The times., 1897-06-27
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The Skipper's Wooing
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By w. w. JACOBS.

The schooner sseamew" Of London, Capt
wAson, master and owner, had jusb I'm
ished loading at Northfleet with cement
for Brittlesea. Every inch OF space was
packed. Cement exuded from the cracks
imparted to hairy faces OF honest seamei
q ghastly appearance sadly out of keeping
with their characters, and even took i'll
place, disguised as taickening, among
the multiple ingredients OF a tea-pie that
was cooking for dinner.
Ii was not uatil the decks were washed
,aadthe liz tieschooner once more presentatie
that the mate gave a thought TO his own
toilet Ii was q fine warm morning II
May, and some of the cargo had got into
his hair and settled in sJreakS on his hot,
good-hulnored face. The boy had brought
aft "a wooden bucket filled with water, and
placed upon the hatch 10y its side q piece OF
yellow soap and a towel Upon these
preparations the mate smiled pleasantly
Throwing off his shirt and girziing his
lions with his braces, he bent over and
with much zestful silashing began has
ablutions.
Twice did the ministering angel, who
was not of an age TO be in any great con
Germ about his own toilet, change the
water before the mate was satisfied;
after which the latter, his face and neck
agiow with friction, descended To the
cabin for change OF raiment.
He did not appear on deck again until
after dinner, which, in the absence or the
skipper he ate alone. The men, who nao
also dined, were lounging forward, smok-
ing. and the mate. having filed his own
plpe. sat down by himself and smoked in
silence.
I'm keeping the slippers dinner 'ot in
q small sorsepan, sir, said the cook, thrust
ing his head out of the galley.
! "All right" said the mate
ssIt's funny thing where the skipper
gets to these times, said the COOK, ao-
dressing nobody in particular, but Ie-
gartiipy the mate out Of the corner OF his
eye.
Every rum,' said the mate, who was
affably inclined Just then.
The cook came out of the galley ana,
winning his wet hands on his dirty can
vas trousers, drew near and gazed In a
troubled fashion ashore.
.''E,s the best cap'n ever sailed I'M
der he said, sharply. Amt il struck
Won. sir, he's been worried like, these ere
last trips? / told i'm as e was going
ashore as there was sea-pie for dinner. and
'e ses, AN right, Joe.' e ses- just as sif I'd
said boiled beef and taters, or line NOR Mn >
sir, or anythink like that"
The mate shook his head, blew cut
cloud OF sIuoke and watched it laZiy as
it disappeared.
..It skrlkes me SIS 'ow 'e's after fresh
seaman who had joined the cook Look
'ow 'e's dressing nowadays! Why, the
capu OF steamer amt smarter'
Not 50 smart, SAM said the remain
ing seaman, who, encouraged by the
peaceful aspect of the mate, had also
drawn near. II don't think it's cargo
he's after, though; cement pays alright"
lit amt cargo" said sn4ah but con-
fident voice.
.You clear out!'' said old Sam. "A
boy O. your age showing his spoke In
when lis elders is talking. What next,
wonder"
!. s.where am / to clear TO? I'm in my
own end OF the ship, anyway" said ue
youth vindi ctively.
The men started TO move, but II was
too late The mates latent sense Cf
discipline was reused and he started up
In a fury.
"Welr'' he said, ''if there amt the
whole blasted ships company aft-every
nan Jack Of 'em, Come down In the cabin,
gentlemen; come down and have irop
of Hollands and a cigar apiece- All the
rIff-raff o the foc'sle sitting aft aud
p1attlmg about the skipper like a parcel
o. washer women Why, it might be a
barge Cor all the discipline that's kept.
The boys the only sailor among you
He strobe furiously up and down the
deck the cook disappeared into the gal
lev and the two seamen began TO hustle
about forward. The small expert who
had raised the storm, by no means desir-
ous of being caught In the tail Of II, put
his pipe in his pocket and looked around
for Job.
.'Ciome here.- said the mate, sterniy.
The boy came toward him.
''what was that you were saving about
the skipper" demanded the other.
81 said it wasn't cargo he was after, F"
said Henry.
'soh, lot you know about it, said the
mate.
Henry scratched his leg. but said nothing.
"A lot you know aboutit,'' repeated the
snate, In rather a disappointed tone.
Henry scratched the other leg.
Don't let me hear you talking about
Sour superior officers affairs again." said
the mate, sharply. Mind that
''No. sir,'' said the hoy, humbly. ut
amt NY business, o. course"
"whatisn't your business said the mate.
carelessly.
caid Hon
I The mate TUNED away sulkily, and,
hearing a chuckle from the galley, went
bver there and stared atthe cook a wretch
ed being with no control at all over his
feelings-for quite five minutes In that
short space OF time he discovered that the
galley was the dirtaest hole der the sun
and the cook the uncieanest person that
ever handled food. He impaired bis dis
coyeries to the cook, and after reducing
him 10 s. state of perspIring imbeclity
turned round and rated the men again
Having charged them with insolence when
they replied, and with sulliness when they
kept silent, he went below, having secured
q complete victory, and the incensed sea
men, after making sure that he had no in
tention of returning, went toward Henry
to find fault with him.
'If you was my boy said Sam, breath
ing heavily, I'D thrash you TO within an
inch of your life.''
III / WAS youT boy I should drown my
self, said Henry very positively.
Henrys father had frequently had occa-
sion to remark that his son favored his
mother, and his mother possessed a tongue
which was famed throughout Wrapping,
and obtained bonora f,3e fr,eusio, In Distant