Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-30
a sToEY ROE TIE BoYs.


| Among the crew were two boys, known
| respectively as Dick and Tom. beth OIL
| whom had picked up some little knowl-
| edge OF sailor work during their brief ex-
perience OH shipboard, but who differed
much in character.
Dick was & boastful ill-tempered lad
who, being slightly the older and larger
! assumed All air Of superiority, sneering AZ
Toms performances, and protesting III
ability to teach him, though he never at
tempted 70 do SO.
Tom, on the other had was a quiet
modest boy, who never spoke yauntingly OF
anything he had done. Yet we all knew
that It was Tom, and not Dick, who had
" Skinned up the jibstay in squat in
the bay Of Campeachy, 10 clear the hoops,
which had fouled, while il was equally in
! disputahlc that the fore-roval, regarded as
Toms sail, Was always furied more
handsomely than the uain, which came
under Dicks hand.
Tenn had,.for q hoy, a somewhat penSiye
manner He INDUCED in no profane Ian
gUage or coarse expressions His mother
had died Z short time previous, and l dis
covered him once or twice in the act Of
looking at a picture of her which he had
in his sea chest-a circumstance which
might explain his gentcness and meian-
choly.
Dick could not have appreciated his com
panion's feelings, even had he been aware
Of them. As il was, hi attributed Tom 5
passigity to want of spirit, and his con-
1emptUous manner showed that be thought
such Il fellow Of very little account.
There are enormous sharks in the tropics,
and one day i'll the harhor, while the boys
were at work tariing the boWsprit rigging
a monster of this kind passed directly IN
der them, showing his hidcous fin above
water, and casting mp his dull, white eyes
Both lads felt their flesh creep, and were
glad that their bare feet we're some faith
oms above his reach.
Ugh said Tom: what horrjd teeth
he must have,
" Yes, replied Dick, suddenly catching
his companion by the shoulder and making
feint as if TO push him off the bowsprit,
=" and he'll have you, too
Tom, taken by surprise started, and
came near falling backward He recovered
himself, and for Il moment fire flashed from
his eyes.
Dick Morley" he said, don't YOU do
that again as long az you live, might
have gone overheard
Ion, no. :" said Dick. Scared before
you're hurt, If you want to fight about il,
Wen have a round or two when we get be
low
Il shall not fight, said Tom, unless
am obliged to. You keep your hands Of
OF me. That's all
What are you doing, you boys, there -
cried the mate: No So&enn8. Attend to
your WORK or l IL 39 our there.
l suppose you II 1S teiliiS hhh tna1 !
tr!ed 10 push you OIL the boWsprt! sald
DICK, IA d 10" VOICE yen Ki!o" uidh T.
10 be sure you Gldnt replied Tom
but you might have made me tail oil.
W ell, when are YOU gong 70 hck HE
for 1t? asked Dick, ironically.
Perhaps l coudn t lick you, said Tom,
" 1t Is mean thing t. light; but keep
your hands OIL rs / have said.
Oh, no no no laughed DICK, II
his coarse way.
Standing near the bow had witnessed
and overheard The whole, and ii was my
opinion that matters would come TO & crisis
before long l believed that Tom would
take care ot himself maniully
That evening IN the iorec4StIe We were
telling OF some WIG cattle "iIch some o!
Us had III corral upon me outskirts OF the
little seaport, and wondering II buiI-tight
might lot be III contemplation, since there
Is no Mexican town 50 dull that IN cXhlo-
ton OF this KIND Is not -lbeiT 70 take place
IN II.
Dick and Tom, who seemed to have for
gotten their bowsprit difficulty discussed
between themselves the subject Of bull
lighting generally, Dics thinking It must
De glorious sport, and Rom calling Il cruel
and mean.
famous bulI-ilghter you'd make
snecred Dick. " Al! you'd want would he
to get out Of. the way.
IS, sad Tom; get out Of the