West from Singapore (Ss) (1987) by Louis L'amour Read Free Book Online

the forepeak, you damned numbskull!" Dussel roared. "If that devil gets away, I'll kill you. Search the forecastle, too."
    Crouching on the flukes of the anchor, Ponga Jim waited tensely. The old barge would soon be dipping her bows under. After that his time would be short. Feet pounded on the deck. He heard the men cursing.
    "Maybe he slipped past," Dormie grumbled. "It's dark enough. He couldn't hide here."
    A wave splashed over Ponga Jim's feet. The bow dipped and black water swept over him. He clung to the anchor, shivering.
    Minutes passed. Feet mounted the ladder again. He heard a man muttering. Then the fellow walked across the deck and stood by the bulwark overhead.
    Another sea drenched Jim to the skin. He clung to the flukes, trying to keep his teeth still. The ship gave a sickening lunge. His feet fell clear, and for a moment he hung clear as the bow lifted. Then lightning flashed.
    As he pulled himself up, he saw a man leaning over the bulwark. It was Longboy, one of his own crew.
    With a roar, a huge sea swept over Jim. The Semiramis lifted her bow.
    "Psst!" he hissed sharply. Longboy looked down, startled. "Get a line," Jim whispered.
    "It's the skipper." The man wheeled around from the rail. In an instant, a line dangled in front of Jim's face. He went up, hand over hand. Just as the bow dipped under another big one, Jim tumbled on deck.
    "Lookout!" a hoarse voice shouted. "Come to the bridge." "Getting too rough here,"
    Jim commented. "They'll have you stand watch there. Tell Brophy I'm safe, but be careful. Then you three stand by. I'm going to start something, and damned quick!"
    As Longboy hurried aft, Ponga Jim went down the compan34
    ON THE ROAD To AMURANG ionway, into the forecastle. What he wanted now was a weapon. It was dark inside.
    Suddenly a cigarette glowed. It was a guard. In the faint glow of the cigarette he saw the glint of metal. The guard's head turned.
    Ponga Jim swung. He had only the mark of the glowing cigarette, but it was enough.
    He felt bone crunch under his fist. The man crumpled. Jim struck a match.
    A frightened face peered from the curtains of a bunk, then another.
    "Out of those bunks now!" Jim snapped. "I'm taking over." He picked up the guard's Luger and fished two clips from his pocket. He turned on the powerful lascar behind him. "Where are these fellows? You just came off watch, didn't you?"
    Abdul nodded. "Two mans in crew's mess. Two mans below. One man on poop deck. Three on bridge. Small fat man, he sleep. Two other mans sleep. Big fat man, he talk this Dormie."
    "Right, Abdul, you get that man on the poop deck. Then you, Hassan, Mohamet, Chino, get the two men below. Chino, slip on this man's coat and cap. Go to the ladder an' call them. They'll come up."
    "Yes, Tuan. We understand." The four men slipped out on deck, their naked feet soundless in the rising storm.
    Ponga Jim turned to the two men who remained. They were short and powerful men, alike as two peas. Both wore green turbans.
    "Sakim, you and Selim go aft. One of you tell Millan. Then meet me by the crew's mess."
    Dampness touched his face. He stood grasping the rail. A wave, black and glistening, rolled up and then swirled by. A storm of spray swept across the deck. He tasted salt on his lips. Rain and spray beat against his face. The green starboard light stared down at him, a solitary eye. It was going to be a bad time before morning.
    He started aft, walking fast, his knees bending to the roll of the ship. Job Dussel wanted a showdown, and he was going to get it. Jim couldn't wait for Menado, not even for Amurang. Maybe his message would get to Li Wan Chuang, maybe not. It was a chance he couldn't afford to take. Major Albert had said that not a British or Dutch ship would arrive for days.
    What the plan was, he could only guess. One thing he knew-they had done for Cap Marlin and the Silver Lady.
    Now they threatened peaceful vessels that carried no munitions, no soldiers, only traded quietly among the