The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-11-11

He saw, however, that no good would
come of his passion and mOtioned for
me to draw nearer.
"Who was the man who gave you
that message, sir?"
"a fellow who called himself Bill
Marling."
''Do they refuse to leave the fore
castie?"
They refuse to get the ship under
way"
rs the boatswain disaffected"
mo, sir; but fancy he knows the
mems minds"
He turned to Mr.. Duckling.
'1f the boatswain is sound, we four
ought to be able to make the Sound
rels turn to-"
This was like suggesting hand-to-
hand fght-four against twelve, and
Duckling had the sense to hold his
tongue. The boatswain was standing
near the long-boat, looking aft, and
Coxon suddenly called to him: Lead
the men aft.
The men came aft in twos and threes.
There were thirteen in all. The boat
swain kept forward. l stood watching
the men after they had reached the
quarter deck.
Coxon said:
''The boatswain has piped you out
to get the ship under way. Do you re-
fuse?'
The man named Bill Marling made
a step forward. The men had evident
ly constituted him spokesman.
1--WE don't mean to work this here
ship" said he, until better food is
put aboard. The biscuits are not fit
for dogs; and 1 say that the pork
stinks. and that the molasses is grits. :"
That's the truth" said voice; and
the Portuguese nodded and gesticulated
violently.
You blackguards," blurted out the
captain, losingall self-control. what
do you know about food for dogs?
You're not as good as dogs to know.
Aren't you shipped out of filthy Rat
clitfe Highway lodgings, where the
ships bread and meat and molasses
would be eaten by you rs fine luxuries,
you lubbers? Turn to at once and man
the windlasS, or I'll find a way to make
youi'
I'VE say" said the spokesman, pull
ing a biscuit out of his bosom and
holding it up. THAT we don't mean to
work the ship until you give us better
bread than this. Its moldy and full of
weevils. Put the bread in the sun and
see the worms crawl out of it"
"Will the skipper pitch the cuddy
bread overheard and eat ourn?" de-
mnnded a rough voice.
And the cuddy meat along with
itr' exclaimed a man, short, power
fully built fellow, with crisp black
beard and woody hair, holding up a
piece of pork on the blade of knife.
LET Captain Coxon smell this"
The captain looked at the men a
few moments with flashing eyes and
then turned and walked aft withDrck-
ling. Here they were joined by the
pilot, and discussion took place be-
tween them which lasted some minutes.
The men talked together in low tones.
Presently Mr.. Duckling left the cap
tain and ordered the men to 90 for
ward. He then called the bo2tswain
and told me l was to be left with the
pilot in charge of the ship while he and
the captain went on shore. The quar-
ter-boat was lowered, and Duckiing,
the boatswin and the captain got into
it. The two former each took an oar
while Coxon steered, and away they
went over the little waves which the
fresh land breeze had set running along
the water.
By this time all the outward bound
ships had got their anchors up, and
were standing down Channel. Some
of them which had got away smartly
were well around the Foreland, and
we were the only one of them all that
still kept the ground. Captain Coxon's
rage and disappointment were, of
course, Ineligible enough; for time
to him was not only money, but credit
l mean that every day he could save
in making the run to Valparaiso would
improve him in his employers estima-
ton.
The men peered over the bulwarks
at the departing boat, wondering what
the skipper would do.
l stood watching them some time
and then joined the pilot, who, now
that the captain and Duckling were
away, was ready enough to talk in 4
friendly manner with me. l expressed
the opinion that the magistrates would
sustain the men in refusing to work
the vessel, as the food was very bad
and ought never to have been put on
board.
The captain don't intend to let 1t
come before the magistrates, an
swered the pilot, with a wink, and
pulling his pipe from his mouth to in
spect the bowl. He wants to be off.
and means to telegraph for another crew
and turn those fellows yonder adrift. "
Wont he ship some better pro-
visions?"
Il don't know, sir. Preehaps he's sat
isfied that the provisions is good enough
for the men. and preehapS he isn't.
Leastways he'll not be persuaded con-
trarily to his belief"
so, then, the police are to have
nothing to do with this matter, and the
stores will be retained for another
crew."
That's as it may be-"
HeTe Will NC a lnullHH DcloIe WI
get to Valparaiso. Something Il hap
pen, dare say"
l not only considered the captains
behavior in this matter bad morally,
but extremely impolitic. His motives
were plain enough. The stores had
been shipped as cheap lot for the men
to eat; and dare say the understand
ing between Coxon and the owners was
that the stores should not be changed.
This view would account for his going
on shore to telegraph for a new crew.
But that he would be imperiling the safe
ty of his vessel by shipping fresh