The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1864-05-18
THE MYSTERIOUS SAILOR,
BY WILLIAM coMsTocK.

the captain anu lnaIo III TeBaIu W tilo
owner of the vessel.
" He looked miserable the last time he
came down TO the wharf," said the mate
| think his voyage is pretty near up
won't hardlyweather it till we get back"
The captain turned partly around to
give Inc an order, and then said to his
chief officer:
"Do you know anything about that
son of his?"
81 only know, sir, that he's just
from college; he's been Oft the island 10
school ever since he was knee-high TO n
toad, and must be chuck full of farming
bv this time. Them that's seen him
says he's fine, stout, well built young
man, that looks moro like Il granny-de
than college-bred.'
Z" It's likely the business will fall into
his hands very soon," observed the cap
tain musingly.
"Yes, sir; the old man can't hold out
much longer. heard that as soon as he
came to The island he was TO have the
business"
Indeed y cried the captain.
"But you know sir" answered the
mate, "that these youngsters are never
so strict as the old ones"
whats that to me-" interrupted the
captain, in so captious manner that the
mate looked up as if he thought it was a
great deal to the passionate man.
The mate knew that Captain Johnson
had got ship under the utmost difficult
ty. There had been such reports of bis
cruelty aud violent temper that it was
not easy to ship crews for the vessels
which he commanded, But the owner
of our ship was an easy old man, dispos-
ed to be lenient to the captains faults,
and the latter had, after repeated efforts,
succeeded in getting command of the
ship.
1t is not difficult, therefore, to compre-
hend the state of the captains mind when
he contemplated the substitution of the
son for the father. The son might dis
charge him Immediately on the return of
the ship to Nantucket. There was moth
ing agreeable, therefore, to Captain John
son in change of owners.
The mate we'll understood that he had
disturbed the captains mind by speak
ing of the old mans withdrawal from bu-
siness, aud he hastened to change the
subject.
"There must be discipline on board of
the vessel,". said he "and I'm thinking
we've got some pretty tough sticks to
handle. There's that Alpheus Baily has
a lurking devil in his eye"
"a mutinous dog, Mr.. Barney-a mu-
tinous dog! why don't you speak outG"
+" And that's strange, too, in green
hand" added the mate. Now, if he was
an old man. n.o'-war's man it would have
been as nat'ral rs chaw of pig TAIL"
"There's much talk of that kind in
the forecastle, Mr. Barney, but give me
old salt in preference to these raw jonnies,
that don't know a marlinspike from the
-iibboom, and grumble because they
don't have their mullins served hot every
morning"
"They mustn't grumble to me-" said
Barney, nodding his head threateningly.
"Well l think we can keep them from
splitting in our faces" cried tho captain.
"Take pull on the lee braces, Mr.. Bar
ney. Keep her off lttle-there--
steady she goes"
The discourse between the captain and
mate sounded very much like a declara-
ton of war against the crew, and where
hostile feelings exist without cause, a
small spark is sufficient to kindle great
FIRE.
From that time forward il was easy 10
perceive that the young man called AL
pheus Baily was regarded suspiciously by
the captain and both his mates; yet il
was because he was strapping fellow
and might be dangerous customer in
coming TO blows. 1t was not difficult,
however, to account for the fact that the
crew generally looked with an evil eye
upon that young novice; for he was not
only ignorant of seamanship, he was al
so disinclined to work, and took matters
very easy. Even the reproaches Of his
shipmates seemed not to move him. He
had little to say TO any of us, and yet he
seemed TO see and hear everything that
passed on board. Every movement,
whether Of the crew or Of the officers,
was watched With the closest scrutiny.