Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-11-24

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
loer inter the galley, Jack" says Bill,
''and I'll spy out the cabin
With that he went rollin aft till he
pitched mp alongside the stumps of the
mainmast.
"NIore dry rot, Jack, just like told
ye," roared Bill, lookin back.
That minute near fell over into the
chains, for up out of the cabin compan-
ion behind Bill was a human head as
bald us a grape shot.
"What the H." says the head,
and Bill was that skared, being power
full supcrstitiOus, 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
a belayin pin in his hand, snortin like
porpoisc. ''Why don't We speak a
ship afore ye board herr says he, cuss-
in awful, and then he threw up his
hands and dropped the pin.
my God, forgive mel" he says cts
Bill Marlin.''
"What eff 'tis?" says Bill, gettin on
his pins, mighty sore and put out. "What
sort of a 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?
70 r
didn't think better O. you, Lige Haw-
kins," and with that they fell a-foul of
each other, waltZin all over the deck,
aud 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 i'll the chest and gettin the Boston
newspaper out of his oilskins. "There's
the governors proclamation. Read it. "
"Well, I'm d--d" says Lige leerin
at it upside down.
After Bill shook hands with the Kama
ker man from the guano ship he intro
duced me all round and explained to
Hawkins how we had left the Nancy
and how we had refused to go on board
the ship for Liverpool the night before.
By that time the sun was lightin 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
i'll here for, Lige Hawkins, and what's
become of the skipper and the crew of
the Lightfoot:"
"What am | layin here for?" says
Hawkins m a-waitin for a ship into
Boston. The old man and the rest o. the
hands went aboard bark bound into
Bristol two weeks ago, and wanted me
to go along with them, but l told 'em
I'd see 'em d--d first, hevin date
with a shipmet in New Bedford on the
'Merican coast. :"
Cit into yer togs," says Bill.
"We've got a 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 ana stores on DOafd ana the
Kanaker man and l turned in and did
the cookin, and Bill nailed the govern
or's proclamation to the mizzenmast
business is business" says Bill.
whats the bloomin cargo worth,
Lige:"
'Nothin where she lays" says Haw-
kins, sorreyful "If we had her into
port, she'd be good for 800, 900. It's
pity, Bill, so tits. but there aim a yard
of canvas onto 'er. -
THAT 'u'd be $25, coo apiece, allowin
/ four lays into 'er share and share, says
Bill.
"Waal, says Hawkins, "what of it?"
''Nothin." says Bill. "onlY I've