Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-09-29
"D'ye hear what rsayr


"Dis chile Is a cook" began the fell
low; but Duckling sprung of the
poop, and with his clenched fist struck
him full under the jaw; the poor fell
low staggered and whlrled round, and
then up went Duckling's foot, and
cook was propelled at great pace
along the main deck toward the galley.
lie stopped, put his hand TO his Jaw,
and looked at the palm Of IL; rubbed
the part that had been kicked, turned
and held up his clenched fist. and
went into the galley. The other two
men disappeared in the forecastle.
Curse your impudencc!' exclaimed
Ducklmg, rcmounting the poop-laddcr,
and polishing his knucklcs on the sleeve
you down TO your breakfast. want
to turn in when you've done"
l entered the cuddy. not very greatly
edited by Duckling' OF emphasis
ing his orders. and made bow TO the
captain. who was still ut table. He
condesccnded 10 raise his eyes, but for
some minutes afterward took no notice
OF me whatever. occupying himself
with glancing over bundle OF slips
which looked like bill-heads in his hand.
What was going forward on the
main-deck Just nowp" demanded
Coxon, slowing away the papers In his
pocket, and breaking fragments from
a breakfast roll.
explained.
"Ah" said he; they're still at that
game, are theyp'
"Mr. Duckfing punched the cooks
Il saw him, sir Likewise he kicked
him. Mr.. Duckling knows his duty,
and hope he has taught the cook his.
Eyes, sirp" responded the steward,
coming out Of the pantry.
"See that n piece Of the pork you
are serving out to the men is put upon
my table to-day"
Eyes, SIR"
The captain fell into another fit OF
silence, during which ate my break
fast as quick as l could, in order to re-
hcvo Duckling.
''Mr. Royle." said he, presently,
'when we ran that smack down this
morning, what were you for doingP"
IL should have hove the ship to-" l
replied, meeting his eyes.
would you have hove her to had
you been alone on deck. sirp"
Eyes, and depended on your human
ity to excuse me"
What do you mean by my human
TYP he cried, assembling his temper
bNily. what kind Of cant is this you
have brought on board my ship HUI
manity!" he exclaimed, his ungovern-
able temper blazing out, had you
hove my ship to ON your own hook, I'd
have had You In irons for the rest Of
the voyager'
don't see the use OF that threat,
SIR" said ], quietly. "Yuu have TO
judge me by what | did do, not by
what might OF would do"
"Oh. confound your distinotionsr
he went on, pushing his hair over bis
ears. " You told me that you would
have hove the ship to, had you been
alone. and that means you would have
whipped the masts out OF her Do
you mean to tell me that you knew
like thisP"
Perfectly WELL"
My composure irritated him more
than my words and / don't know
what savage answer he was about to
return; but his attention was on a
sudden arrested and diverted from me.
turned my eyes in tho direction In
which he was staring. and beheld the
whole ships company advancing
along the main deck, led by the biz
seaman, whose name WAS johnson,
and by the tortoise-backed, small
faced man, who was called Fish-Eben-
ezer Fish
Tho moment tho captain observed
them, he rose precipitately and ran up
the companion-ladder; and, a. | had
finished breakfast, followed him.
BY the time had reached the break
OF the poop the hands were all
gathered around the main-mast. A
lew OF them held tin dishes in their
bands. In which were Jumps OF meat
swimming In black vinegar. One car
rled some dozen biscuits, supported
against his breast Another held a tin
pannikin filled with treacle, and
another graspcd n salt-jar, or some
such utcnsil, containing tea.
was almost as soon on deck as Cox
on, and therefore heard the opening
address OF johnson, who, folding his
arms upon his breast, and giving
On either leg, so MS to maintain his
equilibrium while the deck sloped to
and fro under him, said, in low, dis
tinct voice:
THE ships company thinksit doo-
y as they owe themselves to come aft
altogether 10 lot you know that the
provisions sarvcd out to EN- amt eat
able"
''Out, all hands, with what you've
got to say replied Coxon, leaning
against the rail; "and whom you've done
I'll talk 10 you.n
Now, then, mates, you near what
;he skipper says" exclaimed johnson,
turning to tho others.
no He CONTINUED.