VAGABOND VOYAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 June 1938, Page 10

VAGABOND VOYAGE

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT COPYRIGHT

BY

ALROY WEST

(Author of “Stratosphere Express”)

CHAPTER XVll.—Continued. “I don’t like the look of him,” he admitted. “I’m glad you mentioned about it to me because I haven’t exactly had the opportunity of watching him. I’m getting concerned about the engines. They’ve done some fine work —far more than they were intended to do —and I’d like to overhaul them before we go much further. Worrying over that has made me careless over other things I expect. Lei me think things over for a minute or so.”

Peter lit his pipe and waited. At last Gallop spoke. “Wicks was practically burying the hatchet when I last saw him,” he announced. “It seems to me that it would be a sound plan. I suggested to him that we altered course slightly and landed these fellows along the Guiana coast, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He’s afraid of landing into trouble near Georgetown. My other suggestion was that we tried to find an island where we could drop them. I think that is what he intends to do. He said he was sorry that he didn’t save their boat. Once we were within sight of land we could have pushed them over the side and told them to row ashore. However, their boat was not saved, and it’s no good crying over spilt milk. It seems to me that it is up to us to come to some arrangement. I don’t like the idea of that girl being left on deck Without anybody to take care of her.” “That’s what I’ve been thinking,” Peter told him. I

The problem had puzzled him. Owing to the cramped quarters all three of the rescued men were sleeping on the deck. They had slept there for three nights and Sinclair had shown a disposition to wander about. It was not possible to see what he was doing from the bridge. So long as Crockett was on watch there was not much to fear, but Peter, did not feel equally safe about Howe.

Gallop, naturally, was only concerned about what might happen to the girl. Peter did not think she was in any danger, but feared that if Sinclair went to the galley he might wrest the revolver from her. He had been trying to make up his mind whether it would be wise to obtain it from her. “There’s only one thing we can do,” Gallop said suddenly. “What?” “Give her this cabin, of course. We can make shift on deck. Or if you’re too soft to do that you can have the galley.” “I don’t mind sleeping on deck,” Peter told him. “Splendid. We’ll fix that up. Perhaps you will tell Wicks about it. He might suspect that I was trying to plot against him if I mentioned it. Wicks has an exceedingly suspicious mind. Maybe you'd better take all the credit for the idea.”

“I don’t mind doing that in the slightest,” Peter said. “Go ahead then.”

When Peter reached the bridge he saw that Wicks was worried. Once he had taken a look at tfie sky he understood.

“We’re going to have really dirty weather,” Wicks said suddenly. “It does look like it. Shall I gel everything fastened up?” “Yes. It would be as well.”

Sinclair stepped towards Peter as he crossed the) deck. “It looks like another storm,” he said “Can we d<j> anything to help?” “I’d be glad if you would. We’re getting everything trim —just in case We were taken rather by surprise las time. As a result we lost the awning before we knew exactly what was taking place.” As the three rescued men were lending a hand it was not necessary to call Howe, who was sleeping; but Petei went below in order to warn Gallop The engineer scowled. “That isn’t going to do the engine? any good,” he declared. “They were nearly shaken to bits last time.” He yawned and slipped down from his bunk. “I think I'll have a look round and see if there’s anything I can do. But it’s up to you people to keep her as steady as you can.” “We’ll do our best,” Peter assured him.

Gallop, still grumbling, went to the engine-room. Peter slipped along to the galley, and had a word with Alla. “Another storm?” she asked, nodding her head in the direction of Crockett who was seeing that the dinghy was securely fastened. “So we fear. You’d better get all the loose things tied together. Otherwise the galley will look as though a bull had been on the rampage inside it.” “There are plenty of things' which can’t be tied together,” Alla told him with a laugh. “Are the storms here worse than in other parts? I’ve never been in these waters before.” “Neither have I,” said Peter, “but I’ve been told that you generally get driven about two hundred miles out of your course 'if you get a really bad hurricane. That may be an exaggeration, however. So don’t get worried.” “A voyage on this ship would cure anybody of worry over trifles,” the girl said with feeling. “I’m expecting a mutiny practically every minute. Howe always seems to be in a bad temper, and Sinclair watches me in a way which makes me feel uncomfortable.” She turned away and made no further comment.

“I’ll drop him overboard during the storm.” Peter promised her as he left the galley. He stopped to examine the dinghy, and then went forward in order to have a word with Crockett.

“Everything satisfactory?” he asked the man, who had been supervising the work done by Sinclair and his friends. “I think so, but there are one or two places where she’s showing signs of wear and tear. I’ve been trying to strengthen the hand-rail in a few

places. I think a good wave would carry some of it away.” “It will probably carry away more than that,” Peter said gloomily, as he looked up at the sky. CHAPTER XVIII. The storm did not break for a considerable time The sky became more leaden in colour, and the sea reflected a similar metallic dullness. The wind had dropped completely. The whole atmosphere was one of strain. Peter went to relieve Wicks, but the captain shook his head. “I’ll stay for a time,” he said. “You’d better be on deck and be ready for any emergency.” Howe came up to relieve Crockett, who went below in order to get some rest for the ordeal which was to come later on. Doyle evidently had similar ideas, because he flung himself on the deck and lazily watched Sinclair and Foster, who were moving about restlessly, obviously worried about the brewing storm. Doyle stood up, however, as Sinclair came across to speak to Howe. “I suppose the captain knows how to take good care of his ship?” he asked. “There’s no need to worry about him, sir. He’ll take her through anything—especially at the present time. It wouldn’t do for him to lose her.” Sinclair frowned.

“Why at the present time?” he asked. “I should have thought he’d always have been anxious about the safety of his ship.” Howe gave a knowing grin. “There’s pretty valuable ” he began, it was as far as he got. Doyle moved near to him and succeeded in treading on his foot. Howe gave a yelp of pain, and Doyle immediately began profuse apologies. Peter, sufficiently near to have heard what was being said, hurried forward and ordered Howe to inspect the fastenings of the dinghy. “You’d better see that there’s some water in her locker and some food as well,” he added. Howe hurried away to do as was commanded. Sinclair, his brows knit in a frown, turned to Peter.

“I have wondered about this voyage,” he said slowly, like a man feeling his way to a difficult point. “This ship is a trawler, and is a good way from her usual haunts so far as I can tell. What port is she making?” Peter looked him full in the face. “Georgetown,” he said quietly. “We don’t seem to be setting the right course,” Foster pointed out, coming over to join them. “Surely now that’s for the captain to decide,” Doyle cut in. “I’m sure he knoWs where he’s going exactly.”

, Sinclair scowled at him. “Considering that the mate also takes a trick at the wheel, he should be pretty well informed as to the trawler’s destination. He should also know what manner of cargo she carries, if any.”

“I think you must put questions like that to the captain,” Peter told him. Sinclair lit a cigarette. “Perhaps it would be a good thing,” he said thoughtfully. “Thanks for the suggestion.”

“Captain Wicks will probably be pointed out to you that as he saved you from a very lingering death you have no right to ask questions,” Doyle pointed out, as Peter moved away. Sinclair glared at his companion. “You keep out of this,” he said gruffly. “Understand?” “I’m a very understanding ’bort of a boy,” Doyle declared, going back to his old place.

The awning had been taken away, but there was no need of it since the sun was hidden behind the masses of leaden cloud. Sinclair made a slight movement, as though he intended to say something else, but then changed his mind and walked forward. Foster followed him. Doyle smiled after them md then turned his head in order to ■vink at Peter.

“Curious people are rather in the way at times, I’m thinking,” he observed. “You needn’t bother about me. I’ve had a little talk with the captain 'and know about the gold. It wouldn’t do for Sinclair to find out. He’s a murderous hound at the best of times. Foster doesn’t amount to much. He does as he’s told.” He stretched himself. “I’ve always been the bad boy of the family. Strange, isn’t it? Redheads are always liable to be dangerous. Even the sleepy ones —and I’m sleepy at times. Doesn’t do to go on the rampage. It’s wasting energy you are. But don’t worry about Sinclair. I’ll see that he behaves himself. You’d better keep an eye on that over-talka-tive seaman. He’s not to be trusted. It was very smart that I was being when I tramped on his foot.” “I’m very glad you did that,” Peter told him. Doyle nodded his head. “It was good of me,” he agreed. “But Sinclair will be coming back in a second or so. He’s just too far away to be able to hear exactly what we are after saying. That will upset him. He does like to know every single blessed thing does Sinclair. And thanks to your talkative seaman he begins to think that there is some sort of a cargo. He’ll be doing a deal of questioning and guessing from now on. Guessing is a dangerous thing for a man. Often it finishes by landing him in a difficult place. But don't get being bothered over Sinclair. I'll see that he’s kept in the guessing stage.” Peter went on the bridge and told Wicks what had taken place. The captain frowned. “I could see that something was going wrong," he declared. “You’ll have to keep a close watch on Howe. See that he doesn’t get any opportunity of talking to Sinclair or Foster. It seems that Doyle will be quite ready to help you.” (To be Continued.)