crockett a bit about navigation,” Peter reminded him. “Do you think it will be possible to deceive him? I feel doubtful about it.” Wicks shrugged his shoulders. “We shall have to try it,” he said thoughtfully. “It’s a good thing that he’s the least troublesome. I notice that Gordon is getting nearly as impatient as Howe.” “It’s a wonder they’ve stood so well,” Peter observed. “Especially as they’ve had the gold to think about. That quarrel didn’t help matters either.” Wicks cocked his head on one side.

“I don’t worry; about that,” he said. “My concern is to keep, them with us. They might take it into their heads to have a shot at pinching the gold and then make off in the dinghy. If they start scrapping among themselves I shall not bother to stop them. We can get along all right without one of them, anyway.” Peter knew that the captain was thinking of Howe, and he frowned. “We may need them all,” he said shortly. Wicks hesitated before replying.

“Perhaps you’re right,” he admitted. “There’s plenty of time for us to run into dirty weather. Has Gallop had much to say for himself of late?” \ Peter shook his head.

“Very little.- He seems morose over something. The only subject about which he will talk is the engine-room.” Wicks smiled. “I don’t think he’s making good progress with the Russian girl,” he said. Two days later something happened which brought fresh worries on the shoulders of both Wicks and his mate. It was during the forenoon watch that Howe who was in the bows sang out that he had sighted something on the port bow. Peter was on the bridge and he used his glasses in order to try and make out what Howe had seen. Howe came running to him and he ordered him to take the wheel. The object which the man had sighted was being pitched up and down on the waves. It took Peter some seconds before he was able to focus it. Then, with a thrill of excitement, he realized that it was a small boat. “It’s a boat!” he snapped. “We’ll al:ter course and see if anybody is in her.” Howe scowled, but relinquished the wheel. Peter rang to the engine-room for full speed, an act which brought Wicks on deck within a few minutes. “What’s going on?” he demanded. “We sighted a boat about a mile away on the port bow,” Peter explained. “She’s right ahead now and about half a mile away. So far as I can tell there isn’t anybody at the oars.” Wicks scowled and tugged at his beard. He took the glasses from Peter and focussed them on the small boat. It was carried up on the top of a wave. He lowered the glasses slowly and turned to Peter. “There isn’t anybody in her,” he said gruffly. “You're off the course, Mr Drew. I suggest that you remedy the defect.” Peter looked him full in the face. “I’m of the opinion, sir, that there is somebody in the boat,” he remarked. ! ‘I feel that we ought to make certain before we alter our course again." Wicks glared at him. “I’m the captain of this ship,” he said very quietly. “I am aware of that,” Peter told him. “That's why you must go nearer to that boat. As a captain you have to bear the responsibilities of your position.” Wicks shuffled uncomfortably.

“I'm aware of my responsibilities,” he said sourly. “And I am also aware that I have some gold on board. We don't know if there is anybody in that boat—but if so, we do not want to add to our worries. You’ll do as I tell you, Mr Drew—or else leave the bridge."

Peter gripped the wheel firmly. "I’m going to do what I think is my duty,” he snapped. Wicks took a step forward.

“Your duty is to obey orders!” he exclaimed. “You will leave the bridge at

once.” “I shall do nothing of the sort,” Peter retorted.

Wicks flashed a hand towards his pocket. Peter knew what was his intention. Leaving the wheel he struck out at the captain. Wicks, groping for his gun, was at a disadvantage. The blow caught him on the chin and he staggered, lost his balance and fell. Alla, attracted by Howe’s cry of amazement, ran to the bridge and took the wheel, which was spinning over. Peter knelt by the side of Wicks and took the revolver from his pocket.

The captain, spluttering with anger, regained his feet. At first it seemed that he would dash forward, but he realized that Peter had the weapon pointing at him. He glared for a minute, and then forced a smile.

“It seems that you win,” he observed. He glanced at the girl. “And it also seems that you know how to handle the wheel,” he commented. “Do we pick up the occupants of the boat?” Peter asked him. Wicks shrugged his shoulders. “I’m afraid I have no option,” he announced. “You’d better go ahead, Mr Drew. I shall be in my cabin if you want me.”

“Very good, sir,” Peter said, giving the order for the engines to go at halfspeed. Alla glanced at him as Wicks left the bridge. “It looks like open war from now on,” she said quietly. “I’m afraid so,” Peter agreed. “He has another revolver tucked away somewhere. But he’s hardly likely to give trouble just yet.” He passed the revolver to her. “I think it might be better for you to have this,” he said thoughtfully. “I shall expect you to rescue me if things become difficult.” Alla took it from him. “It is a wise plan,” she agreed. “Now what about this boat?” They were much nearer to the small craft. She raised the glasses and looked intently through them. Then she turned to Peter. “There are three men in the thwarts,” she informed him. “They are waving to us.” “Will you take the wheel again?” Peter asked. “I’ll go and supervise picking them up.” CHAPTER XVI In one of the best rooms which could be offered by the Hotel Occidental, Raul Nunez, was reclining in a wicker chair and smoking a Havana cigar. Near him, on a small table were several newspapers. The “El Heraldo” of La Guaira, reposed next to “La Informacion” of Maracaibo. Beneath them was the Caracas “Nuevo Diario.” There were many others as well and Nunez had spent a busy morning examining them with scrupulous care. He put down the last one, and gave a smile of contentment. He looked across at his companion, the dapper, slender-waisted Sergio Delgado, who was at the moment in command of the oldest destroyer in the navy, but who had hopes of getting very much higher. Sergio Delgado was a schemer as well as a dandy, and he always made a point of being as agreeable as possible to Raul Nunez, who had an enviable fortune and a government position which enabled him to augment it with the minimum of effort.

Nunez was sleek and fat. He disliked exercise nearly as much as he disliked work and honesty. He was not too pleased with Delgado’s ambition, but was quite prepared to make use of it to serve his own ends. “There is not so much as a mention of it in these papers,” he announced, complacently. “Why it is I do not know.” He gave a gesture with a plump hand. “Sometimes there is a little story and all the people think it is news. It is much to be hoped that no mention of it is made here, because there are plenty of cunning people who might take advantage of it. We, however, are the first in the field. You will realize the importance of silence, my dear captain?” “Most decidedly,” Delgado assured him.

“I will tell you what has been taking place. I have had it from a very reliable source, so that there is no doubt of any kind. My information is perfectly true. It happened a long way from here—but it concerns us very closely. Have another drink, captain, and then pull your chair closer to mine. It is very important that we should not be overheard. “That is better. I do not wish to raise my voice. We will talk in the ordinary tones, for it is just that the captain is visiting an old friend. You understand?”

Captain Delgado gave a flashing smile.

“I understand perfectly,” he said. “There was some gold being taken by air from London to Paris. That was according to the normal procedure, but some of the gold was lost over the channel. It was very sad, because gold is of no use when it is lying on the bed of the ocean. However, it seems that a certain Captain Wicks, who is part owner of a trawler, picked up the gold. It was not found out for a considerable time, but his trawler was missing, and turned up where she should not have been. That in itself was suspicious, think you not?” "Most suspicious,” Captain Delgado hastened to agree. “But it was more suspicious that the Captain Wicks should have paid for the supplies in gold coins. Especially when we discover that the gold dropped from the aeroplane was in coin.” Delgado moistened his lips. This sounded interesting.

“What should this Captain Wicks do? He had supplies and he had a ship which could stand the weather. He did not make any more calls. That seemed strange. Why should he not make just one more call? Then there came a rumour that he had been seen north of the Cape Verde Islands. That also was very significant. Why should he pass to the north of the islands? Where would he be going?” Nunez leaned forward in his chair. “It was put of the question for him to be returning home. So it seems to me that he was trying to cross the Atlantic. Do you think the same about it, captain?”

(To be Continued).