The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-04-15
STORY OF A SLAYER.
It's Mates Regrets and Self-Con-
gratulations.


ber, the sunshine dropping its warm
blessings upon him and the breezes of
the bay kissing his ruddy face, which
was fringed with silver whiskers. He
was an ancient tar, too old now for
work, but not too aged for reminiscent
reverie. His keen eyes were fixed upon
the dancing waters before him, upon
the lazy ships that lay at anchor here
and there, and upon the distant hill
sides. He was perfect picture of
contentment, and it was quite obvious
that, like all old men who have passed
a life of hard work and usefulness, he
was living now in the past. 1t seemed
almost sacrilege to disturb him, but
the pleasant features which shone from
beneath the tarpaulin, which he still
insisted upon wearing, as if out of re-
spect for days gone by, assured the re-
porter that the old man would not
resent an abrupt intrusion upon his
self-communings. So he advanced and
saluted him with s.good day
ssAnd the same to you, young man,
the same to you. This is fine day,
sir, and alters love to creep down by
the water when the sun shines like it
does to-day and the. winds come in
brisk and clipper. don't mind the
bit o. chill that's in 'em, either, for old
as am | don't feel the cold nigh as
much as do the young ''uns who've
never been outside o. Californy.''
After chatting pleasantly with the
old sailor for short time, the scribe
noticed that he kept his gaze almost
constantly on ship that was riding at
anchor not far Distant Finally curl
osity prompted the question as to why
he seemed SO particularly interested in
the vessel, which resulted in the recital
of a story that proved to be deeply in
teresting.
..Well, my boy he began, s.that
there ship recalls many things that
love to think Of now. / made three
passages around the Horn in her and
crossed from New York to Liverpool
twice on her decks. But it isn't par
tieularly Of the voyages Think of when
look at her, although they had their
ups and their downs, their sunshine
and their shadow but lookin' on that
ship makes me think o one o. the best
masters that ever walked a quarter
deck and one o. the best sailors that
ever gave a command. He was alters
sticiler for dis'pline, but he never
pulled sailor man, nor turned his
back on him whenever he had anything
70 say. I don't think there was any.
tning IN his life he regretted save one
thing.
"And what was that P'' inquired the
reporter. 9 st ssI
We'll, it's. a long yarn, but if yot
want to hear it I'll tell it. 1t was away
back in go, just before the war broke
on, that | shipped aboard rakisl
l'lie craft that was billeted for the
Indies The skipper's name was Cor
don--a dapper little fellow, full O
piuck and nerve and a first-rate sailor
hls iirst mates name shan't tell, be
cause, as you will see, j took an oatl
myself once that wouldn't. But h,
vas the man who afterward com
manded that there ship out there tina
you isee me lookin at. Well, w,
cleared from New York in due time, Oh
me vessel | was speakin' about jus
now, but instead O. goin' to the Indies
" headed straight for the coast o
A,1ea Though l was youn.
lser, L knowed well enough
snat that meant, but O. course
= We were all in for it. 1 couldn'
sas anything, and didn't. We droppe,
saeiior IN thesquiet little bay O som
sOwa whose name / forgot. It WASH
a'ash @ place, for there was .nothin
mere but lot O. thatched huts, witt
asgers hangin' around 'em. Their
~ one hut that was bigger'n the rest
aau afterwards learned that the Gov
s,nof OF the place lived in it. The da,
ssl we anchored Skipper Gordol
lsa saN ashore and was gone three orfou
NM leaving the first mate in charg
i laae 'se vessel. One day while / wa
saaa sssa ait trying to catch breath Q
an ~ an, Tor it was hotter'n furnac
saat coast, the mate came along an
ss 70 me: Tom, how do you like til
asp ss There was smile on his fac
Il ara spoke, SO Isaid: 20, pretty well,
4 sss.. gave him wink. He didn't sa
1 il ifnng more, but walked for ard a
i 81 uain hard about somethin'..
/ y ms % thinkin', too, for I knowe
4 ys,s 9 mere to take on a cargo of nis
, esns. auu /. thought about what migI
Un;saan we y should get overhauled by
poias states cutter on the high sos
eVa back. Rnt tbara ,,,a, =