Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-07-15
THE NINE CAPTAINS.
A True Story of Old Nantucket.
BY JANE @. AUSTIN.

Nine men StOOQ around the stove IL
jeremiah Barnard's back store, place
where the men of Sherhurne were very
apt to congregate of a morning to talk
over the news of the previous day and
lay plans for the coming one. Nine fine
stalwart men, hardy, bronzed and reso.
lute, all in the prime of life-all Sher.
burne men-and each skipper of some
craft more or less important, ranging
downward from the big whalers swing
ing idly at their anchors in the harbor
for this was during the war of 1912,
and the British had laid an embargo
upon the port OF Sherburne, and priva-
teersmen were lowering all along the
coast ready to pounce upon anything
venturing to sail under the flag of the
newly United States.
Now, whaling being the industry OF
Sherburne, and the money it produced
almost the only means of procuring
food, clothing and other necessaries
from New York and other places with
which the coasters carried on an active
little trade, this embargo proved a very
serious matter to Sherburnites, and one
not likely to be patiently borne by such
men as now stood around jeremiah Bar
nard's box-stove, and shook each
others iron hands with mysterious en-
phasis.
"Well, then, here's nine of us agreed, -
said Obed Coffin, the usual spokesman
on all occasions; "And there's my
schooner, the Betsy, and if you're
agreed we'll now christen her the Nine
Captains, load her with candles, oil and
salt Goldfish, put her through to New
York under the noses of tho blockaders
and bring her home again with corn
enough to plant all Nantucket and make
Johnny cake or two beside"
'fSeeing we're all captains, it would
be advisable to ship one fellow before
the mast, for cook if nothing else.
Who'll we find ?"
"Why, there's Jared Dunham," sug-
gested Tom Coffin, younger brother of
the first speaker. "He's a poor stick
for hand and reef, but he can make a
chowder with any man"
"And should say Capn Russell to
take command, thounh we don't look
for very strict discipline, suppose, y
suggested Folger.
"All right, mates, I'll do my best, y
said Russell, quietly, and once more the
strong grip of an unspoken pledge was
exchanged between man and man, and
pretty soon the nine captains departed
to their several homes.
Three days later Captain Russell stood
in his own kitchen, dressed in his sea-
clothes, packing a large canvas bag
which he called his KIT, and talking with
his wife. A fine boy of perhaps four
teen stood by, with a very anxious look
upon his face. Mrs. Russell looked from
father to son, cloud of anxiety darken-
ing her comely brow.
/" It's Just as you say, mother" said
the captain, examining the soles of a
pair of boots. 'If you need him at
home, home it is. and if you don't,
I'll take him along"
at isr't that need him, Daniel, but
the danger -"
danger Fol-de-rol, woman !" in
terrupted the captain, good humoredly.
"The boy s no baby, nor no fool neither,
and if it hadn I been for this embargo he
have been off whaling before now. He
don't care for danger, do you Ned ?"
81 guess not-not much, " replied the
boy, with a voice of superb disdain.
"Come, mother, say yes, say yes, say
yes, mamma, dol'
"Well, yes, then, since you're bound
to go Ned" said the mother bravely,
but so tremulously that her husband
hurriedly changed the subject by say.
ing: "And now, tell me, wife, what'll
you have from York. Say anything you've
a mind to, old woman, and you shall
have 1t, for I'm going to make my FOR
tune this trip, and my fortunes your
| fortune"
"Well, cap'n, there are two or three
little conveniences I'd like round the
house, replied the wife, dropping hei
apron and looking up rather eagerly
Several of the neighbors have go
them, and thought I'd like to have &
warming pan like neighbor Tabby
Mitchell's, for one thing. It's rea
handy in case of sickness, and"
"There's the coach, father" inter
rupted Ned, as a faint and mournfu
sound swept by on the March wind.
You're right, boy. Get your owl
kit, ready. Now then, wife, warming
pan it is; and what else?"
"a coffee-mill was thinking of. Di
nah Folger says it saves a sight o
trouble, and"
"Coffee-mill it is. Anything more p
"Well, husband, I'd like a first-rat,
Holy Bible, big, square one, with
place to put down all the children
ages, and"
"Come on, Captain Russell Coach,
blown twice already" called Captain