The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-06-06
LET GO THE ANCHOR.

H ~ 'ANp WSa Rtll1lI
IRON a wharf in Bath, Maine, and a young fell
low, the only one on board, savedAer from 60.
ing ashore in the manner described.
The new ship Texas, all ready for
sea, lay at II of the large w~lHarves On
the Bath side Of the Kennebec river.
She expected to sail on the following
morning for Savannah, at which port
she was to load with cotton for Liver.
pool, England.
capt, john Seers, part owner of the
Texas, was her commander, but in the
eyes of his son Johnny, aged twelve,
this fact was notso of nearly so mnch i'm
p%ortance as that he (Johnny Seers) was
to accompany his father in the ship on
tho voyage in question.
The Captain was sitting on deck enjoy
ing his after-supper cigar. Johnny was
restlessly roaming up and down, in a
fever of excitement, his sharp eyes tax
ing in everything of interest about the
ship. Following closely at his heels
was a handsome English mastif, which
stood nearly three feet high, tawny hair,
a broad chest and handsome head, A
friend to be desired, Jack the mastiff,
but q terrible foe. Jack was a pup
when given to Captain Seers. Having
grown to his present estate on ship
board, he might literally hnve been
called ,sn old sea-dogg, and it is needless
TO say that the mastitf Jack and the boy
Johnny were great friends.
If the crew do come in the morning
boat, l doubt if we can get away to-
morrow, !" remarked Captain Seers, half
aloud, breaking a silence of some min
utes' duration. -
Johnny dropped the spokes Of the
wheel. with which in imagination he had
beet steering the ship before a heavy
gale OF wind.
"Why not, father" he asked with a
distressed face.
Barometer falling, and the equlnoc-
tial close at hand, was the brief reply,
as, knocking the ashes from his cigar,
Capt. Seers. glanced doubtfully at the
setting sun, which was half hidden by
. bank OF dun colored clouds.
Telegram for you, SIR" said q bow
who had just scrambled aboard, and
stood looking about with wide-open
eyes.
Tearing open the yellow envelope,
Capt. Seors read as follows:
Portland, Oct. 18th, 1879.
Trouble about crew. Come at once
in $50 train. J. Jenkinson."
"Andit is s .20now," said the Captain,
rather Grossly, as he jerked out his
watch, for no by no means liked the idea
of leaving tho ship that night. Both
his officers We're ashore, as also were the
cook and steward. All of them had
families in the vicinity, with whom they
were spending their last night before
sailing.
SWELL, there's no help for it," finally
remarked the Captain with a sigh, as,
slipping into the cabin, he hastily
changed his coat and brushed his hair,
$50 Johnny, you must look out for the
ship for a little while. I'll call at Hor-
tons on my way to the depot and have
them send down II night Waterman
right away. Until the watchman comes
down, don't let any stranger come aboard
Ishall probably be home on the morn
ingboat. Goodnight" And swinging
himself on to the wharf, Capt. Seers
rapidly made his way up town, while
Johnny with rather a disappointed look,
began to pnce the deck in true nautical
style.
A repulsiye looking man, who bore
the marks of . tramp-and sailor
tramp at that-rose up from behind o
lumber pile ear the edge of the wharf
and shook his left fist in the direction
taken by Capt. Seers. His left fist for
the reason that his right arm was miss
ing just below the elbow.
III thought it was you, Cap'n Seers,
when l heard your voice when l was
lsyin' round here yesterday,"h he growled
savagely. Then turning he looked
thoughtfully up at the ships side.
"Nobody i'll sight" he muttered;
"the watchman's not likely to get
here for a good half hour at least, and
only q slip Of boy on board, and like
as not old Seers has left some money or
~walyables layin'round his state DON to
be had for tho takin' of 'em. It's worth
runnin' q bit of n resk for ennyway."
And with another glance up the de-
serted wharf, he began climbing the
side ladder using the stump of his right
arm with considerable skill to help him
self in his ascent.
Hearing the steps, Johnny turned
toward the gangway. A greasy SLOUGH
hat, whose tattered brim partly shaded
the weird looking face of the owner,
met his gaze
cob, look here now, I say! WI don't
allow any strangers aboard" said
johnny, with a decided shake of his
head, as he stopped short in his walk.
You'll lei tho Waterman that Cap'n
Seers has sent down from Horizons
aboard, though, won't you, sonny? ?" was
the cool reply. And without waiting
further remonstrance, the intruder
drew himself oven the rail and down on
deck.
"Why, yes, I suppose So" answered
Johnny, slowly and rather do%ubtfnlly,
"Do you know my father-Captain
Seers, l mean?"
"Why, yes" returned the man with
an unpleasant smile. II WAS to sen
once with your pa in the old ship Van
guard. 1t was he that cut off this ere
arm, OWN to al accident that happened
to me that w ge," he continued, touch
ing the stump with o very dirty fore
finger. !,
This interested Johnny at once, and
he was about asking the particulars,
when rather to his surprise, the sup
posed watchman turned on his heel and
walkei into the cabin.
Hi sayth ere!" cried Johnny rush.
ing after him. my father don't allow
But poor Johnnyfs rpeech was hrough,
10 a sudden end. For as he entered the
cabin ho was caught by strong armf