The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-07-26
DEsERTION.

good six knots per hour.
There had been little discussion on
the way between her crew and the engi-
neer, who down In his grimy little en-
gine room did his own stoking and
everything else necessary. The crow,
consisting OF captain, mate and boy,
who were doing their first trip ON .
steamer, had been transferred at the
LIST moment from their sailing barge,
the witch, and found to their discom-
fort that the engineer, who had not ex-
pected to sail 30 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.
sAhoy, large, ne shouted, popping
up like jack In the box, after brief
cessation OF hostilities.
Don't take no notice of i'm, said
the mate. Els got bottle Of brandy
down there, an he's 'af mad.
IF knew anything of them blessed
engines, . growled the skipper, "I'd go
am hit i'm over the head. -
| aBut you don't" said the mate,
land neither do i, SO you'd better keep
quiet.
"You think you re fine fellow, con-
timed 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.
sGo down., said the skipper, grin
ming with fury, and the boy reluctantly
obeyed
lyon think, " said the engineer pa
thetically after he had cuffed the boy 4
head and dropped him down below by
the scruff Of his neck, you think be.
cause I've got black face I'm not q
man. There's many holly face 'ides Q
good art. z
II don't think nothing about it. =
grunted the skipper. 'You do youI
j, work, and I'll do mine
Don't you give me none Of youl
back answers" beloved the engineer.
/" COS won't ave 'em.
II The skipper shrugged his shoulder
] and exchanged glances with his sympa
J, thetic mate. Wait till I get In
ashore, y he murmured
Il 'aThe b'fler IL wore out, " said the en-
j gineer, reappearing after hssty div,
!, below. 1t may bust Mt amy moment :
j As though to confirm his words, fear
ful sounds were heard proceeding from
below.
''It's only the boy, said the mate
Hes scared-natural.
''I thought it was the b'iler, said th.
skipper, with sigh Of relief 1T wa
loud enough.
AS he spoke the boy got his head on
OF the hatchway, and rendered desperate
with fear fairly fought his way past th'
! engineer and gained the deck.
VERY good, = said the engineer as b
followed him ON deck and staggered 3
J the side. 'sI've had enough o. you lot.
"Hadn't you better go down to then
engines?'' shouted the skipper.
J. "Am I your slave?" demanded tn
,, engineer tearfully "Tell me thatan
I your slave?'
t'Go down and do your work like
sensible man. was the reply.
At these words the engineer took nm
bragg at once, and scowling fiercely RI
! moved his greasy jacket and flung hi
cap ON the deck. He then finished th
Z brandy which he had brought up wit
him and gazed owlishly at the Kentis
shore.
.'Tsm going to have o wash, " he sal
loudly. and sitting down removed hi
boots sta
Go down 30 the engines first, = sai
the skipper, 'sand I'll send the boy
you with . bucket and some soap y
sBucketl's replied the engineer scoFi
fully as hs moved to the eide. "I'm g'
: ing 10 have . proper wash. =
Hold him, roared ths skipper su.
denly. Hold himg'
Il The mate, realixing the situatio,
n rushed to seize him. but the enginee
4 with mad laugh, put his hands On u
. side and vanlsed into the water. Wh<
u he rose. the steamer was 90 yards ahea.
: '.Go astarni'' yelled the mate
8 How can ! so astarn when there
q nobody at the engines?'' shouted h
A skipper as be hung onto the wheel ar
I. hrouglat tias boats head sharply aroun
'sGst line ready. z sssi
aa The mate, with coil OF rope I'M i
II hand. rushed to tho side, but his bene
N oient efforts >vere frustrated by the u
81 gineer, who. seeing the boats hel
~ making straight Tor him. saved his II
II By m opportnne dive. The steam
NJ rushed by. ts Ts.',
~ Turn 'er ag 'ini'' screamed the mat
10 The captain was already doing ID. III
~ III i remarkably short space of time v
q boat. which had described q compile
he circle. was making again Tor the emf
II neer.
an Look ont Tor the line. /" shouted I
ia mate warningly.
he i don't want your line, yelled {
Cd engineer. I'm going ashora''
ssCome aboard r. shouted the capts