Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-09-23


ANY ycore?''
A many looking fellow stepped ont
Of the group and sand You've got the
captain and two mates I'm bosun here,
and yonder's my mate. We're next. but
were not bosses in the way Of bein re.
sponsible for anything that has happen.
ed or might happen to you We b'long
forrard There's no call to shoot at the
crew, for there's not q man among 'em
but what nd be glad to see You get
ashore and get there himself.
Silence. bosunl'' bawled the cap
tain But the voice Of authority seemed
pitifully ludicrous and homogeneous cou
pied with the captains position and at.
titude. and every face on the deck wore
a grin The leader noticed the silent
merriment and said:
Laramie. | reckon these men'll
stand You can come up here I'm get.
tin long in years and kinder steadyin
down. but | : pose YOU and Pache want
some fun Start yer whistle and turn
loose
Up the steps bounded Laramie. and
with ringing whoop as a prelude began
whlstllng a clear, musical trill, while
Pache, growing out, Dance, dance,
you white livered coyotesl' sent a bullet
through the chief mates boot heel.
'Dancel' repeated Laramie between
bars of the music Crack, cracki'
went the pistols, while bullets ratified
around the feet of the men on the hatch,
and Laramie's whistle rose and fell on
the soft morning air.
Old Sol, who has looked on many
scandalous sights, looked on this and
hid his face under a cloud, refusing to
witness, for never before bad the eth
les of shipboard life been so outrageous
ly violated. \ squat captain and two
6 foot officers, nearly black in the
face from rage and eXertion, with hands
clasped owe their heads, hoped and
skipped around a narrow stage to the
accompaniment of pistol reports har
moniously disposed among the notes of
a whistled tune, while bullets grazed
their feet. and an unkempt, disigured
and sore headed crew looked on and
chuckled When the mate, weak from
loss of blood, fell and rolled to the deck
the leader stopped the entertainment.
Nov, gentlemen, " he said III his
serious voice. I'm called Pecos Tom,
and I've had considerable experience in
my time, but this is my fust with hu-
man creatures so weak and ~thoughtless
that they'll drug and steal three men
without taEin their guns away from
them And 50 on account of this shift.
less im"providcnce / reckon this boat
will have to turn round and go back -
They rolled and kicked the two mates
TO the rail, lifted the captain to his
feet and said:
Give the right and proper order to
yer men to turn this boat round
With his face working coHvulsiyely,
Captain Belchior glanced at his captors.
at his eager, waiting crew, at the
wheel without a helmsman. at a dark
euing of the water on the starboard bow
to the southwark. IN aloft and back
again to the three frowning muzZles.
One hand to the wheel, square in
main and Gro lack Yards. " he called
He was conquered
With "A hurrah, which Indicated the
sincerity of these orders, the crew sprang
to obey them. and with forwards braced
to starboard and head sheets fat the
ship Wilmington paid off. wore around
and. bringing the young breeze OF the
port quarter, steadied down to a course
for Sandy Hook. which the captain,
with hands released. but still under the
influence of those threatening pistols,
worked out from the mates dead reck
oniug Then he was pinIoned again,
but allowed to pace the deck and watch
his ship. while the two officers were
kept under the rail, sometimes stepped
upon or kicked and often admonished
on the EVIL of their ways
Early passengers on the East river
ferryboats were treated to a novel sight
next morning, which they appreciated
according to their nautical knowledge.
A lofty ship with skysails and royals
hanging in the buntlines and jibs tall-
ing ahead like flags was charging up