The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-11-29

she don't belong to the two sticks we
come up with this mornin.
The wind was fallin of, and we beat
up slow. When turned out, she was
clean ont against the sky, her mizzen-
mast swayin across the stars, but by the
time we made her it was gettin day
light The sea was like oil when we
came alongside and hitched onto her fore
chains and climbed on deck.
II amt denyin," says Bill, THAT
there's comfort in standin on solid oak
agin, and she amt SO bad stove. but |
reckon we could work her by riggin
some O. our spare canvas forrid. Jist you
leer inter the galley. jack" says Bill,
land I'll spy out the cabin"
With that he went rollin aft till he
pitched up alongside the stumps of the
mainmast
more dry rot, Jack, just like told
ye, 4" roared Bill, lookin back.
That minute I near fell over into the
chains, for up out of the cabin compan-
ion behind Bill was human head as
bald as grape shot
"What the H." says the head,
and Bill was that shared, being power
full superstitious. that he started to run
and caught his toe in the main hatch
and rolled over on the deck. The bald
headed man came out in his shirt, with
q belayin pin in his hand, snortin like
q porpoise. "Why don't We speak a
ship afore ye board her?" says he, cuss-
in awful. and then he threw up his
hands and dropped the pin.
my God, forgive mel' he says. "It's
Bill Marlin''
"What eff 'tis?" says Bill, gettin on
his pins, mighty sore and put out. "What
sort of id blue nosed sea lawyer
Of a-walkin ghost be you anyway to
shoot up out of wreck and nigh skeer
the life out o. two honest sailormen often
raft, and them swamped and starvin?
I'm a fo'castle cat stuck in tar eff I
didn't think better O. you, Lige Haw-
kins, )" and with that they fell a-foul of
each other, waltzin all over the deck,
and while they was at it the Kanaker
sailorman walked his black legs out of
the companionway and began to dance
around the two.
'Today's the day., says Bill. punchin
Lige in the chest and gettin the Boston
newspaper out Of his oilskins. "There' S
the governors proclamation. Read it. ="
"Well, I'm id" says Lige, leerin
at it upside down.
After Bill shook hands with the Kama
10, hn CHI no inf
duced me al round and explained to
Hawkins how we had left the Nancy
and how we had refused to go on board
the ship for Liverpool tie night before
By that time the sun was hghtin Up
Hawkins bald head, and he a-gapin at
Bill, with his breeches in his hand,
which the niger had brought to him.
"Now," says Bill, what be you lay
in here for, Lige Hawkins, and what S
become Of the skipper and the crew of
the Lightfoot?"
"What am I layin here for?" says
Hawkins. "I'm a-waitin for ship into
Boston The old man and the rest O. the
Bristol two weeks ago, and wanted me
to go along with them, but l told 'em
I'd see 'em id first, hevin date
with shipmet in New Bedford on the
'Merican coast"
"Git into yer togs," says Bill.
"We've got chest full of plumduff and
grog aboard the raft "
The Lightfoot was loaded with wool
and some light merchandise, and when
the crew left her Hawkins said the sea
was so rough the skipper expected her to
swamp, and it was all they could do to
get off the men. There was no lack of
provisions and stores on board, and the
Kanaker man and I turned in and did
the cookin,- and Bill nailed the govern