Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-09-02

'.RULE OF THREE.

n HE master of the schooner Hare

bell came slowly toward the har
Dor, accompanied by his mate
Both men had provided ashore for q
voyage which included no intoxicants
ana the dignity of the skipper, always
salient feature, had developed tire
mendously under the influence of
Drown stout. He stepped aboard his
schooner Importantly, and then, turn.
ing to the mate who was about to fol.
low, suddenly held up his hand for
silence.
What did | tell you? he injured
severely as the mate got quietly
aboard.
The mate listened. From the fo'c's'lc
came the low gruff voices of men brok-
en- by the silvery ripple of women's
laughter.
"Well I'm n Dutchman," said the
mate, with the air of one who felt he
was expected to say something.
After all | said to EN-" said the
skipper with weary dignity. "You
heard what said to 'em, Jack"
Nobody could ha' swore louder" tes-
tlhcu tHt Hltte.
An here they are" said the skipper
in amaze, "defying of me-"
"They've been and gone and asked
them females down the fo'c's'le ag'in.
You know what said I'd do, Jack, if
they did"
"Said you'd eat 'em without salt"
quoted the other helpfully.
I'll do worse than that, Jack" said
Il skipper after n moments discom-
future. whats to hinder us casting off
quietly and taking them along with
us?"
"lf you ask me-" said the mate, 81
should say you couldn't please the
crew better"
well, Wen see" said the other, nod
ding sagely; don't make no noise,
Jac.:."
Aided by the mate he cast off the
warps which held his unconscious WIS.,
itors to their native town. and the wind
being off the shore the little schooner
drifted silently away from tire quay.
The skipper went to the wheel. and
tine noise of the mate hauling on the
ji' brought n rough head out of the fo'-
c'sle, the owner of which, after a cry
to his mate below. sprang up on deck
and looked around in bewilderment.
stand by, there!" cried the skipper,
as the others came rushing on dock
"Shakc 'em out"
"Reggin' your pardin, SIR" said one
of them, with more politeness in his
tones than he had ever used before.
"but-"
"Stand by" said the skipper
"Now, then" shouted the mate.
sharply, ''lively there! Lively with it!"
The men looked at each other help
lessly and went to their posts as Il
scream Of dismay arose from the fair
beings below, who having just begun
to realize their position, We're coming
on deck to try and improve it.
What" roared the skipper. in pre-
tended establishment; what! gels
aboard. after all said. 1t can't be!
must be dreaming"
"Take us back" walled the damsels,
ignoring the sarcasm; take us back,
Captain
mo, can't go back" said the skip
per- you see what comes o. disobed-
ence. my CELLS. Lively there on that
mans'l. dye hear?"
I'VE won't do it again." cried the
girls. as the schooner came to the
mouth of the harbor and they smelled
the dark sea beyond. Take us back"
ut can't be DONE" said the skipper,
cheerfully.
Its agin the Tor, SIR" said Ephraim
Biddle. solemnly.
"Bosh!" said the skipper: they're
stowaways. an l shall put 'em ashore
at the first port we touch at-Ply-
mouth"
A heartrendng series of screams
from the stowaways rounded his SEN
ttuce screams which gave way to sus-
tanned sobbng, as the schooner. catch
ing the wind, began to move through
the water.
you'd better get below, my gals"
said Biddle, who was the eldest men,
Der of the crew, consolingly.
"Why don't you make him take us
back?" said Jenny Evans. the biggest
of the three girls, Indignantly.
Cos we can't, my dear" said Bddle
reluctantly. You don't want to see us
put into prison. do you?"
81 don't mind" said Miss Evans,
tearfully. 80 long as we get back.
George. take us back"
IL can't" said Scott. sullenly.
"Well. you can look out for some
body else. then" said Miss Evans. with
temper. You won't marry me. How
much would you get if you did make
the skipper put back?'
every likely six months" said Bid
do. solemnly.
"SiX months would soon pass away"
said Miss Evans, brskly, as she wiped
her eye.
ut would be rest" said Miss Will
Jams. coaXingly.
The men not seeing things in quite
the same light. the girls announced
their intention of having nothing more
to do with them. and crowding together
in the bows beneath two or three blan-
kets consoled tearfully with each other
on their misfOrtunes.
Looking at all the circumstances of
the case the Captain thought it best to
keep the wheel in his own hands for n
time, and dawn found him still at his
post.
Three dispirited girls put their heads
out from their blankets and shifted dis
painfully. Then, after an animated dis
cusson, they arose, walked up to the
skipper, and eyed him unfavorably.
why, he isn't any bigger than a
boy" said Miss Williams, savagely.