The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-08-15
AYANKEE,S TRICK.


And monopJlize the world! " Ok .-f 81
YANKEES TRICK. 'ss
On the eight of May, lS43, an American
sloop-of war entered the beantifu basin
which runs up into the city Of Malseilles
and having obtained a berth among the nu.
merous vessels, she was soon warped into
it and secured. Next below the Yankee lay
a French steamer belonging to the line Of
government vessels which piled beween tht
French ports and Algiers, and SO near were
the two together that barely room enough
was left for the passing of the boats. Most
of the officers Of these steamers, from their
constant intercourse with the English, are
pretty well versed in our language, aad they
speak it much more fuently than do those
whose sole instruction has been cleaned
from the drawing room and boudoi:, from
the fact that the peculiar technicaliies and
idioms of the hip-board are more striking
and pointed in their application, and can be
made to bear no such variety H cmstruc-
ton as do the terms of landsmen.
One morning Tom Wallace, as fne a
specimen of Yankee sailor as our navy
affords, came upon the deck of the s.oop-oi
war, and having slowed away his hammock
he called his gang to como and wash down
the top gallant-forecastle. As he reached
that part Of the ship which was given to hii
especial charge, he was not little chagrin-
ed to find nearly half an inch of nasty black
SCOT and cinders spread over his territory
and as the dew, which ON the shores of the
Mediterrean falls very heavily, had become
thorougly mixed with it, the composition
was by no means calculated to beget very
pleasant reflections. The Frenehman's
smoke-pipe was putting away most fu.iously
and Tom saw at once to whom he was in.
debted for this disagreeable favor; but as
he knew that the steamer must let her steam
and smoke Of somewhere, and that it wa.
not their fault that the wind happened to
blow as it did, he smothered his indig dignation
and waited till the dirt ceased to fall, when
he washed down the forecastle, and theI
coiled away his running rigging. BY the
time this was accomplished, the welcome
roll of the drum was heard, and Tom start.
ed for the grog-rub-then the shrill pipe
of the boatswain cut the air, and our here
soon forgot hist-oubles over a smoking par
Of lobscouse.
Three bells had just struck, when Ton
Wallace obtained permission to take turn
on shore, and accordingly, arrayed in his
best sh0rc-togs, he leaped into a shore boat
which happened to be alongside, and pul
off.
'Hallo,' shouted Tom, as he saw that the
boatman was pulling in a totally different
direction from that which he wished to take
'where are you going?'
'Ah zir,' answered the French loatman
'de oflicair of re stemair have one very bad
law for re boats. Dey no let us 60 under
zeir bows, and 20 we must 60 very great
ways round.' 80
'Why there's plenty of room between the
steamers bows and the vessel ahead of her.
answered Tom, not at all relishing this kind
Of work.
90, yes, know zere is plenty re room,
but ze boat will have got to 60 under &c
bows, an it's only yesterday, Eat dey drop
one of yer heavy cannon-ball into boat
ag' zinn him.
what, just because they pulled the boat
under the steamers bows?'
'Oui, Monsieur, certainly
'Well, replied Tom, who had no idea Of
being rowed around nearly half a mile,
when only few rods would answer Just as
well, 'just you pull your boat between the
steamer and the brig and if there is any
damage done, III make it all right; only
pull as near the briggs stern as possible, so as
to give no chance to the French officers for
reasonable complaint
1t frequently happens that on board gov
ernment vessels, while lying in port, the
seamen contrive to get considerable rum
smugSled off to them, and consequently very
strict measures are adopted to prevent the
evil; but in many cases they are more nice
than wise in their restrictions, as for in
stance, in the present case. Now there was
no earthly reason why the officers Of the
steamers should assume the authority Of
shutting upthe only convenient passage way
from large number of vessels to the shore.
merely because in one Or two instances the
shore boats had smuggled off rum, and Tom
was determined that he wouldn't stand it;
Tor he considered that the waters of the
basin were free to all honest men. After
some little hesitation, the boatman brought
his skiif about, and was soon nearly under
the steamers bows.
'Uiton,' shouted French Lieutenant,
who stood upon the forecastle.
III you are a going take me, Just speak
English, will yoo?' answered our Yankee
sailor, ~s he rose up in the stern sheets oi
the boat.
'les, can talk English,' returned the
trenchman. 'Now just turn your boat about
and go some other way
.sNo, SIR said Tom, who felt a little Gu.
by the insolent manner of the officer. ..This
water IS rs free to me as It's to you, and
I'm in hurry to go ashore. You may watch
ne as narrowly as you please, aGd If ]
rouble yeu in the least, let me suffer for it;
'ut under your bows go.
just US the boat was shooting harmlessly
", down came torrent of water upon
fom,s devoted head, completely saturating
lis clothes, and almost binding him; and
tearing broad laugh from the steamer,
lie raised his eyes as soon as he could get
hem clear of the salt water, and saw the
Lieutenant standing with an inverted buck
1t IN his hand, his face being graced at the
same time with broad grin. Tom could
nave leaped overheard and swan to the
steamer, so great was his rage at this un-
provoked insult, but he soon smothercd his
leeilhSs, and kept on to the shore.
Along about the middle of the afternoon,
our :: nero entered one Of the cafes which are
Nnara S,uae9 IT, on the square, opposite to the
); Epera House, and the first person on whom
nis eyes CHANGED to rest, was the Identical
Lieutenant from whom he had received tho
!noismty OF the morning. The Frenchman,
poaeser, ald not ut first recognize the
',c.,m, as ne had procured a new suit Of
,!o'nes; put Tom was not long in making
himself known. He called for bottle Of
VINE, and seated himself in such position
nat the Lieutenant would have to pass him
when he went out, taking good care to have
water pitcher, ready in case of emergency.
L was not 1onr hoforo tbn 5..:. -