Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-30

There was no starboard ladder to the
upper bridge, but Kettle swung himself
lightly up by funnel stay and a stanch-
ion and climbed over the canvas dodger.
Cambel followed as nimbly. The mate OF
the watch received them with a frightened
sidelong glance, but no words, and then
he vanished into the darkness.
Captain Owen Kettle stumped cheerful
ly across to the port side of the bridge and
looked down. Beneath him, massed and
moving, was apparently every man OF his
crew. The electric lamp from inside the
head of the companionway blazed full up
on them, dazzling some of the group and
binding the others with dense black
shadow. With folded arms he looked
down on them for full minute with q
silent sneering laugh till the upturned
faces which had been quiet in expectation
began to grow clamorous again. Then he
waved them to noiselessness and spoke.
The mans words were not conciliatory.
He addressed his hearers as dogs and
wished to know in the name of the pit
why they had dared to leave their duties
and their kennel and come to sully his
bridge deck. The harangue was brief and
beautifully to the point. An ordinary sea
man stood out into the middle of the cir
Gle of light and made reply.
You gall us toys, und you dreat US as
toys, und we're nod going to schtandt it
no longer. Dis grew tenants its rechts. 4"
Hello said Kettle, got a blooming
Dutchman to speak for you! Well you
must be hard up crowd See here, now
If you do want to talk, have your say and
be done with it, English is the official
language on this ship. Understand that
and don't waste my time"
The German seemed inclined to bluster
and hold his ground, but he had no back
ers. Il told you how it would be if we
put the Dutchman up" said one. why,
can't hardly understand the beggar my
SELF said another.
If you're undecided" suggested Cap
tain Kettle, you've got niger among
you. Why not set him on to talk? If you
were men, l wouldn't say it, but as it is
he's as much n man as any of you, and
perhaps he'll throw in sand dance to en-
liven proceedings"
The negro from somewhere on the out
skirts of the crowd broke into loud guf-
| faw till some one kicked him on the shins
and sent him away yelping diminuendo
| into the farther darkness. An angry growl
went up from the white men at the taunt,
| and one of them, q whiskercd quartermas-
ter in n cardigan jacket, stepped out and
spat into the circle of light he looked
round to catch the encouraging glances of
| his mates and then lifted I'D his face to.
ward the upper bridge.
'See here, Captain Kettle, you'd better
not try us too far. This isn't a slave ship
you're commanding. It's an ordinary,
common, low down British tramp, and
| the law looks after the deckhands and all
| the rest of us"
Now, that's fair speaking" said Kettle
I've profound respect for the merchant
| shipping act and all the rest of the laws
| Ny lad, if you fancy you've anything to
complain of, q sea lawyer like you must
| know the remedy. Get your witnesses
| and go with them before the British con-
su! in New Orleans.
"A fat lot OF good that would do, 4" re-
torted the man. What consul ever be-
lieved an ole sailor against the skipper?
No, sir, we'd only get penitentiary for our
pains. Besides, what we want-and what
| we intend to have-is an alteration in
things beginning now
| ''Ah, seel And what would you like?
Shall have a hold cleared out and fit up
with four post beds for you to make a
drawing room of: Shall order my stew
ard to hand iced pop round to the gentle
men who are heaving Goals in the stoke
| hold! Come, now, out with it''
| The little captain was deliberately irri-
Eating the men, and Cambcl marveled at
his recklessness. Once let an outbreak
start, and he and Kettle stood not one
chance in a million of living through it.
But Kettle knew his game and was play.
ing it well.
Only one man laughed, and his laugh
closed up again in n moment like the snap
of a watch. Some scowled; a few sworc;
the quartermastcr in the cardigan jacket
alone remained unmoved. OF Kettles
outrageous raillery he took no notice
whatever, but continued his plant in q
solid monotone, rs though he had been
reading it from n book.
I'm the first instance, it's the grub VIC
complains Of, particularly the sugar. II
amt sugar at all. It's just slumph OF
molasses.
THAT said Kettle, sis due to your
own laziness. The bottom of a sugar bar
| rel's always that way unless you turn il
end for end every day or so. The mo
lasses'd settle through the queens suga,
at Windsor and spoil half of it unless the
barrel was looked to- So that knocks in
the head your first complaint. BY James, y
he continued, with first show of fury
lis it for this you dogs have turned your
selves into bowling pack Of mutineer.
and let my ship drift like q hencoop to
ward Newfoundland"
The quartermaster was obviously dis
concerted by the attack, SO much So ir
fact, that he missed the next few count:
OF his indictment and came at once to the
main head, which he had hoped to lead uI
to more gently. Its q rise of wages thai
we insist on principally" he said. eve