The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-26


for yoarn, but that we don't do another
stroke OF work unless you shifts your
hellum and heads for the nearest port,
where We can ship more hands and wittles
fit for men to eat. But if at the end OF
three days nothen's done, then we shall
give up pumping, take the boats and leave
you and Mr.. Chips and the mate to keep
the ship af1oat by yourselves if ye can.
That's your mind, matesf"
That's our mindp' was echoed in a hur-
ricane chorus.
The captain looked up aloft at his can
vas, then around at the sea, then at his
Only Mate. and at Chips, the carpenter,
and at Peter at the wheel His sulphur
colored face was dark with temper. Never
theless he spoke deliberately:
"This ships going to make her passage.
The leaks nothing, the stores are hrst
class, and there are more OF ye than are
wanted to do the work of the vessel. :"
He called to Mr.. Johnston, the Only
Mate, who approached him with glance
at the men that was certainly not remark
able for spirit.
Mr.. Johnson" said the captain, you've
heard what's passed."
81 have, SIR" answered the Only Mate.
"These fellows will go forward" con-
tinued the captain; ''they will swing in
their hammocks and they will smoke their
pipes; but no more stores are TO be served
out to them-no, not SO much as frag-
ment Of that excellent bread which lies
wasted on the deck here-until they con-
sent to turn 10. Then, don't doubt, it
will be all plain sailing again. Go for
ward nowp' he cried in voice the sudden
ring of which was ike the report of pis-
toll. Mr.. johnson, FL take the wheel,
while you, Mr.. Chips and Peter, trim sail. !"
'PeterP roared Black Sam, 1--WE men
have knocked off work till we're righted.
If you lend the capt'n hand, and side with
him agin us"--
And again he advanced his enormous
arm and caused his fist to writhe.
''Mr. Cheeps," said Peter, take this
wheel; am onwell," and letting go the
spokes, the Dutchman marched forward
and joined his shipmates, who roard out
defiant huzza as the whole eight of them,
with the cook in their wake, made their
way to the forecastle and disappeared.
Sailors have no friends, and Captain
Jones knew it. There are societies in Great
Britain for the prevention of the i'll usage
of most things living, from women to dogs,
from children to dicky birds, but there is
no society for the prevention of cruelty to
sailors. Captain Jones knew that he had
the power to starve his men into comph-
ance. Nevertheless, he passed an uneasy
night. When the morning broke he and
the Only Mate and Mr.. Chips were nearly
dead of fatigue, for wind had risen in the
hours of darkness, and the ship was big
one, and there were but two men, the third
being at the wheel. to let go and ciew up,
and haul down and make snug as best two
men might.
When the morning broke Captain Jones
looked as if he had just come out of hos
pital; Mr.. Chips, who stood at the wheel,
might readily have passed for a man of
seventy, and the Only Mate, who was light
ing the galley fire, showed as if he had
been towed overheard during the greater
part Of the night.
"Those blackguards in the forecastle will
be wanting their breakfast" said the cap
tain, "and you'll have them laying aft
presently and asking to turn to-"
The men, however, did not show them
selves. They perfectly understood that the
ship could not be navigated as things went,
their views before the day had passed, and,
indeed, long before the day passed, should
a change of weather happen presently, and
they grinned man after man as they fur
lively peeped through the scuttle and saw
Did Chips at the wheel looking seventy
years old, and Captain Jones as though he
was just come out of hospital, and the
Only Mate as though he had been towed
overheard; and they preserved their grin,
man after man, as they looked aloft and
saw the unfurled royals and topgallant
sails f1uttering, and the staysails hanging
loose, and the yards very i'll braced indeed.
We've got yesterdays muck of pork"
said Black Sam, land the bread locker
amt empty. If the old man were the devil
himself we'd weather him out. But the
ship mustn't be allowed to sink this side of
three days." and forthwith the sailors
grimly rose through the hatch and in 81
ence walked to the pumps, which they
Piled until they sucked, and then returned
% the forecastle. But there was no novelty
n this proceeding, for they had kept their
aith with the captain, and at every four
hours throughout the night gang had
,urned out to pump the ship.
While Captain Jones, sitting on the sky
light, was drinking some coffee which the |
only Mate had boiled, the carpenter, Mr.. !
Chips, munching biscuit at his side, and |
he Only Mate munching another biscuit |
It the wheel, a sail hove IN view. The /
,reeze was light and the sea smooth. Cap |
ain Jones hoisted the English ensign |
lnion down, and at about 0 o'clock in the |
morning the two vessels were nearly |
breast of each other, the Rose with her |
opsail to the mast, the yards having been l..
wung by Captain Jones and Mr.. Chips /
aking the braces to the quarter deck cap /
tan. The stranger was a large, light bark |
With painted ports. She, too, had backed /
Ter topsail.
There is no use in hailing," said Cap
ain Jones, addressing the Only Mate;
lower that quarter boat, Mr.. Johnson,
nd go aboard with Mr.. Chips Tell the
aptain Of the bark that my men have re-
used duty, and ask him if he can oblige US
With the loan of couple of hands to carry
he bark to -" and he named convent
MT port.
Forthwith boat was lowered, and in a
ew minutes Mr. Chips and the Only Mate
we're pulling away for their lives for the
ig, light bark with painted ports. The
aptain, grasping the wheel, stock watch
ag. Now and again hairy head showed
4 the forecastle hatch, and the noise of a
oarse laugh foated aft TO the ears Of
'aptain Jones. The boat gained the side
the bark, a ropes end was thrown, and
be Only Mate made the boat fast TO it.
10th men then clambered over the side of
be vessel and disappeared.
The captain gazed eagerly, and while he
TODD looking hoarse voice roared the fol-
owing weather worn lines through the
orecastie scuitle:
GU parliament OF England. you lords and
commons too,
onsider well what you're about, and what you