The banner-enterprise., 1883-10-13
OAKuM'S ACCOUNT OF A MU-
TINY.

W. y TINY.
The whaling ship Good Betsey was
gliding calmly through the Pacific, one
windless summers day, nodding her
head gently as il aTpgsy or rejecting
upon the amount 6f OIL she was to add to
the lamp stock Of her country, when the
idle seameu gathered in knot and whiled
the time away by "reminiscences of far Oft
seas and shores.
They piped and chewed and chatted
like so many tarry philosophers, with
heart for any fate. ready at q moments $
warning to risk life in an attack upon the
mightest Of created beings-the lamp of
life against the lamp Of OIL when out
spoke Ben Sligo, and he said:
"Shiyer my old timbcrs if Jack
Oakum has said his say yet, and he can
tell a yarn Of experiences as would make
tiger laugh or weep, whichever you
please. Come, Jack, drop anchor along
side of US, and give us some Of your
gab."
Jack had been sitting on coil of rope,
apart from his takative shipmates, smok.
inp his pipe in silence, listening like a
disdainful Turk, to what he considered
commonplace lingo, and scorning to edge
in a word unless he was formally called
upon, for he had great respect for his
own weather-beaten experiences, and
couIdn't think Of giving them away with
out the asking, nor even then without
great preliminary Difference from his
companions.
So now, being called upon, he rose and
hitched up his trousers and then sat
down again, and they gathered around
him.
"Maybe never told you about the
mutiny aboard the good ship Charming
Polly, which she was az snug and smart
conglomeration of hemp and oak as
ever sailed out of port"
"No, you never did," said Ben Sligo.
snow for story that is a story, mess
mates, he added, in an undertone;. for
whenever Jack uses them big words it's
sign that his mind is iull Of something.
Square away, Jack, and go at it."
"Why they call her the Charming
Polly was because hada beautiful sis
ter Polly, which the owner named his
vessel in honor of her. He was going to
have her figure head curved in ivory,
only his wife objected. Well, you see we
cot out into the South seas, and this was
my first cruise, though was matter OF
IS years old at that time, and hardly
knowed a hawser from handspike;
though | took to sea larnin' afterwards,
like duck to the mud.
"What had you been doing all your
hfe2" :,
"I was brought up in the circus, and.
though | say it that shouldn't, l could
throw the pootiest hand-springs and
somersets, and more on 'em, than any on
'em, besides balancing, dancing the wire
and riding like any monkey. | might
have made my fortin at that, but l accl.
dentally killed man, so | went to sea.
"What did you kill him for p
"For nothing. You see great crowd
had come 10 see me do my vaulting &C
many they choked up the gangway of the
ring for want of room, and while | was
going it. in the air and on the spring
hoard. over and over, for the one hun
dred and twenty.seventh time, there
stood chap close to the board, with his
mouth wide open, watching me like
shark after man in the water. He hove
too nigh, and down comes my foot anc
kicks his brains out j.
"That sickened you Of the circusY'
"And him, too. Well, as ! was say
ing-when we got into the South seas
the provisions got bad and the cap'n ant
first mate got sassy, and the men-whicl
they was pooty hard set-got to grumb
ling. and there was many a wrong wore
said. hither and thither, when, ono NOR,
nm afore breakfast, the mate ups ant
knocks Bill Sampson down with skill
let. a.,
"What had Bill Sampson done 2
"Why, he only flung piece OF sal
horse at tho mates head. You see tn
meat was as hard as hgnum Vita. Il
cracked like bone when we chawed Il
and took up too much of our time. Well
as was a.telin you, when Bill Sampson
got up he tumbled down again, he was 3
faint and white as piece Of cotton duck
Now Bill was engaged to be spliced to IN.
sister polly-which | told you the shiI
was named arter her, and as looked up
ON Bill as my brother-in law, | takes tn
law into my own hands and knocks tn
mate into the cookhouse, which conn
nigh upsettin'. Now this was q high
handed piece of roguery, | confess, an'
the eap'n thought so, too, for ne com
out of the cabin with pistol and order
me to stand on my head or he'd blow
off. :,
aNow, being good natur'd, and n
mutiaeer, says |: Cap'n, wish to keel
nv head Oh till we gets into port an,
seein' as how cant help myself vii
stand on my head, though don't ough
TO. So | stands on my head to pleas
him."
"How long did you have to do that
81 stood there till my face was blue
blackHthe matter Of an hour or so. !.
"Wonder it hadn't killed you" sal
Beny winking at the others.
sit would If hadn't been trained to
in the circus. But afore | begun | take
the precaution to take VERY tight reef !
nv waist, which prevented the lower ha
of my,blood from runnin' down in tn
upper hall. So, you see, only hall oil m