Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-02-24

But the weather, though overcast
and threatening, remained perfectly
calm until just after daylight, and the
skipper had about made up his mind to
be mulcted of light money again with
as good grace as possible-though in
imagination he already heard the jibes
and jeers of the brother shippers whom
he expected to meet in the Gulf of st.
Lawrence on joining the Yankee fleet
there.
For the fiftieth time in the night he
leveled his old canvas-covered spy
glass and peered anXiously towards
the shore. Holy smoke! There she
was at last-a four-oared boat with
man in the stern, just starting off in
the direction of the .Chanticleer!" But
while he was taking a second long look
at her, a great drop of rain struck the
back of his hand, followed by the loud
pattering of others on the deck. Almost
at the same moment, from the black
bank of cloud in the northwest, there
came heavy gust of wind, flashing the
water into miniature white caps and
causing the halliards to beat lively
tattoo upon the masts.
In half dozen bounds Skipper To-
bias rushed forward, Selling as he went
the loose thwart from a boat ON deck,
with which he delivered a couple of re-
sounding whaeks upon the fore-scuttle,
just over the heads of the sleeping
crew.
Turn out, We bullies!" he roared
"All hans turn out an make sail!
Here's them Blue-nosers chock aboard
on us, an a spankin' breeze BLOWN
right off'n the lan'!'
In a moment or two every man was
on deck, assisting in getting the schoon-
er under way-One or two out on the
bow SPIRITS casting loose the jib; others
heaving wildly at the wind1ass. and still
others casting the stops from the main
sail and selling the haliiards.
Don't bother with no fores'li" cried
Skipper Tobias. ''There's more win
whar this comes from, an don't call
late to lose no sticks on them blame
herrin'-eater's count: Now git the
mainsail onto her, b'ys, quick's ever the
Lord'll let vel" and the excited skipper
rushed aft to overhaul the main sheet.
Wen fill her away to the east'ardi"
he roared again. ''Give her the jib,
there toward. an sing out lively the
minute your anchors broke out! Well
git out o. this like scarf hog, an show
them bloody pirates what kind o trees
make shingles up roun' our way!"
Here, Uncle 'Siahi" he continued to
grizzled old she1lback near him.
You're better 'quainted through this
here formation guzzle hole n I be!
Take the tiller, an don't you show her
no mercy! I'll jis' stack up that air
toppin' If a grain!"
Just then a hoarse shout of can
chor's broke OUT came from forward,
and the bluff bow of the "Chanticleer"
fell off rapidly under a vicious flaw
which at that moment struck her.
Down, down she went, scuppers to, lee
rail under even, while an ominous clat-
tering of crockery ware issued from be-
low, succeeded Immediately by the
startling cry from several throats:
''The ole mans overboard!"
Let her come tot"
''Heaye him a kidboard, or some
thin'i''
The greatest confusion prevailed:
some rushing to launch the boat, some
10 do this and some that, while Uncle
'Siah showed his tiiler hard down and
eagerly scanned the water astern in the
dim morning light.
But to the utter establishment of