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

had slung a cot, although there was
a good mahogany bunk m the cabin.
No sensible person would sleep in a
bunk at sea when he could swing in a
hammock or cot Suppose the bunk is
athwart ship; when tho vessel goes
about you must shift your pillow; and
very often she will go about in your
watch below and catch yeu asleep, so
that when you wake you find your feet
arc in the air, all the blood in your
body in your head.
The watch on deck had orders to call
the captain if change of wind came;
also | knew that the pilot would he up,
shifting about, off and on through the
night; so [ turned in properly and
slept soundly until two; when waking
up drew on my small clothes and
went on decks where l found Duckiing
mousing about in the mOOnshine in 4
pair of yellow flannel drawers, he hav-
ing, like myself, come up to see if any
wind was stirring. He looked like new
kind of monkey in his tight white rig
and immense head of hair. NO wind,
no wind" he muttercd, in sleepy
grumblc, and then went below with a
run, nearly tumbling, in fact, head
over heels down the cOmpanion-ladder
| returned to my cabin, and when l
next awOke found my cot violently
swinging. thought for the moment
that we were under way and in heavy
sea, but on looking over l saw Mr.,
Duckling, who exclaimed: ''Out with
you, Mr.. Royle! There's a good breeze
from the east'ards. Look alive and
call the boatSwain to pipe all hands"
Hearing this l was wide awake at
once, and in a few minutes was max
ing my way to the boatswain's cabin,
a deck-house on the port side against
the forecastle. He and the carpenter
were fast asleep in hunks placed one
over the other l laid hold of the
boatswain's leg and shook it He sat
upright
"All hands, sir?"
ayes; look sharp. bosun."
He was about to speak, but stopped
short and said: AYE, aye, sir; where
upon l hurried aft.
1t was twenty minutes past five by
the clock in the cuddy. The sun had
been risen half an hour, and was al
ready warming the decks. But there
was fine breeze; which brought ripe,
fresh morning smells from the land
with it, and made the water run in
little leaps of foam against the ships
side.
Captain Coxon and the pilot were
both on the poop. and as came up
the former called ont:
us the boatswain awake yet?'
Eyes. SIR" l answered. and Owed
into nv cabin to finish dressing. L
heard the boatswain's pipe sound, fol-
lowed by the roar of his voice sum-
moning the hands to weigh anchor.
NV station was on the forecastle, and
thither went But none of the hands
had emerged as yet, the only man seen
being the fellow on the lookout
Mr.. Royle," cried out the captain.
Jump below, will you, and see what
those fellows are about"
went to the fore-scuttle and peered
into 1t, bawling: Below therer'
There's no use singing out, said
voice; 1--WE don't mean 10 get the ship
under way until you give Us something
fit to eat"
"Who was that who spoke?" 1
called. ''Show yourself, my man."
A fellow came and stood under the
fore-scuttle, and, looking up, said, in a
bold, defiant way:
Il spoke-.Bil Marling, able sea-
man,
~''Am Ito tell the captain that you
refuse to turn to?"
''Aye; and tell him we'd rather have
six months of chokee than one mouth
full of his cursed provisions" he an
swered.
Coxon was standing with Duckling
on the poop when l delivered the mes
sage to him. He knew pretty well
what was coming, and was in a great
rage. The expression of his face was
really devilish. When he glanced
around and saw the other ships sailing
away he seemed deprived OF speech.