The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-04


turn at the wheel during dinner and one
OF Ben's watchmates, rs in duty bound,
cut off duff and set it aside for Ben.
Then they all turned to on the remainder
with will, and it was soon demolished.
In due time Ben was relieved, and came
forward as hungry as tger-anticlpatlng
an excellent dinner-but it then appeared
that the portion which had been saved for
him and carefully set aside, had most I'M
accountably disappeared-and poor Ben
Gangway was obliged to 90 without din
ner, or resort to the expcdient of the North
American bear in the winter time, and suck
his paws. But Ben, although good sal
lor and an honest man, was no philoso-
pher, and did not submit with resignation
to his hungry fate. He grumbled a good
deal, and by dint of close enquiries and
circumstantlal evidence, he convinced
himself and the whole ships company,
that Dandy Jim had feloniously obtained
possession of his prog, and had, without
so much as saying, shy your leave"
disposed of it for his own comfort and
advantage.
On learning this, Ben's Indignation was
very grcat-for there are few things
more annoying, or better calculated 10 dis
turb the equanimity of ones temper, than
to be robbed Of dinner--especially if
particularly hungry - as, unfortunately
for jim, happened to be the case with
Ben. He was not a man of many words,
but what he did say was generally to the
point He merely called Jim a good-for-
nothing, lazy, gluttonous rascal, who was
not worth his salt, and no sailor. He
then seized him by the ears, and seemed
for few moments resolved to try if he
could lengthcn them by pulling. The
experiment was probably unsatisfactory,
for he let 90 his hold of them in a few
moments, and with the flat of his hand he
gave Dandy Jim blow, such as the
French call sou09et, which caused Jim
to hear strange medley of confused
sounds, and sent him reeling against the
windlass-bitts.
Such unccremonious and uncivil treat
ment displeased Jim very much--all his
gentle blood was reused within him. He
looked death and defiance at Ben--and
assured him OH his honor that he should
not put up with such an insult with impu-
nifty, ''but," said he, Il will not fight YOU
with fists, but with noble weapons-with
weapons such as only gentlemen use.
And | now demand satisfaction for the
insult you have put upon me - an insul,
which no man of honor can brook-and
challenge you to single combat"
Ben cody told him that he would fight
him, either as a gentleman or a black
guard, at any place, or at any time, with
any weapons which he might select-that
it was equally indifferent to HIM whether
the weapons were fists, marllnspikes, jack
hives, beavers, capstan bars, handspikes,
or cooks tormenters--that he was ready
to fight him with any weapon ever invent
cd to take the life of man, from a sail
needle down to a howitzcr.
Such determined and gcnllemanly
spirit on the part of Ben Gangway, who
was one of the toughest looking spcci.
mems of manhood that ever put two ends o.
a rope together, was altogether unexpected
by Dandy Jim-and there is no knowing
what course the matter might have taken
if Captain Sheavehole had not listened to
the dispute, and being dear lover of fun
and familiar with all the laws Of honor, haC
not ntcriered, and, having Just read the
works of 4 distinguished Scotch novelist
suggested an expedicnt which met witt
the hearty approval of both combatants
He told them that as both were gentlemen
of unblemished honor, and DESTROYS of act
ING in this affair as became honorable men
the proper course for them to adopt wa:
to fight pistol, rifle or sword "Now,'
said he, "there are none of these weapons
on board except such as belong to me
and although | should be happy to oblig
you, it might not be deemed proper b,
others, especially those who know nothing
about the code of honor, that should fur
nish you with weapons with which t
: murder each other. But as it is absolutel,
necessary that this business should be SET
tied as soon as possible, would sugges
+, that each of you gentlemen should arm
a himself with capacious pipc-and hav
a some fine ones in the cabin, which / wi
loan you with pleasure for this purpose
\ charge them to the muzzle with brimston
II and asal,ptda, retire to some close an
G secluded. nook in the forecastle or hal
= deck, and then, seated on blocks Of wood