The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-11-18
"IYhat docs that fellow want2r

ing forward, said, in a quiet, mild
voice:
whats the matter, my MANI"
''Why, sir, I've been asked TO come
and say that the pork that's been
served to the men is in a very bad
state, to be sure. It's more smell than
meat, and what amt smell is brine"
Il am sorry to hear that" said the
captain, in a most benignant manner.
Look into the cuddy and tell the stew
ard l want him"
The steward stepped on the quarter
deck, and looked up at his master in a
way that made ME suspect he had got
his cue.
whats the matter with the pork,
steward"
Nothing, sir, that 1 know Of"
1.-The men say it smells strong-that's
what you say, Think" remarked the
captain, addressing the man.
VERY strong, sir-strong enough
to sit upon, sir
81 don't know how that can be, :"
exclaimed the steward, looking very
puzzled indeed. ats sweet enough
in the cask. Perhaps it's the fault of the
bling"
Nothing to do with the bling,
mate" said the man, shaking his ex-
traordinary head, at the same time sur
veying the steward indignant Y. Bill
ing clears away smells, as a rule
Perhaps you've opened a bad cask.
If So" said the captain, fling it over
board, for I'll not have the men pois-
oned. Let the cook boil me sample
from the next cask you open, and put
it upon my table-do you hear??" Eyes,
sir"
THAT will do" continued the cap
tain, addressing the man. you may
90 forward and tell your mates what l
have said"
And away struggled the man to in
form the crew. no doabt, that the skip
per was brick, and that he'd like to
punch the stewards head.
At seven o'clock the next mornin o
we were abreast the Isle of Wight and
stopped to put the pilot ashore. A
dandy-rigged boat put off in response
to our signal.
was glad when the pilot got over the
side. He was mean toady, and had
done me no good with the captain.
The gangway ladder had been thrown
over to enable him to descend, and the
boat washed high and low. up and
down, alongside, sometimes level with
the deck, sometimes twelve or fourteen
feet in hollow.
"Now's your time" said /, niischiev-
y,clr- h., 70 hn
with one lee out to catch the boat as
she rose. He took me at my word and
let 90; but the boat was sinking, and
down he went with her, and had the
satisfaction of Seeing him roll right
into the boats bottom, and there get
so hopelessly entangled with the pump
and some TRAVELLING gear, that it took
two boatmen to pull him out and set
him on his feet
Then away they went, the pilot wav-
ing his hat to the skipper, who cries:
MAN the lee main braces"
The great yards were swung around,
and the ship lay over to the immense
weight of canvas.
Ease off those iib-sheets there, and
set the main-Saii. y
The ship, feeling the full breeze,
surged slowly forward, parting the
topping seas with laundering blows of
her bows. The wind was well abeam.
perhaps half point abaft, and every
sail was swollen like the cheeks of
rude Boreas in the picture of that bleak
worthy.
This cracking on delighted Duck
ling, whose head turned so violently
about, as he stared first at these sails,
then at those, then forward. then aft,
that | thought he would end in putting
a kink into his neck.
This is proper he exclaimed, in
his hOarse voice, after ordering some
hands Ito clap the watch-tackle on to
the main-tack and rouse it down"
Wen teach EN- how to froth this
blessed channell l guess we've had
enough of calms, and if the Scilly
amt some miles astern by the second
dog-watch tomorrow I'll turn a monk,
you see!"
We were heading well west-south-
west, and the water was flying in
sheets of foam from the ships bows.
By this time it was dark, and the sky
thick with the volume of wind that
swept over it; and the stars shone
hazily, but it was as much as could
do to trace the outlines of the main
ROYAL and top-gallant sail.
The vessel was rushing through the
water at a great pace. The roar
ing of the wind on high, the
creaking of the spars, the clanking
and grinding of the chain-sheetS, the
squeal of sheaves working on rusty
pins, the Kissing and splitting of the
Seething foam, and ever and anon the
sullen thunder of a sea striking the
ship, flied the ear with a wonderful
volume of sound. The captain was
cracking ON TO make up for the lost
time, and he was on deck when / went
below at ten clock to get some rest
before relieving Duckling at midnight.
There were then two hands at the
wheel, and a couple on the lookout;
our lamps were burning bravely, but
we had long ago Outrun all sight of
shore and OF lights ashore.
l slept soundly, and at eight bells
Duckling reused me up. l had
four hours before me when l went
on deck, and l may perhaps have
wished myself ashore in a quiet bed.
The captain stood near the wheel. 1t
was blowing very fresh indeed. the
wind about east-south-east, with a
strong following sea. The yards had
been braced farther aft. but no other
alteration had been made since l had
gene below. If | had thought that the
vessel was carrying too much sail then,
| certainly thought that she was carry
ing great deal too much sail now.
The press of canvas was buryiug her.
Well aft as the wind was, the vessel
lay over to Starboard under it, and she.
WIS dr.n nninr hnr hnnrr nhonnnIc