Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-09-08
Captain Biggs.
By B. NJ. Neill.

Why Captain Biggs not being an
Englishman, nor in the habit of drop
ping his 'h'' on other occasions, said
/ "'arty," instead of hearty" will for
ever remain a mystery. Perhaps he
had an idea that it was right, tight,
salty way of saying it; but this is only
a theory and connot be substantiated
by proof.
The person addressed on this occas-
iona rather good-looking young gen
tleman, of say nty=five-smiled his
pleasure at hearing of the captains
good health.
Il you sea-faring men are remarkably
healthy, as a GLASS;" he observed.
Eyes, sir" answered the captain, de-
cidedly you are right. Look at me,
sir-the very picture of health. Right
and tight as vessel fresh from the
ship-yard. 'Arty, sir? 'Arty's no name
for it, STRIP
Captain Biggs was a stout red
faced man-in fact, from tip to toe
what some people would call thor
ough sea-going dog.
The young Englishman-whosen name
ny ulc way, was III hChSI oOiAS ~
marked, as good thing to say:
Comparing yourself to a new YES
sci. captain is hardly fair to yourself.
That has never been tested, and you
have; and when, indeed, have you been
found Wanting?'
Captain Biggs had, indeed, a great
reputation for reliability.
'rCome down into the cabin" he said
to Ernest "and take dinner"
They were soon dispatching the
meal, in the good old American fash
ion of boiling it.
so" said the captain, when it was
entirely bolted, as he leaned back i'll
his chair in a way that threatened to
split the back-'so you're to be my
supercargo?'
Il am to have that pleasure" an
swered Mr.. Johns.
Il like thatr' exclaimed the old salt,
bringing his fist down upon the table
with a force that made the dishes rat
tle-'I like that! A supercargo OF the
right sort gives Il moral tone to q YES
sci, and if there's anything / like, ii
is a moral tone"
The captain, having SO expressed
himself, added additional emphasis by
delivering Il round oath.
Both the cargo and the vessel We're
owned by Ernest Johns employers
and it was necessary to have an agent
at the discharging port; hence his po-
sition as supercargo.
Criticism, as regarded the vessel, Oh
4 its discipline, was no part of his duty
or he might have observed that the
81 cabin boy, who waited upon them
81 shrank in terror from the captains
glance.
One inconsistency. however. Ernest
could hardly help noticing. The cap
tain, in continuation of his remarks
upon moral tone, condemned, in nc
mild terms, the practice of imbibine
spirituous or malt liquors, INDUCED in,
as he knew, by some commanders
AS this tight-tight, it is to be feared.
in more respects than one-otd salts
breath had Il suspicious favor, and his
nose an equally suspicious rosiness, his
remarks were not calculated to in
spire confidence.
The first week Of the voyage passed
off without any incident of note On
one or two occasions the captain
knocked the esbin-boy down, but this
seeming to be nothing unusual. the
supercargo only wondered little, and
was silent
1t was the ninth day out. Toward
the east nothing could be seen but
sky and ocean: in the west, however.
land was distinctly visible. The super
cargo was standing In the bow OF the
vessel. watching the dancing waves.
Suddenly he heard the noise of fall.
ans. turning. beheld the cabin-boy
stretched upon the deck, and Captain
Biggs standing oyg him With 8 face