The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-07-27
DISCRETION.

steam barge, the Bulldog, steamed past
the sleeping town Of Gravcsend at a
good six knots per hour.
There had been a little discussion on
the wa between her crew and the engi-
ncer, who down in his grimy little en-
CINE room did his own stocking and
everything else necessary. The crew,
consisting Of captain, mate and boy,
who were doing their first trip on a
steamer, had been transferred at the
last moment from their sailing barge,
the Witch, and found to their discoIn-
fort that the engineer, who had not cX-
peCt"d to sail so OOn was terribly and
abusively drunk. Every moment he
could spare from his engines he thrust
the upper part Of his body through the
small hatchw&y and rOwcd with his
commander.
"Ahoy, barge" he shouted, popping
up like a jack III the box, after a brief
cessation of hostilities.
Don't take no notice of i'm" said
the mate. les got a bottle Of brandy
down there, an he's ALI mad"
eff 1 knew anything Of them blessed
engines" growlod the skipper, I'D go
an hit i'm over the head"
But you DON'T" said the mate,
land neither do /, so you'd better keep
quiet"
"You think you're a finc fellow, " con-
tinucd the engineer, "Standing up there
an playing with that little wheel. You
think you're doing all the work. What's
that boy doing? Send him down to
stoke.
go down, . said the skipper, grin
ming with fury, and the boy reluctantly
obeyed.
You think, said the engineer pa
thetically after he had cutfed the boys
head and dropped him down below by
the scruff Of his neck, you think be-
cause I've got a black face I'm not a
man. There's many a holly face 'ides a
good art"
Il don't think nothing about it,"
grunted tho skipper. "YOu dc your
work, and I'll Go mine"
''Don't you give me none of our
back answers, beloved the engineer,
" COS l won't ave en-"
The skipper shrugged his shoulders
and exchanged chances with his sympa-
thctic mate. "Wait till l get i'm
ashore he murmured.
THE b'ilcr is wore out, " said the en-
gineer, roappcaring after a hasty dive
below. 1t may bust at any moment"
AS though TO confirm his words, tear
full sounds We're heard proceeding from
below.
It's only the hoy said the mate.
"Hc's scared-natur"l.
Il thought it Wa the b'ilcr, said the
skipper, with a sigh of relief. 1T was
loud enough
As he spoke the boy got his head out
of the hatchWay, and rendered desperate
with fear fairly fought his way past the
engineer and gained the deck.
Every good, said the engineer as he
followed him on deck and staggered to
the side. I've had enough O you lot
''Hadn't YOU better go down to them
engincs=' shouted the skipper.
Gam | your s~lave:' demanded the
engineer tearfuIlv. Tell me that-am
l your slave"
go down and do your work like a
sensible man, = was the reply.
At these words the engineer took um-
bragg at once, and scOwling tiercely re-
moved his greasy Jacket and flung his
cap on the deck. He then finished the
brandy which he had brought up with
him and gazed owli>hly at the kcntish
shore.
I'm gong 10 have a wash, he sald
loudly, and sitting down removed his
boots.
GO down to the engines first" said
| the skippcr. land III send the boy tc
o with a bucket and some soap"
'Bucket.' replied the engineer scorn
fully as he moved to the side, I'm 60
ing TO have a proper WASH.
Hold him, roared the skipper sud-
denly. Hold him.
The mate, realizing the SITUATION