Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-09-08

They went up aloft slowly and lai,
out along the yard, grumbing furi
ously. And TO show what bad sailor
they were. suppose, they slowed tn,
sail villainously. making n bunt tia
must have blown out TO tho first capfu
Of wind.
Meanwhile, Duckling waited unit
the men were of the yard and descend
ing the rigging; he then roared out
"furl the mainsailV'
The men stopped coming down. ant
looked at the yard and then at Duck.
ling; and one Of them said, in n sullen
tone; at is furled."
was amazed to sec Duckling hor
of the deck on TO the poop.raiI and
spring up the rigging; thought he
was going 20 thrash the man who had
answered; and the man evidently
thought so too, for he turned pale, and
edged sideways along the ratline on
which he stood. while ho held one of
his hands clcnchcd. Up went Duck
ling, shaking the shrouds violently
with his ungainly sprawling way Of
climbing. In moment he had swung
himself upon tho foOt-ropc, and was
casting off the yardarm gaskcts. I
don't think half dozen men could
have loosed tho sail In the time taken
by him to do so. Down IL fell, and
down he came, handoycr fist, bounded
up tho poop-lnddcr, and without loss
OF breath. reared out:
"Furl tho main-sailrh
The men seemed inclined 20 disobey;
some of them had already reached the
bulwark; but another below, accom-
panied by n gesture, appeared to decide
them. They mounted slowly, got up
on the yard. aud this time did tho lob
In n sailor-likc fashion
I'm only beginning with Them" he
said, In his rough voice. 10 mo; and
then glanced ut COXon who gave him
a nod and n smile.
Tho pilot now told mo TO go forward
and see every thing ready for bringing
up.
The royals and top-glllant sails were
clewod up and furlcd, and then tho or
der was given 10 let 90 the top-sail
halliards. Down came the three heavy
yards rumbling along tho masls, with
tho sound OF chain rafting over
shcavrs The canvas fell into festoons.
and the pilot called
IAN ready forrard?" "All ready"
"Ict 20 the anchor
"Stand clear OF the cablcl" shouted.
Whackl whackl went the carpenter
driving-hammer. A moments pause,
then tremendous splash, and the ca
BILE rushed with hOarso cutlery through
the hawsor-holc.
When this job was over | waited on
the iorc-castle 10 supcIntond tho stow
Ing OF the sails forward. The mon
briskly enough. and | heard one
OF them who was slowing the forc-top- |
mast stay-sail say: "that It was good |
luck the skipper had brought up. lie |
didn think he'd be such fool"
This SGT mo wondering what their
could be-; but | thought 1t
best to takono notice, nor repeat what |
had heard, rs considered that the less
MIR. Duckling had to say to the mon
Tho better we should all got ON.
1t was half-past seven by tho time
he sails were furlcd, and tho decks
cleared Of the ropes. The hands went
lelow to tea, and | was walking aft
when tho cook came out of tho galley,
md sad
BEG your pardon, sir; would you
mind tasting of thisp' And lIu handed
no bit of the ships biscuit | smcllod
and found II moldy, and put piece
u my mouth, but soon spit IL out.
81 can say much for this, cook"
aid |.
"lts not fit for dogs replied tho
ook. "liut so far rs I've seen, all tho
PROVISIONS is the same. Tho sugars
ll,o mud and tho molasscs Is full of
.rit; and though have been to sea,
nan anil boy two-and-twchty year,
Icvcr saw tea like what they've got on
oarI this ship. 1t amt tca-it makes
ho l.quor yallcr It's shuvings, and
rot | say ~, regular tea amt shay
igs."
"Wcll, let tho men complain TO the
nptain,' | answered. "lIo can re-
ort to the owners, and get the ships
torres condemned.
ITS my belief they wos condemned
toro they came ON board" answered
no cook. 81 II bet any man weeks
rog that they wos bought cheap in n
ock-yard sale O rotten grub by order ,
the Admiralty
GIVE mo biscuit" said l, 'and I'll i
how II to the captain
lilo took one out from drawer in ,
hich he kept thu dough for the
lddy's use, and put 1t in my pocket ,
nd went aft.