Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-06-22
THE SEVEN BELLS.

"Every now and then in overhauling
literature see where the old gcHhers are
still letting off loud howls which make
me weary"
1t was Mr. Tokens, the marine, who
thus complained of the gophers and their
conduct in literature as he slowed his
timber leg under the mess table and
brought his hairy fist down on the same
with a thump that made the dishes dance.
The old gentleman looked weary, con-
dition the skipper remarked and which
cause Mr.. Skate, A. B., to wish he were
only half as tired.
The Seven Bells club was in executive
session In the cabin of the Anchor chon-
house, with Mr.. Tokens in the chair. He
had evidently been reading something
which did not agree with him. 1t was
seldom, anything did meet his views, un.
less it were an invitation to drink, and
then he only consented with apparent re-
luctance.
No one, not even the inquisitive lub-
Der, Willie Bloke, ventured a query re-
garding the old gophers until after the
skipper had ordered a bottle of red wine
with which to raft the rib steaks home.
Then the recognized head of the organ
ization addressed Mr.. Tokens:
$50 the gophers are at it again?' he
hazarded, though he had not the remotest
idea of what the marine was driving at.
'"They are always at it, bowling
through the long and the dog watches
and making all thands sick. If thev
didn't have the boots or the bug Juice.
why didn't they give an order on the
nearest store and let us have peace?"
AS Mr.. Tokens delivered himself of
this remarkable statement the club ex-
changed uneasy glances, and Willie Bloke
grew pale.
"Give him some seltzer or something" I"
he whispered to the skipper.
May ask you, sir, what kind of lit
erature you have been overhaulingF' the
skipper gently inquired, paying no heed
to the lubber's agitation.
"The early logs of different states
history, believe they call it, which is
full Of old gophers who could have
bought the lot where the courthouse
now stands Tor a pair of boots, or got a
quit claim deed to the after end of Kan
sas for pint Of whisky. But they didn't
have the boots or the liquor, SO they keep
on howling.n
"He's all right" whispered the skip
per, greatly relieved. "Ive heard these
howls myself"
"They are driving express wagons now
or loafing around in groceries, . Mr.. Tok
ems went ON, "blowing their lungs out
telling how rich they would be if things
had been different. That's what makes
mp weary. Itisn't the chances man
has in. life, buf the way he hooks on and
uses his head and steering gear. You
never heard me growing about the hard
luck that leffane stranded in my old age"
Have you had some narrow escapes?'
asked the lubber.
+ Escapes from whatf"
"Being wealthy"
swell, | should say have. Boots.
moldly blankets and beverages are no
where, but it wasn't my fault. A lunk
headed, chuckle Drained, tar tainted, ig-
noyant seaman blasted my hopes in life. /"
And Mr.. Tokens broke forth into a tor
rent Of picturesque blasphemy that
would have exhausted a.pirate's reper-i
tory.
These here remarks about ignora...+tt
able seamen is a swipe at me, take ii, u
said Mr.. Skate. rising and waving his
fists in the air.
Don't get choppy," cautioned the
skipper as he dragged Mr.. Skate back
into his chair. "Let the man spin. You,
amt the only able seaman alive"
Apologies followed, and then the ma
rine squared away on the course sug-
gested BY the old gophers in literature.
"a shipsvreck that left me tostarve ON
a desert island would have made my pile,
but for thfs bull headed able seaman.
He's dead now and out of the way, but
my sailing days are over since I got this
leg" Here Mr.. Tokens pounded the leg
on the floor and did little more orna-
mental swearing.
N.We were bound from Liverpool to
Australia with general cargo when an
gale ripped the canvas off us
and drove the ship ashore. The ship
grounded in the night on Sydney island |
in the South sea, one of the Phoenix
group, located in longitude III degrees'|
90 minutesS west, latitude 25 degrees
south, and an hands perished but me and
one able seaman. When daylight came,
we found ourselves on desolate lagoon
island lying low on the horizon and
leagues away from the track Of naviga-
ton. The hull Of the vessel, which was
an iron one, was piled up on the beach
with bales, barrels and boxes Of cargo
chat came ashore with the wreck.
"There was plenty to cat and drink.
but the seaman wanted to lay right
down and die. I kicked him a couple of |
times, but he still wanted to L,e, so 1 set |
off to explore the island. TEa ships
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