The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-14
THE HONOR OF THE FLAG.


ing able to aggravatc us into Shooting
our guns, what must he turn to and do
but load with stcne-and lctk at that
flagl Riddlod, mates. I'll net speak Of
it as spilled, Though prottcr and
better bit of bunting was never mast
headed. Spilled amt the word. Dis
graced it is
Degraded, said Plum in deep
voice.
SAY, and degraded" cried old Joe,
with surly, dangerous nod. 'That
there little tailor has degraded the hon
or Of cur flag. What's to be done to
him.
After pause Plum said: Bring him
up and sit i'll examination en him. Try
him fairly and convict him. ="
They opened the hatch and pulled
little Sloper off the Thames ballast into
daylight. He was exceedingly white
and trembled violently, and cut, ill.,
deed, very pitiful figure as he stood
on the quarterback of the Tom Bowling,
surveyed By her owner and crew. He
was short man and spare, and Tom
Tuck grinncd us he looked at him.
Il suppose you're aweer," said old
Joe, that in shooting at my flag and
woundirg her you've degraded the hon
or CT it? Are you aweer of that?'
"You came in my way. was shoot
ing for my Entertainment, answered
Mr.. Sloper.
you're retired tailor, amt you?"
said Joe.
Sloper sullily answered yes.
Have you any acquaintance with the
laws which are made and purwided for
British soamen when it happens that
their flags degraded by the haction of
retired tailor?' said old Joe.
Mr.. Sloper, instead of answering cast
larguishing eye at the river banks,
which were fast sliding past, and re-
quested to he set ashore.
"It don't answer his purpose to speak
to the pint" said Plum.
"Listen now," said old Joe, shaking
his forefinger close into the face of little
Sloper. "When retired tailor degradcs
the honor CT u seaman's flag by shoot
ing at it and a-riddling Of it, the law
as made and purwided sets forth this,
crew and i'll the presence Of all hands
pass sentence after giving an impartial
hearing to what the culprit may have
to say in his defense. Now, you burned
little powder burner, speak up ard own
what made you do it, and then I'll pass
Judgment.
Whats your game? What d'you
mean to do with me? Where are you
carrying ne tor" cried the owner Of La.
boris Retreat. "None Of your nonsense,
you know. This is what's called kid
mapping. It's indictable. You may find
yourself in a very unpleasant predica-
ment over this business, l can tell you.
You profess to know who ! am. D'yCu
want to know what I'm worth? You d
better put me ashore, say, and stop
this nonsense. l don't mind a joke, Int
this is carrying lark too far. Why, "
he shrieked, there we are a-drawing on
to Northfeet! You'd better let me go. -
And so he went ON.
Old Joe and the others listened to
him with stern faces. In fact, they re-
ceived his protests and threats as his dc
Tense. When he had made an end Joe
Westlake spoke thus:
"Sloper II dunno your Christian
name and won't demean myself by
asking Of it-four of your countrymen
and sorry they are that you should be
a countryman of their 'n-have patiently
listened to what you we had to say. And
all that you've said amounts to moth
ing at all. The haccusation made az i'll
you is one of the very gravest as can be
brought ag'in retired tailor. You re
charged with degrading the honor of
my flag, and you've been found guilty,
and my sentence is that after suffi-
cient times been granted you for prayer
and meditation, you be brought up to the
place of hexecution, aboard this here
cutter, the Tom Bowling, and hanged by
/ the neck till you're dead. "
''Murder!" screamed Sloper. And here
| ESQ he afterward swore in COURT the
unhappy little tailor fell down on his
knees and begged Joe Westlake to grant
him his life.
CLAP him under hatches, " exclaimed
the old man-ofwar's man. And Plum
and another, lifting the hatch cover,
! pOpptu MI. olOpeT uOWu uIlluuB Tue JUL
last again.
By this time the afternoon had very
considerably advanced, the wind had
dropped, and it was already dark when
the Tom Bowling let go her anchor off
Gravesend. The cabin lamp was light
ed, and old Joe and Plum sat down to q
hearty meal, after which they smoked
their pipes and dipped a ladl e into sill
yer bowl Of rum punch Of Westlake' IS
own brewing.
'D'you mean, captain" said Plum,
THAT the little chap i'll the hold shall
have any supper"
"Well, Peter answered old Joe,
GIVE bin Affirming of it over in my
mind, and spite Of his 'rageous conduct
| dunno, after all, that it would b.
right to let him lie all night without a
bite of something. Call Bob.
This man, whose surname was Rob
ins, arrived. Joe told him to get Ian
tern and cut plate Of beef and bread
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