Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-09-25
DEsERTI0N.

The sun was JUST rising as Gne small
tublike steamer, or, to be more correct,
steam barge, the Bulldog, steamed past
the sleeping town Of Gravesend at a
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-
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 discom-
fort that tho engineer, who had not ex-
pected to sail so soon, was terribly and
abusively drunk Every moment he
could spare from his engines no thrust
the upper part Of his body through the
small hatchway and rowed with his
commander.
"Ahoy, barge" he shouted, popping
up like jack in the box, after brief
cessation of hostilities.
Don't take no notice Of 'im," said
the mate. "'E's got bottle Of brandy
down there, all he's 'alf mad
eff I knew anything Of them blessed
engines, growled the skipper, I'D go
an hit i'm over the head. !"
"But you DON'T" said the mate,
land neither do I, so you'd better keep
quiet.
"You think you re fine fellow, " con-
tinued the engineer, standing up there
all playing with that little wheel. You
think you re doing all the work. What's
that boy doing? Send him down to
stoke.
$50 down." said the skipper, grin.
ming with fury, and the boy reluctantly
obeyed.
"You think" said the engineer pa
thetically after he had oufred the boys
head and dropped him down below by
the scruff of his neck, ts'you think be-
cause I've got black face I'm not a
man. There's many holly face 'ides a
good art. !"
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 your
back answers, beloved the engineer,
COS won't ave 'em.''
The skipper shrugged his shoulders
and exchanged glances with his sympa-
thetic mate. "Wait till I get i'm
ashore" he murmured.
"The b'iler is wore out, said the en-
gineer, reappearing after hasty dive
below. ''It may bust at any moment.
As though to confirm his words, fear.
full sounds were heard proceeding from
below.
cts only the boy" said the mate.
"He's scared-natural.
II thought it was the b'iler," 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 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 GIVE had enough O. you lot. Z"
Hadn't you better 60 down to them
engines?" shouted the skipper.
"Am I your slaye?" demanded the
engineer tearfully. "Tell me that-am
/ your SLAYER"
$50 down and do your work like q
sensible man." was the reply.
At these words the engineer took UNI
bragg at once, and scowling fiercely 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 owlishly 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, land I'll send the boy to
you with a bucket and some SOAP"
"Bucket!'' replied the engineer scorn-
fully as he moved to the side. "I'm 60.
ing to have proper wash. y
"Hold him" roared the skipper sud.
denly. Hold himW
The mate, realizing the situation,
rushed to seize him, but the engineer,
with mad laugh, put bis hands OH tho
side and vaulted into the water. When
he rose, the steamer was 20 yards ahead.
"Go astarn" yelled the mate.
"How can I go astarn when there's
nobody at the engines?'' shouted the
skipper as he hung onto the wheel and
brought the boats head sharply around.
"Git line ready"
The mate, with coil of rope in his
hand, rushed to the side, but his benev.
olent efforts were frustrated by the en-
gineer, who, seeing the boats head
making straight for him, saved his life
by an opportune dive. The steamer
rushed by.
Turn Ter ag'inl" screamed the mate.
The captain was already doing 90, and
in o remarkably short space of time the
boat, which had described complete
circle, was making again for the engi.
neer.
"Look out for the line" shouted the
mate warningly.
II don't want your line, yelled the
engineer. "I'm going ashore.