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

tramp freighters, Mayo preferred to mind his own business, settle his private fights, and stay out of international affairs. But following the sea in the Indies had never been a picnic, and he had come up from the brawling fury of a hundred waterfronts to a command that he meant to keep.
    Jim's eyes narrowed angrily, and his jaw set. Once, he had deliberately butted in to avert more trouble. Now they were out to get rid of Jim Mayo as fast as possible.
    Carefully, his fingers touched the swollen lump under his eye and felt his jaw. He felt stiff and sore from the brutal kicking and beating he'd taken.
    Somewhere in the islands, perhaps still back in Makassar, Major William Arnold was waging an almost single-handed fight to keep peace in these East Indian waters. But it was a lonely, dangerous job. All over the world secret agents of the Gestapo were striking at the lifeline of the British Empire. All through the islands there was sabotage, propaganda, and undercover warfare.
    Slug Brophy came up to the bridge. "Romberg was asking about you," he said, winking.
    "When I told him you were on the bridge, he seemed surprised. Those guys got enough guns to arm the U. S. Navy."
    "Yeah?" Jim stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Let the Gunner handle this a bit longer.
    You come with me."
    He wheeled and ran down the ladder. Sakim and Longboy were painting amidships.
    "Drop those brushes," Jim snapped. "Slug, get them a couple of guns."
    When they were armed he went amidships. The three Germans were sitting in the petty officer's mess, talking and drinking beer. Jim stopped in the doorway.
    "I understand," he said crisply, "that you men have guns aboard. I want them. Nobody packs a rod on this boat but my officers and myself."
    Romberg shrugged. "But in times like this maybe we need our guns," he said softly.
    "You get them when you leave the boat," Mayo snapped. "All right, on your feet for a search."
    Romberg's face whitened.
    Kessler got to his feet, face flushing with anger.
    "There will be no searching here!" he snapped. "This is insolence!"
    "Yeah?" Ponga Jim chuckled without mirth. "You guys got a lot to learn. An' when you talk about insolence, sourpuss, remember you're not in the German army now. You're on my ship, and I'm in command here!"
    Kessler started forward and then stopped. "So? You know, do you? Well, what of it?"
    Mayo's gun slid into his hand. "You guys asked for transportation for yourselves and your cargo. You're getting it. Get tough, and you'll get a lot more. I said I'd get you there, but I didn't say I'd get you there alive." He shrugged. "Take their guns, Slug. The first one that peeps will have to digest some lead. "
    The three men stood very still, hands raised, while Brophy frisked them expertly.
    Once Romberg's eyes flickered to the port and he stared.
    For outside was Sakim, with a rifle barrel resting on the edge. Longboy stood outside the other, his brown face eager. Romberg's eyes swung back to Mayo, and there was a hint of admiration in them. "You'd have made a good German officer, Captain Mayo."
    Jim snorted contemptuously.
    Brophy passed out of the room with the guns tucked in his waistband. Then Ponga Jim slid his back into its holster. "Sorry to have bothered you, gents. Adios."
    Day slid into night. Mayo was worried. Something had to break. There was a possibility that disarming them had also wrecked their plans, but he had no faith in the idea.
    There was something else, something more to be expected. At twelve he would go on watch, and by that time, if everything went well, they would be entering the Banda Sea with a straight shot for Bangkulu before turning east for Banggai Bay.
    Night had fallen and the stars were bright when he turned aft for a last look around before his night watch. The passage amidships was empty, but he heard voices in Romberg's cabin.
    For an instant, Ponga Jim hesitated outside the door. Kessler was talking. If Braunig was there he was not speaking. But that was usually