The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1894-08-23

Bulldog, steamed past the sleeping
town of Gravesend at good six knots
per hour.
There had been little discussion
on the way between her crew and the
engineer, who, down in his grimy
little engine 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 discom-
fort that the engineer, who had not
expected to sail SO soon, was terribly
and abusively drunk. Every moment
he could spare from his engines he
thrust the upper part of his body
through the small hatchway and
rowed with his commander.
"Ahoy, bargee," he shouted, popping
up like jaclS-in-the- box, after a brief
cessation of hostilities.
Don't take no notice of i'm" said
the mate. "E's got bottle of brandy
down there, an he's 'alf mad"
IF knew anything o. them blessed
engines growled the skipper, I'D GO
al hit i'm over the head"
But you don't" said the mate, "and
neither do !, SO you'd better keep
quiet
You think you're a fine Teller +"
continued the engineer, standing up
there an playing with that little
wheel. You think you're doing all the
work. What's the boy doing? Send
him down to stoke.
''Go down." said the skipper, grin
ming with fury, and the boy reluctant-
ly obeyed. &AAs s 3
You think" said the engineer, pa
thetically, after he had cuffed the
boys head and dropped him down be-
low by the scruff of his neck, you
think because I've got black face I'm
not a man. There's many holly face
'idesa good art" t4 &s
II don't think nothing about it."
grunted the skipper 'you do your
work, and I'll do mine"
Don't you give me none of yorr
back answers" beloved the engineer,
Zoos l won't ave EN-
The skipper shrugged his shoulders,
and exchanged glances with his sym
pathetic mate. await till get i'm
ashore" he murmured.
"The biler is wore out, - said the en-.
gineer, reappearipg after a hasty dive
below. 1t may bust at any moment"
AS though to confirm his words, fear
full sounds were heard proceeding from
below. Efs4r
Its only the boy" said the mate;
hes scared-natural."
81 thought it was the biler, said the
skipper, with sigh of relief ut was
loud enough"
AS he spoke the boy got his head out
of the hatchway, and, rendered des-
perate with fear, fairly fought his way
past the engineer, and gained the deck.
very good said the engineer, as
he followed him on deck and stag
gered to the side. i've had enough o.
you lot
Hadn't you better go down. to them
engines" shouted the skipper.
Am l your slave?n demanded the
engineer, tearfully. Tell me that
Am your slave?"
Go down and do your work like a
sensible man." was the reply
At these words the engineer took
umbrage at once, and, scowling fierce
~, removed his greasy jacket and
flung his cap on the deck. He then
finished the brandy which he had
brought up with him, and gazed owl
ishly at the Kentish shore.
I'm going to have wash, he said,
loudly, and, sitting down, removed his
boots
go down to the engines first said
the skipper "and I'll send the boy to
you with a bucket and some soap
Bucket" replied the engineer,
scornfully, as he moved to the side.
Tim going to have proper.wash." ~
Hold him. roared the skipper, sud
denly. Hold him"
The mate, realizing the sitpat- on,