The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-06-17


preposterous for contemplation. Well one
matchless summers day l was bowling
down the bend above Island 66, brim full
Of self conceit and carrying my nose a.
high as girafe's when Mr.. B said:
81 am going below awhile. / suppose
you know the next crossing!"
This was almost an afront. 1t was
about the plainest and simplest crossing in
the whole river. One couldn't come to
any harm, whether be ran it or not; and
as 70. depth, there never had heen any
/ bottom there l know all this perfectly
we'll.
"Know how to run it? Why, l can
/ run it with ny eyes shut
! How much water is there in it?"
"Well, that is an odd question. /
couldn't get bottom there with church
steepe."
| "You think so, do you?"
The very tone Of the question shock my
confidence. That was what Mr.. B
was expecting He left without saying
anything more. l began to imagine all
sorts of things. Mr.. B., unknown to
me, of course, sent somebody down to the
forecastle with some mysterious instruc-
| tions to the leadsmen, another messenger
was sent to whisper among the officers.
and then Mr.. B--went into hiding be-
hind a smoke stack where he could observe
results. Presently the Captain stepped
out on the hurricane deck; next the chief
mate appeared; then a clerk. Every
moment or two straggler was added to
my audience; and before got to the head
o! this island l haG fifteen or twenty peo-
pie Assem- bled down there under my nose
began to wonder what the trouble was
As started across the Captain glanced
aIoft at ne, and said, with sham uneas-
ness IN his voice:
Where is Mr.. B-?"
Gone below, sir.'
But that did the business for me- NJ
Imagination began to construct dangers
out of nothing, aud they multiplied faster
than | could keep the run Of them. All
at once | imagined saw shoal waters
ahead! The wave of coward agony that
surged through me then came near dislo-
eating every joint in me. All my couf
dence IL that crossing vanished. l seized
the tell rope; dropped 1t ashamed; seized
it again; dropped il once more; clutched it
treinbilngly once again, and pulled it SO
feebly that | could hardly hear the stroke
myself. Captain and mate sang out in
stantly, and both together
"Starbolrd lead there and quick about
itr'
This was another shock. l began to
climb the wheel like squirrel; but |
would hardly get the boat started to port
before would ree new dangers On that
side and away | would spin to the other
only to fnd perils accuu. ulating to star.
board, and be crazy to get to port again.
Then came the leadsman's sepulchral cry:
"D e-e 2 fCur?"
Deep four in tottomless crossing.
The terror of it took my breath away.
"M-u-r-k three! Mark three! Q1arter
less threel Half twan!"
This was frightful | seized the bell
ropes and stopped the engines.
"Quarter twain Quarter twain Mark
rwair!"
| was helpless. | did not know what in
the world to do. was quakng from head
to foot, and l could have hung my hat on
my eyes, they stuck out so far.
Quarter less twain! Nine and half!''
We were drawing nine. My hands were
in nervous futter. l could not ring
bell intelIigib!y with them. few to the
speaking tub and shouted to the engineer:
"Oh, Ben, if you love me, back her !
Quick, Ben! Oh, back the immortal soul
, out of her!"
heard the door close gently. l looked
around and there stood Mr.. B, smil,
Ing bland, sweet smile. The audience
of the hurricane deck sent up shout Of
humiliating laughter. l saw it all now and
! | felt meaner than the meanest man in
/ human history. l laid in tie lead, set the
/ boat in her marks, came ahead on the en-
gines and said:
at was Il fine trick to play on an or
l ipb - I
hear the last Of how l was ass enough to
heaye the lead at the head of &C."
"Well, no, you won't; may be. In fact
! hope you won't; for l want you to learn
something by that experience. Didn't you
know there was no bottom IN that cross
iug?"
Yes, sir, l did"
Very well, then. You shouldn't have
allowed me or anybody else to shake your
confidence 10 that knowledge. Try to re.
member that. And another thing; when
you get into dangerous place, don't turn
coward. That is not going to help mat
ters any,"
1t was goodenough lesson, but pretty
hardly learned. Yet about the hardest
part cf it was that for months / so Otter
had to hear phrase which had conceiv
ed particular distaste for. II was:
"Oh, Ben, if yea love NE, back herl''
"Well, my boy" asked gentleman of
little eight-year-old boy, what are you cry