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Updated: June 8, 2025
He sat upright, clutching at his chest, his face convulsed with spasms of pain. Tamada got some brandy between the chattering teeth. Sweat poured out on the skipper's forehead, and he sank back, exhausted but temporarily relieved. The girl wiped his brows. "It'll get me next attack," he said presently in a weak voice. "Jim, this trouble hit me the day after we left the floe.
Still she faced him, resolute, barely up to his shoulder, slim, defiant. Gradually his features crinkled into a grin. "I believe you would," he said at last. "An' I'd hate to fix you the way I would Tamada. But, mind you, if I don't git a definite promise out of him that rings true, I'll have to stow him somewheres, where they won't find him. An' that won't be on board ship."
The Scandinavian was too cautious, too apt to consider such things as odds. Sandy was useless, aside from his good-will. He was cowed by Deming, scared of Carlsen, too puny to do more than he had done, given them warning. Tamada? Would he fight for the share of gold he expected to come to him? Lund had described him as neutral. But, if he knew that he was to be left out of the division?
It is not my business if a white man makes a fool of himself. Now we want morphine and hypodermic syringe." Tamada rolled up the captain's sleeve. The flesh, shrunken, pallid, was closely spotted with dot-like scars that showed livid, as if the captain had been suffering from some strange rash. Lund whistled softly. Rainey, too, knew what it meant.
If there's time he'll give you all the dope." "But I don't see how that " "You will see when you see Tamada," Lund grinned. "How about them logs? Can you fix 'em?" "I think so." "Then hop to it. I'm goin' to wise up the men and arrange a reception committee. Don't forgit yore name's Carlsen, an' mine's Simms."
"This is not enough," said Tamada. "And we should have needle. But I dissolve these in galley." And he hurried out. The girl had slipped down on her knees beside the bed, holding her father's hand against her lips, her eyes closed. She seemed to be praying. Rainey and Lund looked at each other. Rainey was trying to recall something.
"I'll borrow Carlsen's sextant," said Lund. "Nigh noon, an' erbout time I got our reckonin'." He went into the doctor's cabin and came out with the instrument, tucking it under his arm as he went on deck. Tamada went stolidly on with his preparations.
What have you got to say about it?" His tone was truculent, and Carlsen did not appear disposed to check him. He appeared not quite certain of the temper of the hunters. Deming, like Rainey, evidently chafed under the preliminaries. "You figger we're all equal aboard," said Lund slowly, "leavin' out Mr. Rainey, Tamada an' Sandy.
The skipper had been a veritable slave to the drug. Carlsen had administered it, prescribed it, used it as a means to bring Simms under his subjection. The girl looked strangely at Tamada. "Would he have taken that for sciatica?" she asked. "I think, perhaps, yes. Injection over muscle gives relief. Sometimes makes cure. But Captain Simms take too much.
Was Tamada in league with Carlsen? Had he mistaken his man? Did Carlsen plan to have Tamada undertake a wholesale poisoning to secure the gold himself, providing the drugs? Was it a friendly hint from the Japanese? Still mulling over it he went down to supper. The girl was not present. Carlsen appeared in an unusual mood. "I was a bit hasty, Rainey," he said, with all appearance of sincerity.
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