Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-09-13

| xUll duty IN . Cuc0I1ul m<4uuoEs 8uV
that I wanted no growing or shirking.
This gave them the pace, and yet II
got me into trouble. The officers could
find no excuse for abusing the crew.
and were evidently troubled over it.
On the third day out, as was taking
my trick at the Wheel noticed that
both captain and first mate were in
ugly mood, having been drinking too
much. There wasn't the slightest ex.
cuse for grumbling. We had q fair
wind, every sail was drawing, and
every thing above and aloft was tidy
and shipshape. The watch on deck
were all busy, and I wondered what
excuse the captain could invent for
making a break. It was evident that
he was fishing for one. and the mate
was trying to help him. BY and by,
after looking aloft, he roared out:
"Mr. Morton, what fool of a lubber
have you got at the wheel? He is three
points of her course!'
"It's Castle. sir, curse his eyes" re.
piled the mate.
The captain turned and approached
the wheel, while the mate, knowing
that row was coming. skulked for
ward. was steering as fine as silk,
and as the captain looked into the bin.
nacle he had to admit it to himself.
This doubtless added fuel to his anger.
for after minute he growled out:
''Blast you for a lubber, but how
dared you ship aboard as an able sea-
MANI"
Because am one, sir" l quietly
| answered.
"Oh, you are, Ell? Perhaps you are
a navigator also?" he sneered.
Il can take this ship out and back,
SIR" answered.
"The-th the deuce you can't he
Kissed after a moment. IF you are a
navigator, what are you doing forward
among the men?"
81 shipped as an able seaman, sir,
because no other berth was open al
the time"
/ W. oIO q SuoSOu A41Is oAOuCOO
the enraged man. "You came aboard
to show off your smartness and make
trouble. I've had an eye on you. curse
you, and I'm going to work up your
old IRON"
| He drew back to strike me, and ]
looked him fair in the eyes and said:
| Captain Strong, if you strike me ]
shall defend myself"
Heheld his arm ready for moment,
and then let it fall, seeming to realize
tina: he was in danger. Then it oc-
CURED to him that he was being
bluffed before his mates, and he
shouted to the steward to bring up his
pistols. The weapon was soon handed
him, and he cooked it and turned to
me with:
NOW, then, you mutinous dog, get
down on your knees and beg for your
life"
do you know what mutiny is?" ]
asked of him, as quietly as possible.
'.Mutiny is refusal to obey orders nee
essary for the working of the ship. II
you kill me, you will go to trial for
cOld-blO0ded murder"
"W-what?" he gasped.
land let me tell you something
more. Captain Strong. You and the
mate are the worse for liquor, as the
whole crew can testify. Your licenses
can be revoked for this. This morn
ing you refused medicine to Brace,
who is suffering with cholera morbus.
l can have you fined or suspended for
that. Have you medicine chest
aboard. as required by law? No.
There is fine or suspension for that.
You have threatened my life without exc
cuse. as even your mates must testify,
and can make you stand trial for it. !"
said all this in low voice, and
looking him full in the face while
kept the brig on her course. His face
grew the color of liver. and then as
white as snow. He stood holding the
pistol for a moment after had fin
ished, and then turned and walked to
summoned to counsel with him. The
men forward had caught on, and half
a dozen of them signalled to me that
they would stand by. l shook my
head. 1t was not mutiny. l, plain
Jack Tar, had certain rights which
Captain Strong must respect. It was
fight between us two. Before the
Captain reappeard l was relieved at
the wheel. and l went forward and
armed myself with a revolver from my
chest. l also took the papers bearing
on the case and placed them in my
bosom. Then l urged the crew to
stand aloof and let me fight it out
alone. defined mutiny until they
thoroughly understood what not to do.
But there were only two or three
brave fellows in the lot; the others had
been bounded until they had no spirit
left. They might have gone into
mutiny. for even towards do that, but