The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-06-14
on THE BLUE PETER.


ZONES. the mate. sat on his locker and
vas evidently in very bad humor. Ever
and anon he rose and paced the deck i'm
patiently. The ship was ready to sail
but one Of the crew who had been hired
for the long voyage to Chicago had not
vet presented himself The tide was
ready for business and the mate was anx
sous to get of so as TO catch the trade
Winds that blew across Lake ST. Clair
Mr. Davy Jones used language with ref
rrence to this delay that would not look
we'll i'm print. and anyhow it has nothing
10 do with the plot of this Clark Russell
san story.
just AS tine patience and the vocabulary
If Dir. Jones were both exhausted dap
per stranger came down First street and
the Blue Peter. Behind him
came a eolored lad. who carried very
handsome valise. The stranger was tail
md extremely well dressed He wore
gloves. and his cuffs and collar were spot
iessly white. A pair of gold trimmed eye
glasses were astride his nose, and con-
nected with them was thin gold chain
tina, was fastened to his vest. AS he saw
The Tuning mate he said:
All! how de do
Look here" cried the mate. as the
iapper young man stepped aboard. this
is not passenger vessel
1T is the Blue Peter, is it not?" an
swered the young man, as he tossed the
Joy quarter. ''You are the mate,
presumed"
We'll. what of it," answered that Off
:iaL What if am the mate:"
Il merely wanted to know. you know.
have shipped on this boat as all able
seaman. and I would be much obliged to
you if you would ring for the bell boy to
show me TO my ROOM"
The deuce yap haver' cried the mate,
who had neari tainted with astonish-
ment You have kept us waiting.
then, and we will very likely miss the
Tide"
Il am sorry for that" said the sailor
But you see had TO have a shave and
80 was kept waiting for my turn.
couldn't begin voyage to Chicago with
rat shave, YOU know"
The mate in a surly manner had to
admit that such a proceeding would have
been quite unprecedented, and at this
moment the cabin boy approached and
look the sailors valise, intimating that
his room was all ready for him.
The mate muttered to himself as he
sa w the sailor disappear. 1t was evident
that he did not like the cut of his jib, as
iandsmen say.
I'll take the starch out of that fellow
before we get to Chicago: see if don't
said Mr. Jones, addressing his locker.
Thus you will notice that trouble looms
right up at the end of the very first
chapter. but you may bet largely that the
tapper young man is going to come out
all right. They always do.
The good ship Blue Peter stood out for
Lake st. Clair She passed the island in
safety. caught the tide all right and be-
Iayed herself straight into the lake.
Capt. Golfer came out of the cabin and
cast his weather eye around the horizon
MIR Jones. he said. there is a squail
coming How is the barometer?
'Dowr." answered the mate"
How low"
About ten miles We left it down in
Detroit
An luminous black cloud was slowly
rising in the west The ship lay in a
lead calm and was blowing through the
waters with the speed of a race
horse The mate hoarsely piped all
lands forrad The last sailor now ap-
oeared in nice suit of boating flannels
lnd came forward adjusting his eye
glass
Now. sir" cried the mate. what
might your name be-"
u. Marston Ingram" was the reply.
We'll. then. MIR. Ingram. get aloft
there. lay out on the main brace, stand
~ the peak halliards and see to the
Glowing away of the spliced pinnacle on
Inc forred yardarms Jump lively now
Aye, aye. sir!' said Ingram, nothing
iaunted by the terrible order, which
made the cheeks of the hardy sailors
olanch as they heard it given. They
knew that the mate was down on the
lew man
ingram ran swiftly up the rope ladders
known OH shipboard as the companion
ways and walked out on the yard arms.
Ie speedily clewed away the pinnacle in
! manner. that showed that he was an
expert seaman. This ought to have salts
led the most fiendish mate atioat, but it
lid not satisfy the mate of the Blue
Peter.
Come down" he yelled through his
'peaking trumpet "Climb up the aft
mast and ciew the pinnacle there"
There were ominous nurmurs among
he crew at this brutal command, for in
III their experience they had never
Known the same man to be asked to clew
more than one pinnacle at time. The
nate paid no attention to the growis
other than casting menacing hook at
the men
The storm was now at its height. The
ship rolled go that the tips of the yard
arms touched the seething waters on
either side It was such a storm as Is
quite common on the lakes, but is never
seen in the tropics or ON the ocean any
where
Aye. aye. siri" shouted back Ingram
and watching his chance he slipped of
the end Of the yard arm into the smother
ing surf A cry of horror rose from the
men,
He prefers death to staying on board
this ship, said one Of the men.
At this moment ]. Aarston Jnaram did