Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1890-01-25

then. wished there was some way out
of it. On shore the period between tho
foremost hand and the position of cap
tain was only the duration of a thought.
Here it was an eternity. Day dreams
are short, real experience is long. But
oil this is often in youth difficult mat
ter to realize.
There came along a short. stout man
with deeper voice and more sonorous
oath than anybody else. This was the
fourth and last mate. It was q relief to
find at last the end of the mates and to
know the exact number of men legiti-
mately entitled to swear at me. This
gentleman for a season concentrated
himself entirely on me. He ordered me
with broom and scraper into the ships
pig pen, which he argued needed cleaI.-
ing. This was my first well defined
maritime duty. 1t was lower round. of
the ladder than l had anticipated. 1t
seemed in its nature an occupation more
bucolic than nautical. l would have
preferred. also, that compliance M the
order had not been cxacted until the ship
had left the wharf, because there were
several shore visitors on board, and
among them two of my intimate frienda,
who had come to see me off. There they
stood, in all the bravery Of silk hats and
fashionably-cut attire, convcrsing GA
terms of equality with the first mate.
They could talk with him on the weather
or any subject. l, by virtue of my i'll
ferior position. was not at liberty to
speak to this potentatc ut all.
Jumped into the pig pen. Thus des-
tiny, despite our inclinations, forces
down our Threats these bitter pills. The
fourth mate was not more than year
my senior. He stood over me during the
elSire process and scolded, cursed AMI
commanded. My shore friends looked on
froAl afar and Erinned. Already they
saw the great social chasm which
yawned between mo and them, and
governed their actions accordingly. Al
ready did they involuntarily patronizU
me. 1t requires Il wise man to detect
the wickcdncss and deceit in his own
nature. Probably l should have SINH.
lArly acted had our positions been re-
vcrsed. Tho mate was very particular.
He made me sweep and scrape every
corner with an elaborate and painful
accuracy. He sent mo into the pigs
house to further perfect the work. Twas
obliged to enter it in an almost rccum-
bent position. The pig ran out disgust
ed. scrapcu his floor in similar mood.
Thus commenced life on the ocean
wave.
But got even with the mate. Destiny
made me my own involuntary avenger
Of the indiSnity put upon me. BY in
dignity don't mean the cleaning of tho
pig pen. That was an honorable though
mental occupation-at least, in theory.
Cincinnatus on his farm may have done
the same thing But do mean the sour
rility and abuse the young officer be-
slowed on me. while l did my best to
execute his bidding.
l hauled the young man overheard
about three minutes nfterward, but he
never knew did it. and never allowed
myself to think Of the occurrence while
ON shipboard, for fear the powers of tho
air might ventilatc the matter. 1t camo
about in this way: 4 line was passed
through Il hawse hole forward to the tug.
which was putting. frettinS. Tuning, and
churning with her screw the mud ooze
and garba-c floating in the slip into
closer fusion. My friend the mate stood
Oh the forechains with the end of the
heavy rope in both hands, trying to pass
it to those on the tug. This line running
through tho hawsc hole aft was lying
near where stood. Some one called out:
"Haul in Oh that linc!' supposed that
the order referred to me and the hawscr
lying at my side. So | hauled with all
my might. | felt at first some resistance
-somcthn., like n tuGgin.y at the other
end. | haule,! all the harder. Then
something seemed to give way. 1t
hauled easier. heard. coincilent with
these sensations, IL splash, loud cries,
much swearing and the yell Of MAN
ovcrboard!' | raised my hesl over the
bulwarlis and there WAS my mate,
t!oundcring amid dock oozc, rotten or
hcll the other end Of the line, and my
hauling had caused the center of gravity
in his short body to shift beyond the
base, and in accordance with u natural
law he had gone overheard. He was
the general cynosure OF all eyes They
iiahcl him out. wet and swearing. There
was Il vigorous demand for the miscre-
ant who had been hauling on the line.
was Is FAR as possible from the spot and
kept myself very busy. Cluster I'cnt
below and changed his clothes. was
avenged
We were lowed into the stream and
anchored for the night. 10 look ut New
Ior.. ely. with its many lights and lis
thousands amusing themselves in various
ways. from The ships dock. without tic
possibility Of Joining them, WAS to feel
for the fist time the slavery Of marine
life. Emerging very early next morning
from the boys house." found every
thing in the hustle and confusion Of get
ting under way. \ long file Of men were
tramping aft with a very wet l,awscr.
AS stood looking at them my ear was
seized by our Dutch third mate. who &C
companicd the ac;io, with the remark.
"Cnoins. ! pat you t. work. lie con-
fi:rtpI flt L. I'M, tIrillt 2 l.; f,l;. rD,a and