Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-07-05
CROSSING THE LINE.
Tho Story of oDs Fourth OF July
at Sea-

To SEQ my spare spars at the present
time and view the Jury. mast wear for q
backbone, around which my summer gear
flaps idly In the sultry breeze this warm
weather, you would scarcely suspect that
1 lay claim TO being an old Jack salt Why
running rigging may need overhauling
and my old hull be a little the worse for
wear, my boy, but you may punch my top
lights, II l can't reef, hand, steer, box the
compas aor shiftthe qnid equal 70 any old
seadog 81 your acquaintance. am ono or
Neptune's sons, legitimately baptised in
the equatorial bowl on the Fourth Of July
almost twenty years ago. Those were days
when the rich merchants soll.hhd 20 better
chance 20 crawl aft through the cabin win
dcws than did the son Of a poor hsherman's s
widow. Both commenced their nautical
career as boys before the mast and fought
their way upward aud, won promotion ae-
cording TO their merits. Nowadays, the
rich mans son passes an examination at a
naval academy and takes his different de
Rreos like collegiate landswab Until he Is
declared proficient IN navigation Had
their nautical edpcations been acquired in
the good, old-fhshi0ned way, there would
be loss.bOnes tbleaohing In the caverns Of
the sea and less widows mourning for
brave Jack salts, who have lost their lives
through the ignoranosrof the l1id-gloyed
navigators Of modern days
But am getting ahead Of my tow-rope
started TO tell YOU about Fourth Of July
at sea on board an American merchant
man. Dash my topsaila, boysl Il makes
my blood tingle with pleasure TO think OF
the good oldidays ssheh my blood was made
totingle BY arope's end. IL don't seem %
be more nor yesterday since / made nv
first voyage round the cape-bu'st my
stunsiis II 1t does
1t was along the latter part OF June, two
or three years after the war, when our
clipper left the Victoria docks ia Liver
pool We made good headwRy until we
struck the "noss latitudes, and you may
lzeelhaul me for land-lubber IL we didn't
stick just north Of The line for almost a
week
About six bells on the dor-watch one
night an old tar on the lookout sang out
Ere we goosr The watch on deck all
make break for the Ice rails, and, sure
enough, we could see a slight wake astcrn /;
aud, on looking aloft, the royals, that had
swung@listlessly from their yards in the
vertical sun for a week, gave vent 70 dis
NAL crcals as they yielded 10 the pressure
of the breeze against their canvass.
Man the weather bracesl" hurriedly
exclaimed the captain, as he looked over
the port quarter. rTaut tile lifts and hoist
the staysai!s, " he shid TO Tie mate
For few minutes every thing was ap-
parently in a hustle and confusion. An
occasional " "yippehayi yahdu - and a bow
line song, as a timer for the sailors 10 pull
together, then-th tramp Of our bare feet
AS we shufied along the decks, and al was
still. As we boys coiled down the ropes
for the night we noticed the lower sails
were Alling and the breeze was stiffcning
fast
dublin said the skipper 10 one OF the
men, 1--WE will cross the line on the Fourth
Of July II this breeze holds out haven't
met with old Neptune for several cruises
now. l wonder II he will pay US a visit
during the dog-watch tomorrow -
" / shouldn't be surprised, yer honor, -
replied thetar, tonching his cap
How many Of his children have we
aboard who have not seen their fatherli'
questioned the captain.
~Six, besides the boys, making eight.
yer honor"
You'd better see that the font is ready
for the old man when he comes, hadn't
youi"
Fright you are. sir;n said Dublin, as he
turned and walked forward. -.
During the remainderi OF the dog. watch
peNen or clBnt OF the Oldest OF the crew
eongregated near the main-h hatch and held
whispered consultation.
At eight bells, as the watch was about 10
.hange, the man on the lookout sang out
Light on the weather bowW
where awayi" followed the mate from
the quarter deck, aft.
Two points tn wlndward, sirn
just then fog-horn was heard on the
weather bow, although the night was clear
'id the water like a sea Of glass
ship ahoyl Throw me a burline and
take me IN tow; want. 10 come aboard, -
came IN stentmian -growls from. over the
Ehipr head. N
f'rWhe are youl" asked the mate
Got any fresh-water swabs abOardi II
~ have, want 10 see 'em."
Il dun be~QloaNaptune, hlsselfl1. en-,
aimed the eoo4 rl,o had stepped outside