Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-07-27

u' turning Jauntlly in his frocked
canvas breeches, he walked off.
lew moments afterward the extra
orolnafy-iooklng man with the small
race ana large head and shell-shaped
back came out of the torecastle we'll.
ing from side, to side with sprinoinD
jerky action of the legs, they beinS eva.
IDENTIFY moved by force having no ref
erence to his will.
AK your pardon, sir,' he said
twirling up his thumb in the direction
of his forehead; 'sbut the meats infer
nal bad aboard this here vessel"
81 can't help it," answered. an
noyed to be the recipient of these com
plants, which seemed really to Justify
Coxon's charge of my being the crews
conhdant. You must talk to the cap
tain about it. -
Nicer man among US can eat of
the pork; and the cook, as is better &C
quainted than us with these here mat
tiers, says he'd rather be billed alive
than swaller ounce of it,
complain to-
THAT may be, SIR" said the man,
dropping his chin, so that by project
ing his beard, his face appeared to
withdraw and grow smaller still; ''but
the boatswain says they'll not be much
got by complaining to the skipper"
Il can't make the ships stores bet
ter than they are,' replied, moving a
step, for lnow perceived that some of
the crew were watching us, and did
not want the captain to come on deck
and find me talking 10 this man about
the provisions. But it SO happened
that at this particular moment the cap
tain emerged from the companion
hatchway. The man did not stir and
the captain said:
''What does that fellow wantP"
"He is complaining of the pork, sir
l have referred him to you'
He gave me sharp look, and lean
ing forward, said, in a quiet, mild
voice:
whats the matter, my man?''
'Why, sir, I've been asked to come
and say that the pork that's been
served to the men is in VERY bad
state, to be sure. It's more smell than
meat, and what amt smell is brine"
81 am sorry to hear that" said the
captain, in most benignant manner
look into the cuddy and tell the stew
ard 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.
What's the matter with the pork,
stewardp"
Nothing, sir, that know off,
''The men say it smells strong-that's
what you say, 1 thinkP' remarked the
captain, addressing the man.
Very strong, sir-strong enough
to sit upon, sir. y
II don know how that can be-"
exclaimed the steward, looking very
puzzled indeed. cts 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 Indignantly. 'Bil-
ing clears away smells, as rule
perhaps you've opened bad cask.
Ii 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
itupon my table-do you hear?" Eyes,
SIR
''That will do,' continued the cap
tain, addressing the man. you NAV
go forward and tell your mates what I
have said.'
And away struggled the man to in
form tho crew, no doubt that the skip
per was brick, and that he'd like to
punch the stewards head.
At seven o'clock the next morning
we were abreast the Isle of Wight and
stopped to put the pilot ashore. A
dandy-rigged bost put off in response
to our signal.
| was glad when the pilotrgot over the
side. He was mean toady, and had
done mr. he
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 a hollow.
''Now's your time" said I, n1ischiev-.
ously, as he hung on to the man-rope
with one leg out to catch the boat as
she rose. He took me at my word and
let go; 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 pail 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-sail."
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 a point abaft and every
sail was swollen ike 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
kink into his neck.
''This is properr' he exclaimed, in