The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-31
AGAIN. HE FOUGHT THAT TERRIBLE DUEL.

futile. The wounded arm had encir-
cled his neck; his cheek was pressing
the warm blood on his enerly's shirt
and-he felt it noW-the insertion of the
thumb, the smarting pain and blind
ing, burning sheet of fire that marked
the going out of his left eye-forever.
And the strange weakness which over
came him and enabled Billings to throw
him to his feet, and follow. and plant
that pile driving fist blow that sent
him SO near to eternity. And all over
a sick blackbird, toe that Billings
wanted to nurse. Billings might have
killed him. It was his right. Yet-but
he had gouged, and no man who rs a
man will do THAI. He had said he would
even up, and he would. This ship, in
which he was chief mate, would finish
the voyage one man short.
1t was in the zenith period of Amer
can shipping, in the days of short
alizzen-masts, single top-sails and
square sterns and squarer stern win
lows: when the American sailor was
American born, his proudest title, Able
Seaman, yet, feeling within him the po-
tentiality OF quarterback duty-Quick
10 resent ill-treatment. to conSpire and
even mutiny. Officers carried arms in
those days, crews were trained TO the
use of carronades, pirates watched for
and slave trading considered as slight
lapse from the conventional little
out Of date and style.
OF such description was the Athol
and her crew outward bound from New
York on a summer voyage to Liverpool
with Captain Smith commanding.
George carp chief mate and one John
Billings in her forecastle.
The captain appeared and Joined the
h.seding first officer.
"Well, Mr. carp, what do you think
of the crew." he asked. Strikes me,
they're a pretty good lot; don't you
think so?"
mo. captain. can't see it. They're
the worst gang of soldiers, farmers
and beach eomers / ever saw together.
I'm going to work them up; they need
d"
The captain laughed. There's one
man who don't he said, Billings. the
btg red-headed fellow in your watch. 1
heard OF him ashore; came home mate
with old Johnson in the Trade Wind;
been mate in that employ five years
now: would have gone out in command
this time, only he had a bad row with
old Johnnie, who got the owners down
ON him. My brother used to sail with
him in the slave trade. Billings has
an ungovernable temper; you'll have
trade counts against a man nowadays.
Call me if it freshens."
The mate was alone now. His ac-
cidental and unnecessary proposition to
work up the men, coupled with the
mention of Billings hasty temper, gave
foam to his speculations. Billings knew
his place and work too well to ever put
himself in the way of punishment, but,
worked I'D with the rest, he would
probably join them in rebellion. Then.
as one of a mutinous crew, he could
be disposed of. He would make sure Of
that.
Next day the working UP began. All
hands were kent on deck in the after
noon. Unnecessary repetition of orders,
oaths. epithets and insults followed the
crew as they hurried around the deck
or worked in the rigging. Man after
man was sent from the wheel until Bill
lings took the helm, when even the crit
fcal rnind of the mate could find no
fault with the steering. No matter how
suddenly he appeared at the pinnacle,
he only found the ship on her course
exactly. And Billings. though always
respectful, did not hesitate to occa-
sionally fix the calm, open blue eyes on
tf7e scowling vissage of the mate IN an
expressionless starc-not too prolonged,
yet enough to crowd the evil heart in
the throat and stffie the words of abuse
he ionged to utte,'. There had been no
further recognition between the two.
Al the end of week the exasper-
s.Sed men We're ripe for mItiny and
murder, which Billings influence alone