Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-12
TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, Pa APRIL II, 1866

straight between the eyes, ard quick too ;
but now Pm poor rascal no one only fit
to mend old rope and patch sails, and can
stoop now to do things | should have been
ashamed of once, even if had done them,
as did this, for good"
There came at this moment a pert rap at
the door, and Harrison, the ships boy,
thrust in his head
well, what do you want 2" said the pur-
ser, in his sharp, honest way
" If you please, sir, there's an ice-fog
coming on, and Mr.. Cardew says the men
are to have an extra glass of grog round,
as there will be extra watches"
Did Captain Ritson himself give the or
der ?"
No, sir Mr. Cardew Captains been
up all night and is gone to lie down"
Tell Mr.. Cardew, with my compliments,
that the captain told me yesterday never
to serve ont rum without his special or
ders"
Yes, sir" The boy left
Now, Mr.. Quartermaster, let us know
the worst | think suspect--it is some
thing about our first mate. This is going
to be an unucky voyage, | can see Let us
hear the worst quick, that we may do some
thing to stop the leak"
The quartermaster, stolid man, of Dutch
temperament, and by no means to be hur-
ried, proceeded as calmly as is he were
spinning yarn over the galley fire. "What
! ! heard the first mate and the carpenter
talk about only two hours ago was this
The ice-fog's come on, and the men "a bad
lot in any weather, all but Davis and two
or three more) are beginning to think we're
running dangerously near the ice, and that
we shall get nipped. The mate, when the
captain is away, encourages them in this
idea, and the worst of them talk now of
forcing the captain to steer more south
ward, so as to keep clear of the ice-packs
off Labrador
| The purser started and uttered an ex-
clamaton of surprise and Indignation.
Delay there, Mr.. Pennant," said the
quartermaster, forcing his sou'wester firm
er on his head to express hatred for the
mate that was only the first entry in
their log. Then they went on to propose
sinking the ship, lashing down the captain
and those who wouldn't Join them, destroy
ing all evidence, and taking to the boats
| as soon as there was sight Of land"
| But what for ?"
w udI lOI NHy, lOl IulS. Int HE
mate, as be let out, has had the lading of
the vessel. Well, what did he do, with
the help of some scoundrel friend of his, a
| shipping agent, bot remove two thirds of
| the machinery from the cases, unknown,
of course, to Mr. Blizzard, and pile them up
with old iron, unknown to the captain, who
was away because his father was dying,
and now they want to sink the vessel, and
then go home and sell the plunder That's
| about the size of it,"
"Come this moment and tell the captain
of this scoundrel," said the purser, leaping
up and locking his desk resolutely.
Now, avast heaving there, not just yet,
Mr. Purser by your leave let tie thing
ripen a little; let me pick up what can
in the fo'kasal, they don't mind a poor old
beast like me-"
Whats all this ?" cried shrill, spite
full voice, as the door was thrust violently
open. Where is this purser fellow? -
Who is it dares to disobey my orders p
What do you mean, purser, by not serv-
ing out this rum ? No skulking here
Thompson, go on deck, see all made taut
for the night, and the fog bell rugged, or
we shall be run down in this cursed fog"
Thompson skunk out of the cabin.
The purser did not finch he took his
cap quietly from its peg. Mr.. Cardew,"
he said, 81 only obeyed the captains or
ders, and shall continue to do so till you
take command of the vessel Pm going on
deck for smoke before | turn in Good
night, sir"
The mates eyes became all at once blood
shot and phosphorescent with a cruel light.
II tell you what it is, Pennant," he said; /;
" if 1U0s your captain, I'd maroon you on
an iceberg before you were five hours older,
and I'd let you know first, with good bit
of picked rope, what it was to disobey
your superior officer"
Good night, sir threatened men live
| long. And perhaps you will allow me to lock
up my cabin? Thank you"
With this good-humored defiance the
purser ran, laughing and singing, up the
cabin stairs.
1t was Sunday morning, and the ice-fog
had lifted The vessel had met with mere
pancake ice, loose sheets thin as tinseI,
but nothing more the wind blew intense
ly cold as if from ice-felds of enormous
size, but no bergs had been seen, and the
captain, Judging from the ships reckoning,
hoped still to make swift and successful
voyage and to be the first to reach Que
! bee that season.
The men were mustered for prayers in
the state cabin. 1t was a pleasant sight
to see them file in, two and two, so trim,
with their blue shirts turned back from
their big brown necks, their jaunty knotted
black silk neckerchiefs and their snowy
white trousers, the petty officers in their
best blue jackets, and all so decorous and
disciplined, as they took their prescribed
seats.
Pleasant, too, it was to see the hardy
captain in that wild and remote sea so
calmly and gravely reading the chapter
from the Bible relating to PauPs voyage,
with an unconscious commanding g-officer
air If the ship-boy dared to cough, that
stern, gray eye nailed him to his seat il
the boatswain shuffled his feet, there was q
reproving pause between the verses il
even the spray broke over the hatchway
the captain was down upon it.
The purser was the last 20 leave the cab
in when the service was over. As he col
lected the Bibles, the captain touched him
on the shoulder.
" | want word with you, Mr.. Pennant,
he said, sitting sorrowfully down at the