STORMALONG

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 226, 24 September 1927, Page 32

STORMALONG

by Boyd Cable

CHAPTER XV. For half an hour Betty eat alone in the little saloon, listening to the.sounds of the labouring ship and the crashing seas, until the door to the captain's cabin opened, and the big steward stepped softly out. "I've got him into hie bunk," he said, "and I think he'e a bit better. But, maybe, he wouldn't like the crowd to know, «o say nothing of it until we see how he shapes." "Iβ there anything I can do?" asked Betty anxiously. "If you wouldn't mind sitting with him for a bit, miss," said the steward, •'while I make him a cup of strong tea. That always seems to pull him round, when he's feeling done up." Betty slipped into the cabin, and a pang of dismay took her as she saw the drawn white face on the pillow, the vacant staring eyes, the dropped jaw. Aul' Aleck was lying listless and inert, his body rolling from side to side as the ship swayed, and Betty sat by him, trying to hold him steady, wiped his damp brow, without him taking the slightest notice. The steward came back presently with the strong tea, and between them they managed to lift the old man's head and get him to swallow some of it. It roused him, too, and when he muttered a few words huskily, the steward signed quietly to Betty, and she slipped out of the cabin and waited alone again. After a few minutes the steward came out to her. "I think hell eleep now. I'm going up to tell the mate he's rather done up, and resting. I know the captain gave all the orders needed until dawn, and I can just hope he's able to deal with anything then if need be. If he'e not, I must tell the mate he's ill." Fortunately, nothing happened to make any need to call the captain through the night. The mate wore ship at five o'clock as he had been ordered, and when the day broke came below to report nothing in sight. The steward met him in the saloon. "The captain's been sleeping pretty heavily, sir," said the steward. "Would you like me to wake him if he's still asleep? I have tea ready. Will you have a cup while you wait?" The mate had his tea and a biscuit, and the steward disappeared into the captain's cabin to return almost immediately.

"Captain ie awake, sir, and would like to see you when you've had something to eat."

The mate grunted eourly and went on with his tea, and when he had finished, went to the captain's door, tapped, and entered. He was startled into an exclamation of surprise as he saw the captain's face, the drawn cheeks, the sunk eyes and twitching lips, the sagging shoulders propped up on the pillows. "Aye, I'm no just at ma be*t," said the captain slowly, as he caught the mate's look and word. "But it'll pass. I'd come up t' tak the deck an' lat ye t' your bunk, but I'm wiser maybe t' bide here a bit. The glass is risin', an' the win' easin , . Ye can carry on a bit nae doot, an* it'll no be the first time ye've kept twa or three watches on end." "I've kept forty-eight hours on end before now, sir," said Williams, eyeing the sick man carefully. "No ?d for you to worry, sir. I can manage. Do you think I might wear ship when the men have had their breakfast?" "Ay, ay," said the captain. "Then post a double lookout, an' report anything ye see, or any change. I should be fit enough t' come up by noon, maybe." Again the mate protested that there was no need for him to stir, for that day, anyhow; that he was quite able to remain on watch, and that all the captain's orders would be closely followed. Then he went, and th" captain lay back with a ghost of a frown on his weary face. Exactly over hie head the "tell-tale" compass was set in the ceiling, and he lay with his eyes fixed steadily on this, until Betty came in to sit with him. Several times he sent her on deck durin gthe morning to ask if there was anything in sight, if the horizon was clear, if good men were « . the lookout. She was able to tell him they had a clear view all round the rim of the sea, that not only were there regular look-outs on duty, but that several volunteers were also aloft, searching the horizon eontinally for sight of anything on the waste of water. He knew, even before she brought him the report, that the wind had eased off and was shifting into the south, and gave his opinion that before long it would go even east of south. "And that would be a fair win , round the Horn/' he sighed regretfully. "Had we but the boat aboard again." "You —you think we'll find her," she asked hesitatingly. "The mate didn't seem very sure about it when I asked him." The old man smiled grimly, "We'll find her — if we cruise here for a month. Dinna fret yersel' about that. We'll find her standing by the derelict, like enough, for I'm sure young Stormalong wad fetch her, an' stan , by her as we agreed." "You don't think there's a danger of her having upset?" the girl persisted. "It was so rough last night, with squalls and rain."

"Na, na, dinna fret yersel' lassie," he persisted. "She's a stout an' handy boat, wi' a good boatman commandin' a good boat's crew. An' this braw win' will let them use their bit sail fine. Awa' up again, an' just ask what the win' ie at." She went on deck- to find the mate sitting on a camp stool and the ehip pitching and rolling a good deal in the confused eea that had followed the change of wind. He made no attempt to rise when she spoke to him, but answered off-handedly enough. "Tell him the wind is south-east—a fair wind for round the Horn at last. And there's nothing in eight." There was a veiled insolence in the mate's voice that half frightened, half annoyed her, but she went below and repeated his message carefully. A deep frown gathered on Aul' Aleck's brow, and after a moment he sent her for the steward. "Step up and ask the mate to come and speak t' me," he said, "an* bide here, busyin' yerself aboot the cabin, while he's wi' me." When the mate descended he found the steward holding a»chart spread on the bed, and the old man examining it keenly. "You'll get a sun at last," said Aul , Aleck, "and be able to fix her position. But that matters less t' me than where the derelict will be—for I believe the

boat will be wi' her by now. This is aboot where I'd say we fouled her, and the course we've made since. Check me if ye think I'm wrong." He began to trace the course he believed the ship would have followed, and then tried to guess at the course of the boat. But he looked up suddenly, aware that the mate seemed to be taking little interest in the figuring, and asked sternly for his opinion. "In' my opinion," said the mate half contemptuously, "We're wasting time looking for the boat, or the derelict. The boat would have sighted us before we'd sight her, and would have steered for us if she's afloat. I don't believe she is. We'd some heavy squalls last night that I'll swear she wouldn't live through." Aul' Aleck heard him out, and, then fixing an unwavering eye on him, spoke with slow emphasis. "I'm sorry for your look-outs if they lat the boat see us without us seem' them —and her carryin' a sail, as she wad be, wi' this win'. But that's no here nor there. You're thinkin' this is a fair win' for the Horn, are ye no?" "Yes, I am," said the mate stiffly. "And I'd like you to log it that, in my opinion, it is risking the ship with a dangerously short-handed crew to hang round here to be caught in more westerly gales, when this wind would have us round into the Pacific inside a day." The old man struggled to sit up, his face working and his eyes blazing. "Dinna fear, but I'll mind your opinion," he cried. "But for noo, ye'll bide by my opinion, an' my direct orders—mind that, Mister Williams—my -direct orders." He paused a moment, while the steward moved quietly to the bunk-side and arranged his pillows, then went on. "Ye'll keep the sail on her she has now—no more and no less. You'll stand to the nor'ard on your present tack until noon, an' then to the south, wi' double look-outs aloft. Ye'll report anything in eight, or any change o' wind or weather. Is that clear? Aye, weel, just repeat it, t' be sure ye've got it." Sullenly, and avoiding those gimletting eyes, the mate repeated the orders briefly, and left the cabin scowling. When he reached the poop he sent for Lafferty and held a close consultation with him. "The old man is done for," he said. "If ever I saw death in a man's face, it's in his. Hell never leave that bunk again. Here's a fair wind for the Horn. Would the crew consent if I told them the boat is lost, that we ought to take this chance to get out of the risk of being caught by the westerlies again, that I'm taking command as the old man is too sick to come on deck."

"Don't ask 'em," advised La-fferty. "Just give your orders and shape your course. They won't know they aren't the ould man's an' won't raise a kick. Are ye shure he's tied to hie bunk?" "Certain," said the mate emphatically. "He tried to sit up to speak to me, and could hardly stir. He'd drop in a heap if he put foot to the floor. He has ordered—with the steward as witness, cunning old dog—that I tack to the south at noon." "Then tack south and slant away weet," said Lafferty promptly. "He'll never know it, and if that blanky steward o* hie comes pokin , round the wheel or compass, ye can boot him out av' it." "We'll do it," said the mate firmly. "I'll call you to take the wheel at noon." At noon, the captain, who had been dozing lightly, was roused by the cries and tramping feet of the men as the ship wae brought about. He lay, feeling the heel of the ship on her new tack, and watching the swing of the compass needle over his head that told him the ship was steering south as be had ordered, until he dozed heavily off again. He woke in an hour, and hie first glance was upward to the compass again. He glared at it for a full minute, hardly believing hie eyes, thinking perhaps that a careless wheel or a moment's need to meet a sea or flaw in the wind had swung the ship. But no, the needle held firm and true; the ship was steering west-south-west ... a course for round the Horn ... a course dead away from where there was any hope of finding the boat or derelict. Frenziedly he grabbed for hie stick to beat at the deck overhead, but at his first knock Betty rose from where she had been sitting by the port hole. AuT Aleck was struggling to rise, his eyes blazing with passion. "Whaur's the steward;" he almost screamed at her. "Where's —tin up on deck and send the mate doon t' me. He's at some villany. The ship's headin' tae th' west-ard. What's the time now, how long was I asleep? Quick, send the mate t' me." He was almost choking with wrath, as he struggled weakly to sit up, but he dropped back panting when Betty begged him to lie still, promised to have the mate down on the instant. She hurried out and was crossing the saloon to the companion, when young Jenkins, the one-time raw country lad, the butt of half the fo'c's'l, but a fervid admirer of Nick Hausen, the best friend he'd had on board from the beginning, slipped silently through the door leading from the fore cabin

"Oh, Miss," he gasped, as Betty halted and stared at him in amazement. "I tried to get word aft, but couldn't. The mate is setting a course for the Horn. He's got some of the men to agree and they're aloft now, loosing the upper tops'ls and foresails. We're leaving Nick and the others out there— to starve, or drown." The girl cried out sharply at that, and instantly the voice of Aul' Aleck came from his cabin. "What's the matter? Who's there?" "Quick!" gsaped Betty. "Come in and tell him yourself," and she fairly dragged the youth into the cabin. At the captain's imperative command Jenkins re-told his story. Before he well finished Aul Aleck demanded fiercely: "The men —what are they doin'—Raneome and Yank.... and whaur'e tJhe steward, that he didna tell me?" "Mate gave Bansome and Tank a job down in the forepeak, sir, and he sent the two boys down to help the steward restow some things that had come adrift in he lazarette." "Call up the steward and the lads!'" cried Aul , Abck, his eyes blazing and his cheeks flaming. "Vou, lassie, just bide in the saloon a minute till I'm ready."

"You're not going to try to go on deck?" she cried breathlessly, as she watched him struggle to sit up. "Am I no?" he answered grimly. "I'll try, aye, an' I'll be there in five minuttes. Noo, wait ootside-" He reached me eecx to find it was as Jenkins had eaid—that hands were aloft loosing sail, and Ransome and Yank were nowhere to be seen. The mate, down on x-ue main deck, jumped as if he had been shot, and the men aloft ceased work and waited petrified at the strident roar that came from the poop. "Leave your sails fast there. Hands t' the sta'board fore braces. Mister, up here t' me wi' you." The mate climbed rather hesitatingly to the poop, to find himself facing a raging lion instead of the helpless invalid he had supposed fast tied to his bunk. He tried to stutter some sort of explanation about the men demanding that a course be shaped for the Horn, but AuP Aleck cut him short with a savage yell. "The men demand it—my men, in my ship, demand it o' my mate. Let them come t' me wi' their demands. And you —you disobeyed my flat orders, rot ye; am' wad ha' left an officer an' boat's crew t' the mercy o' the sea. Answer me at your peril," he yelled, as the mate tried to speak again. "Brace up your yards and refurl those sails. Awa' wi' ye'." Sullen, but completely cowed, the mate gave the necessary orders, but when the ship was braced up again, and the ropes coiled down, he retired to his cabin, furtively bidding Lafferty to follow him. He took the man inside, closed the door, and produced a bottle, and when each had swallowed a stiff glass, Williams began to talk eagerly. "Git for'ard," he concluded. "Put it to the others as stiff as you like, and rub it in the old man can't last more'n a day or two—and then I'll command, and make it hell for any man that crosses my hawse now. HI tackle the old man presently, and when I shout for you, nip aft at the run." Lafferty went, and the mate began to swallow drink after drink, systematically, and as if bracing himself up for what lay ahead of him. In about half an hour, he lurched out and climbed to the poop. Aul' Aleck was sitting there on a deck stool, and as Williams strode over to him with a truculent air, the old man looked up with a gleam in his eye, but without saying a word. "See here, Captain Dunbar," began the mate blusteringly, although his eye wavered from that steely glare meeting his. "This has gone far enough. The men won't stand for hanging round here to be caught again, short-handed as we are, with the glass dropping steadily. It was all I could do to get them to obey when I ordered them to the braces just now." The old man sat without a motion, staring steadily at the other. Thoi mate licked his lips and goaded himself to a fresh effort. "Your son's lost, and you know it; and so's your boat's crew, and your fancy man, Hausen, the German. You'd better get to your bunk, and leave me to take the ship." Then the old man rose, so swiftly and suddenly and strongly that the mate flinched involuntarily back. But he recovered himself as he saw the captain stagger and sway a little, setting his teeth in an attempt to hide the grimace of pain on his face. "You see," cried Williams, "you're not fit to keep the deck," and turning, he shouted. "For'ard there, tell Lafferty to lay aft." I

Then the cook thrust his black face in the door and passed the mate's message for Lafferty, who rose and hurried out. "Run, cur, your master's whistling you," Ransome called after him, and a jeering laugh from Yank echoed the remark. But the others sat silent and uneasy for a moment, and then drifted out on deck. "I'd back the old man against a dozen of that ecum," said Kansome bitterly. "But if he doesn't last, and we don't find the boat—there's us two, and Jenkins, against the crowd." Lafferty hurried aft and up to the poop, and with a show of mock respect walked to the mate and spoke, "Send for, me, sir." "Yes," said the mate speaking thickly through the liquor that by now was getting full grip of him. "Y'see how ill th' captain ish. Help him below. 11l give you a hand if you wansh it." Lafferty advanced with a grin. "Come along Bir. Better take it aisy. Shure I'll have yet in your bunk in two shakes o' the jib sheet." AuT Aleck, his shoulders hunched, his eyes glaring from benea h their pent brows, his lips tight and stiff, stood without a word, his arms hanging loose, his legs straddled, his body ewaying slowly to the heave of the deck. Lafferty hesitated an instant, then at an encouraging word from the mate, moved forward again, and reached out to take the captain's arm. At the touch of his fingers the old lion leaped to sudden, blazing, volcanic life. He had been standing facing the mate, half sideways to Lafferty, looking along his shoulder at him. Now his body whirled round, his fist close and hard as a cannon-ball, swept up and out, and, with all the strength of his arm and weight of his body, behind it, took Lafferty full under the chin. The blow could not have been better timed or placed. The ship reeled to the sound of a sea as the captain's fist jarred home, and Lafferty, head back, arms waving, feet staggering backwards in an effort to recover his balance, reeled back to the poop ladder, snatched ineffectually at the rail, and went over headlong to hit the deck below. The captain, without waiting to eee what happened to him, whirled round on the mate, who skipped nimbly back with his eyes bulging. But when he saw the old man, spent with this last tremendous spurt of energy, reel backward and clutch at his side with a face contorted and gasping, the mate recovered his courage, ran hastily to the ladder, and, seeing Lafferty gathering himeelf groaning from his fall, called down to him sharply: 'Come up, you fool. He's finished himself. Come up and help me." Lafferty, reluctantly, but obediently, rose and climbed the ladder again, and, seeing the captain clinging weakly to the binnacle, took fresh courage and advanced on him with the mate. But both halted in dismay at the sight of a huge- bulk that rose suddenly from the companion, and with a calm "You wanted me, sir," ranged alongside the captain. The old man gasped and tried to speak, and the huge steward, stooping a little, spoke as if repeating an order. "Lafferty to go for'ard, sir. And the mate to bis cabin, sir. Very good, sir!" and then with one calm step forward and a cutting emphasis on the words "I'll see to that, sir." Both Lafferty and the mate turned hurriedly and snuffled off down the ladder. The steward hitched the camp-stool to a position behind the captain, and as he sank to it, murmured: 'Til be back in a minute, sir," and stepped to the companion. (To be continued daily.)