Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-09-29

Just then noticed tho copper face
Of the cook, who was skulking bohini
the men, with his eyes fixed. flashing
like n madman's, upon Duckling.
The fellow with the biscuits came
forward, but n heavy lurch at that mo-
ment made him stumble, and tho bis
cults rolled out OF his arms. They we're
collected ofliciously by the others. md
placed again In his hands, Ill sop
ping wet; but he said, in a collected
voice:
These here are the starboard waicl's
bread. Meier a man has tasted Of ihoE.
We've brought 'cm for YOU 10 SOC. rs
so be 1t NAV happen that you arcn t
familiar with tho muck the steward
sarves out
Hand up dry one" said the skip
per.
A man ran forward, and returned
with a biscuit. which the captain took,
broke, smelled and tasted. lie handed
II 20 Duckling, who also smcllcd and
tasted. lie, (the captain) said; Fire
away"
The fellow with tho biscuits with
drew, and one OF the men, bearing the
pork swimming In vinegar, advanced.
He was n Dutchman, and was heard
and understood with difficulty.
my mates they shay tat tiss pork Is
nashty, and It ishn't pork ash fanshy;
an shwcar 1t gifts me Ia shtomach-
ache--it does, sir, ass am man."
This speech was received with great
gravity by the men rs well as Coxon,
who answered: Hand II up"
The mess was showed through tho
rail and pokcd at by the skipper with
n penknife; he even jabbed piece OF
II out and put 1t into his mouth.
watched for grimncc, but he made
none. He handed the tin dish, as he
had the biscuit, toDuckling, who looked
at II closely and put It on the deck.
THE next" said the captain.
The Dutchman hustled back among
the others. and the man with the treacle
came out
"This, sir, is what the stewards
givin' us for molasscs," said he, look
ing into the pannlkin.
The captain made no answer
"And though his senses are agin
him, he goes on q calm OF 1t molas-
ses.
Another pause.
"l3ut to my way OF thinkin II am
no more molasses than It's oysters. It's
billed black beetles, that's what | call
1t, and You want tooth-pick MS thick
as a marlin-spike to get the shells out
Of your teeth arter meal OF It,"
Hand itup, said the captain, from
whom every moment was expecting
an expression Of temper. He did not
offer to taste the stuff, but inspected II
with apparent attention. and tilted the
vessel lirst this way and then that. that
the trcaclc might run.
Here's your molasscs,' said he,
handing down the pannikin. what
else Is thercP'
"We'ro willin' to call this ten" said
II man, holding up an earthcnware jar
filled with black liquid; "but It amt
tea like what they sells ashore, and
faint tea like what I've bin used 10
drink ON board other vessels. It's
tea" continued he, looking first into
the jar and then ut the skipper, land
yet 1t ant, May be II was growcd In
England, for there isn't no flavor of
CLANCY about IL. Its too faint for
'bacca leaves, and faint sweet enough
mustiness as makes ittnstc like scnnn."
The captain having kept silence for
some time, exchanged looks with Duck.
ling, and called to know II the men had
any more complaints TO make. They
talked among themselves, and John.
son answered.; mo"
VERY well, thcn," he said 81 can
do nothing for you here. There are
no bakehouses yondcr," nodding at
the sea, ito get fresh bread from. You
must wait till we get to Valparaiso"
A regular growl came up from the
mon, and johnson exclaimed:
I'VE can't live on nothing till we
get 90 Valparaiso
What do you want me to do?" cried
the skipper sayagely.
Its not for us to dictate" replied
johnson. "All that the crew wants Ia
grub tit to cat"
"Put into BreSt," exclaimed voice.
at ain't far of. There is good junk
and biscuit 10 be got at Brest."
"WhO dares to advise me as to what
I'm 10 doP' shouted the skipper in his
furious way. "By heaven, FL break
every bone In the scoundrel's body II
no opens his Internal mutinous mouth
nguinl tell you cant change the
provisions here, and I'm not gong to
nltOr the ships course with this wind
astern, not II you were all star, in In
reality. But having said this. hc
pulled up short, as II his temper was
divcrging him from the line OF policy
he had In his mind to follow; ho low.
cred his voice and said; "Ill tall you
what, my lads; you must make the
provisions last you for the present,
and II l can make fair wind OF 1t, I'll
haul round for some Spanish port; or u
picked up"
You hear what the captain says,
don't youP growlcd Duekling.
at isn't US that minds waiting, It's
our stomachs," said Fish. the small
faced man.
"Do you mean TO tell me you can't
get meal out OF the food In Your
handsP" demanded the captain, point
ing among them.
I'VE wouldn't mind II the bread and
molasses was right" cried Fish. "But
they aren't. Nothen's right The
VERY wecvils amt ordinary; they're
longer and fatter than common bread
worms"
"ilold your jaww bawled Duckling
1.-The captain has spoken to you falrer
than any skipper that l ever sailed
under would have spoke. So now cut
forward-do YOU hearP-and finish
your breakfast Cook, come from be-
hind that mainmast, you loafing mig
ger, and leave the main-deck, or Ill
make you trot to show the others the