The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-08-31
TWO KINDSOF COURAGE.

Not many years since the good ship
Ponto sailed from Boston, bound to Sum
artra. She was commanded by Captain
Iesac jacobs, q good seaman, and a nat
urally good hearted man, but in his long
eareer beneath the trident of Neptune
he had imbibed many OF the false ideas
prevalent among the seaman. and he
had come to look upon the sailors life
g one which necessarily did away with
those fineand warmer traits Of character
that mark the humane and generous
landEman. In this wise Isaac Jacobs
sometimes lost sight Of the true merit
where il actually existed.
Among the crew of the Ponto, on her
present voyage, was q young mar named
Caleb Baker. He had shipped only
three days before the ship sailed. He
Was slender framed man, with a fair,
prepossessing ~countenance, light blue
eyes and light brown hair. Though light
IN his build, he was we'll stocked with
muscle, and his motions were quick and
energetic. His appearance wa calcu-
lated to predispose beholders in his ia
yer.
One day, shortly after the ship lad
left port, as Baker was busy about some
matters of his wi in one Of the gang
ways, n of the meE, o rough, uncouth
fellow, by the name of Bunkton, came
along and gave the clothes-bag of Baker
= kick out of his way, thereby scattering
= number of things about the deck.
q wish you'd be careful" said Baker,
- he moved to gather up his things.
sss sThen keep your things out o. my
way gruffiy returned Bunkton.
They we're not in your way"
DO you mean to tell me / lie?"
II said the things we're not in your
way
aAnd / say they were. Now, don't
you dispute me again."
Very we'll, have it your own way
0lmly returned Baker, assshe drew his
bag closer in toward the bulwarks.
And don't yon ne impudent, Meth
err provokingly added Bunkton.
Look We, Bnnkton, if you've any
business Of your own you'd better mind
"Eh, lubberf III show you my bus
mess. Take that"
Al Bunkton spoke, he struck the
young man upon the face. The crew
bad mott of them gathered about the
place, ana arrangements were quickly
made for q fight.
Just coine forward-come forward.
III show We my business" cried
bunktOn, bristling about with his fists
doubled up.
IA ightl a fghtls cried half a dog
en- Of the men. "Don't stand that, Ba-
kerr"
The young mans eye had flashed as.
he received the blow, and there was a
quick quivering of the muscles of his
hands, but he made no motion to
aAin't you goin' to take it up?" asked
Bunkton.
ssNo. I want nothing to do with you,.
returned Caleb.
Then you are a coward!' uttered
B1nkt0n, with a contemptuous tone and
look.
Young Baker calmly replied to the
taunt, and Bunkton became still more
savage. Those who know anything
about ocean life will understand the sen.
timents Of the rough crew upon such
matters as the present. They could
comprehend but n kind OF courage,
and h moment that Baker refused to
fight they set him down as an arrant
coward. AT first they had been pos
sessed in HE favor, for Bunkton was q
quarrelsome fellow, and they hoped Ca
leb would fog him; but when they saw
him quietly turn away and resume his
work they began to taunt him too.
What's all this2" asked Captain ia
COBB, attracted to the spot.
The matter was explained to him,
Didn't resent III" uttered the cap.
faint looking with mingled surprise and
contempt upon Caleb. "Why didn't
you knock him down, Baker?9'
Because don't want to fight with
any man, sir"
And yop will allow yourself to be
struck n not resent itp"
ger, but / will not SO abase myself as ia
engage in q brutal fight when it can be
possibly avoided. have as yet done
wrong to no man; but were | to fght
one Of my shipmates, I should wrong
him and myself both"
Then you will have yourself looked
upon % one who may be struck with
impunityln
A quick flush passed over the young
mans face as the captain thus spoke,
but he wal soon calm.
mean, SIR he returned, 'sto give
no n occasion to strike me: yet Bunk.
ton struck me, but you can see that he
already suffers more than / do
Buxton gave Caleb the lie. and again
tried TO urge him into q fight, bat the
captain interfered and quiet was re-
stored.
From that time Caleb Baker was
looked upon by the crew rs a coward.
AT first they tainted him, but his uni
form Kindness soon put a stop to these
outward manifestations, and the feelings
Of the 9 were expressed by their
t0oks. Bunkton took every occasion. he