The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-07-02
THE TROUBLE ON BOARD
THE iTOI.

under the SleIter1ng weather ran, anu
at the helmsman. braced against the
wheel. and immoyable Hepaused III
his walk.
Ease her when she pitches" he
beloved. Andthe helmsman answer
and assumed life.
He resumed his walk and commnn
ings. his mind going back to the fight
in the slaver's hold ten years ago.
Again he fought that terrible duel
with sheath knives. He thrust, par
| ried. lodged, advanced and retreat
ed. watching the steely blue Of his
enemy's eye, feeling again the exhilar
alton Of boiling blood, the initial ting
! ling Of the hair roots. heard again the
! Shonts. oaths and encOuragements OF
his lawless shipmates and once more
hnried his knife in Billings shoulder
and received the cut on his cheek in re
! turn. Again he succeeded and the
/ knife was transferred from the wound
| edright hand to the eft. He had him
now. He rushed-and Billings slip
| ped in his own blood. On TO the pros
| tratc form he pounced -one stroke
would finish him; Billings lad drop
| ped his knife and he raised his Cwn.
But ii came down slanting; the stroke
was futile The wounded arm had en-
circled his neck: his check was pres
/ sing the warm blood on his enemy's
shirt. and he felt it now the inser-
ton Of the thumb. the smartlng pain
and binding, burning sheet Of fire
that marked the going ont Of the left
| eve forever And the strange weak
ness which overcame him and enabled
| Billings to throw him to his feet,
and follow, and plant that pile driv
| ing fist blow that sent him SO near to
eternity. And all over a sick black
bird. too, that Billings wanted to
nurse. Billings might have killed
him. It was his right. Got-but he
had gouged and no man who is man
will do that He nad said he wonld
even up. and he would, This SHIP, i'll
which he was chief mate would finish
the voyage one man short.
1t was in the zenith period of Amer
lean shipping, in the days Of short
lnizzen -r.asts, single top sails and
square sterns and squarer stern win
! dows; when the American sailor was
American born. his proudest title
Able seamen, yet, feeling within him
the potentially Of quarter deck duty
| quick to resent i'll treatment, to con-
spire and even mutiny. Officers car
RED arms in those days, crews Wore
| trained to the use of carronaies, pi-
rates watched for and slave trading
considered as a slight lapse from the
conventional "A little ont 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 Capt. Smith command
ing, George Earp, chief mate and one
John Billings in her forecastle.
The captain appeared and joined
| the brooding first officer.
We'll, Mr. Earp, what doyou think
Of the crew." he asked Strikes me,
they're pretty good lot; cont you
! think so?'
| No, captain. can't see it. They're
the worst gang Of soldiers, farmer and
| beach combers | ever saw together.
| I'm roiao to work them mn. they need
| it"
The captain laughed. "There's one
man who don't" he said. Billings.
the red headed fellow in vour watch.
| heard of him ashore; came home
mate with old johnson in the Trade
! Wind" been nato in that employ 1--WE
| vosr. now vouIl havn GONE ont in
command this time. only he had = bad
row with old Johnnie. who cot the
! owners down on him. Nv brother
used To sail with him in the slave
trade. Billings has an umgnvernahle
temper: you'll have TO look out for
that. How tho slave trade counts
apaiust n man NOWADAYS. Call me II
# Greshens."
The mate was alone again His ac
cidental and unnecessary proposition.
couDled with the mention of Billings
| hastv temper. gave form TO his specu
laticns. Billings knew his place and
work too well to ever put himself in
the way OF pumahmenf. but, worked
up with the rest. he would probably
Join them III rebellion. Then, as one
Of the mutinons crew. he could be dis
posed Of. lie womd make sure Of thai
Next day the working mp began
All heads We're kept on deck IN the
afternoon. Unnecessary repetition OF
orders, oaths, epithets had followed
the crew as they hurried around the
deck or worked IN the rigging MAJ
after man was sent from the Whee
until Billings took the helm, when ev
en- the critical mind OF the mate co4il
find no fault with the steering. Nc
matter how suddenly he appeared a
the binuacle, he only found the shlI
on he's right course exactly. AnC
Billings, though always respectful
did not hesitate to occaslonly fix The
calm, open blue eyes on the scowllns
yIsage Of the mate IN an eXpressloniea:
StaTp-nDt too prolonged vel. enough