Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-02-13

/
to while away the time till eight bells.
One Ut cur number had just com
nenced "a stretcher.' When he was in
terrupted by one Joe Dfiscol!-said Joe
by the way, WAS great practical Joker
and was always ready to play a trick
upon a shipmate, whenever an oppor
tunity offered.
"Hafk! boys; l believe 1hear BOBBY
scree ching!'
| We all listened atten!ive]y, and heard
SOFT OF screechirg noise aloft, similar
to that made by one of the aforesaid
boobies; nothing could be seen of one,
| however. As the noise still continued,
| approached the fore mast, and after lis
teu'ng attentively for few moments,
ascel tanned that The noise was accustomed
by the starboard fore topsail sheet graf.
ing IN the sheavehole, at the end Of the
torey ard. I reported the result of my
nveetjgation to the men on the forecas,
tie, ard the mau was about resuming
his yarn when Joe Driscoll again
spoke.
81 tell you what, shipmates, if you'll
only keep mum, when the boy jim comes
from the wheel we'll have some fun. III
make him think there's BOBBY aloft.
and he'll go right straight up after him;
when he gets up there, though, and
finds there's nobody there but himself,
won's he blow, though? It's as good as
a months wages any time to hear Jim
sputter when he gets little r;led."
If Joe Driscoll could only have known
how the joke would in the long run be
tuned upon himself, We fancy be would
not have been IN quite so much haste
about it; for: although he got the laugh
Oh jim at the time, years afterward Jim
turned the tables upon him in handsome
style, as our story will soon show.
Joe bad hardly ceased speaking when
four bells 1uck, and in moment more
Jim came from the wheel. When he
was abreast the forerigging Joe hailed
him thus:
81 say, Jim, there's a BOBBY some
where aloft there for'ard."
"Where is he ?" said Jim, all excite
ment. "Just show him to me, and I'll
be up after him qu;cker'n ever went up
to furl royal"
At that instant the screechjpg noise
was again heard.
"By Jupiter!" said Jim, "there is one
up there; just hear h,m!" and before
Joe could say more he was half way up
the lower rigging. He paused mo-
ment at the foretop and looked about,
but SEEING nothing in the shape of a
BOBBY, he was again descending to the
dock when Joe again hailed him
II say, Jim, I've got my eye on him
now; there he sits Oh the fore-top-gal-
liant yard"
Jim looked up, and sure enough there
was come thing on the yard, that now it
was nearly dark looked like the identi-
cal bird; though it was nothing more or
less than g,ummett--a piece of rope
in the form of a loop-'hat belonged on
the yard, but it stood erect, which gave
it very much the appearance OF large
bird sitting on the yard.
jim crept cautiously up to the top
mast and top gallant rigging, and
stopped moment at the cross-trees be-
fore going on to the yard, 80 as not to
brighten the bird away by too sudden
approach; then laying slowly out on to
the yard until lie was within q foot of
the supposed BOBBY, he male desper-
ate grasp at tho critters legs, and
caught hold OF the aforesaid grummett
As jim started TO come down Driscoll
sung out:
81 say, Jim, don't com, down with.
out that BOBBY; tt ere he is on the fore
top gallant yard; catch him quick, OF
he'll be gone.'
Joe had had hard matter to keep
from laughing all the time Jim was in
the rigging; but now that Jim had dis.
covered how he had been sold there was
no longer any cause for keeping mum
Gas he called it), 50 he burst into loud
laugh, and all the hands on the fore.
castle followed suit.
The boy Jim did not appear at all
vexed at the joke that bad been played
upon him, but although we were seven
months longer On the voyage, he did moi
speak to Joe Driscoll in all that time.
Years after the events recorded above.
Joe Driscol!, now Captain Driscoll, ar.
rived in Boston from China, in command
of fine brig. AS it would be cousid.
cradle length CT time before his brig
would again be ready for s:a, and moi
wishing to remain idle so long, he began
to look about him for something to do ir
tho meantime. A few mornings after
his arrival he saw the following advertise
ment in New York paper:
WANTED-A master for the ship Stormy Petrel
the Astor House. JAMES D. REYNOLDS.
The next day when Captain Driscoll
called on Mr.. Reynolds to offer his ser
vices as master of the Stormy Petrol,
little did he dream that Reynolds. the
ship owuer. was once the "boy Jim
on board the ship Carioca-but it Wal
even so.
I" Did you wish to engage master fol
your vessel, sir?" ask. d Dri coll.
"Yes, tir," said Mr.. Reynolds. al
advertised to that # Ct. have had 6
number of applicants for the berth, but
none that suited me. The present cap.
tain OF my vessel is just recovering from
dangerous illness; it will be some little
time, however, before he will be able tc
take commanded the ship, and though,
that willie the ship was waiting for hin
I might as we'll, provided l could get &
suitable man, take cargo of something
round to Boston,"
In short time bargain was STRUCK
up between the two, Captain Drlscol
agreeing to take the Stormy Petrol K