Dangerous Cargo by Hulbert Footner

Author:Hulbert Footner [Footner, Hulbert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime
Publisher: Roy Glashan's Library
Published: 2015-03-29T22:00:00+00:00

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XVI. — BLOODLESS MUTINY

THE four of us started up the forward companionway. Horace hung back on the landing.

“What are we going to do?” he growled. “We must have a plan.”

“It is very simple,” said Mme. Storey. “First we seize the captain and secure him. Second we secure the officer on watch. Third we secure the other two officers wherever we find them. If we can take them one by one there need be no fuss at all.”

We proceeded. At the head of the stairs in the dining-saloon forward two stewards were arranging the table. We dined at eight on the Buccaneer. We turned aft through the library which was no more than a corridor really, leading past the engine trunk. The music-room followed, then the after companionway with the big lounge on the other side. All this part of the ship was empty.

But from the companionway we could hear a murmur of voices in the winter-garden overhead. After listening for a moment or two, Mme. Storey said: “Captain Grober, Adrian and Dr. Tanner.”

“It will look odd to them if I am with you,” said Les.

“It’s all right if I bring you,” muttered Horace.

Les had a mind of his own in such matters. Always smiling, he said: “I’ll go up by the deck. I’ll be right outside if you want me.”

“We must have something with which to bind our prisoners,” said Mme. Storey.

“The irons are kept in the arms locker off the chart-room,” said Les.

She looked into the lounge. The window curtains were caught back with heavy silk cords. Les, following the direction of her glance, ran in, and making a hasty round of the windows, unhooked the cords and stuffed them in his pockets.

He ran out on deck, and the rest of us started up the stairway. Mme. Storey murmured to Horace.

“Bella and I will take the captain out on deck. You had better remain behind to watch the other two. I don’t know where Tanner stands.”

“And Adrian?” he said truculently.

“You know what I think about Adrian…If you hear nothing outside, you will know that it is all right and you can follow us to the bridge.”

The companionway ended in a little lobby adjoining the winter-garden. This charming room with its growing plants and wicker furniture had the effect of a pavilion up on the boat deck. It was a fair warm night, though the sea was somewhat rough, and the after end of the room was wide open to the deck. The three men were seated in a row looking out through the opening. Thus we came on them from behind.

Hearing us, they rose like three automatons, each with his drink in his hand; Captain Grober, blond, correct and wooden; Dr. Tanner with his stupid pop eyes and dinky moustache; and Adrian, so tall and handsome—and so soft! I advanced towards them, gripping my gun under the rug, and steeling myself not to tremble.

Horace was glum, but he always was, so that didn’t matter. Mme. Storey hailed the three gaily.

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