Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-03-14

"Don't call me q liar. damn you,s
roared, and then fell a.trcmbllns
again. -
"'My God, barrett, you're crazy.
cried the mate, taking hold Of me.
Tile man called no one a liar
II shook him loose and jumped
ashore. I found Captain Perkins in the
office Of the steamship company max
Ing formal report of his arrival.
"Captain, ! SAID, / came 10 ask you
for my pay. don't want to act ms
quartcrmaster any more
"'whnt kind Of a Joke are you try.
Ing TO play on me. john he asked.
"'NO, but I'm In earnest. Ill never
stand In the whcelhOuse for another
steamboat. ] got to thinking about
It coming up. and I'm quitter. A
wind vessel will do me all right, and
I'm looking FOR a schooner now
"'John.' he said. you're sick. that's
what's the matter with you. Take a
few days and rest up. You're only a
boy now, and look where you are
,llrtcrinastcr Of the best steamboat
on ai.y water, fresh or salt. You'll
bc a master before you're % and an
owner by the time you are 30. Take
few days rest and think 1t over.
Don't 20 OF half-cock.'
"Captain Perkins, I replied to him:
Captain Perkins. I'm right here to tell
you that wouldn't s,kc the wheel Of
the City Of Buffalo or any other steam.
or that ever slid sitcwise from the
ways for the best $4,000 that was
ever mlnted. I have made up my
mind and II you please Id like to have
my wages
"He wrote an order for II and handed
II over. IT I did what's right. Barrett,
I wouldn't pay YOU he said. rather
huffy. It's unsea ma Mike to quit In tho
middle Of n trip. really ought to
hold II up on you: but there's the order.
Take It and 60 TO the devil your own
way. I've sailed the lakes and the
sens forty years and you are tossing
up the best chance ever knew n -.
ycnr-old boy to waste
''I'hc next winter was In New York,
looking for u berth. We used to sail
the lakes In summer and then 60 east
and ship for short ocean voyages. On
the docks met Captain Perkins.
"'YOu are just the man want, John,
he cried. making u rush for me In the
crowd. I've just been appointed cap
tain Of steamer that runs between
here and Asplnwall-down on the 18th.
mus--and want you and you know me.
and I'm glnddcr than rs II l fO,sn,l
some money. ! don't like strangers in
my whecihousc.' And he started 10
drag me of to the steamer office to
sign.
~ can't go you. captain I told
him. I'm much obliged, but I never
can perform with the steering gear Of
n steamboat again. told you last
summer wind sailing was more In my
line
81 thought you'd DC over that crazy
notion by this time. What made you
throw up your bcrthT lie asked sud-
denly.
"rhen I told him the story. II made
him so weak he sat down on u chain
cable that was lying coilcd up on tho
dock. He was white rs a new sail
cloth and trcmblcd like n girl.
"'Iicavcns and earth. john lie gasp.
ed. when he caught his wind. with
our head Of steam on II we'd ever struck
those rocks AMI tho engines had stop.
ped what would our boilers have done
to us!'
"'rhey would have sent us up to the
tops Of old man Hariy's sugar trees
on the blum. captain. and. being some.
what higher up than tho rest Of you,
I would have headed the procession;
but that's why I don't want to 20 al
liarterniaster.
"JOhn. no said. wiplng the sweat
OF Ills forehead with one hand and
holding out the other In gOOd.by-the
Precipitation started on the old man
oven In January, It's no wonder my
shirt was wet In August-'JOln, you
IRE q wise young man. You know
when to stop. Ill not urge you to shlp
with me, John. As n matter Of fact
II you were to take my offer and &c
I would resign and You would steer
for another skipper. GoOd.by, John
ana God keep you. I must go to find
me a quarterlnastcr.' "--ChlcagO Times
Herald.