The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-06-14

.~c. OF curse. something with steam
her would be better. because we're
nu1h steamer men, but that's out Of the
question. That would mean too many
10 share. SO the thing is. can YOU buy
this lifeboat and victual her for the
Trip? I'm no what ye might call a cap
Italist myself, just for the moment"
Capt. Kettle eyed the grimy serge of
his companion with disfavor. You don't
look it." he said. That last engine
room you got sacked from must have
been a mighty filthy place"
Twas" said McTodd. But. as it
happened. | didn't get the sack. | ran
from her here in Glib, because I'd no
wish to get back to England and have
this news useless i'll m pocket. And, Of
course. | had to let slide the IS i'll wages
that was due to me"
BY James, it's beginning to look like
business when Il Scottie runs away from
Sillcr that he's righteously earned"
well, In no denying it was a spec
u|lation. It's a bit of Il speculation, if
ye come to reckon up. asking Il newly
sacked sea captain to join in such a
venture.'
Il don't suppose you'd have much
choice here in Gibraltar"
Maybe you'd not nave heard Of
either me or the wreck if | had" said
McTodd.
Kettles face hardened. Sec here"
he said, keep a civil tongue i'll your
head. or 90 out of this lodging. I'm to
hc treated with respect. or | don't deal
with YOU
Then let my clothes alone and be
civil yourself. 1t 5 a mighty dry shop
this. captain
I've no whiskey in the place nor spare
money to buy it. If we're to 90 on with
this plan of yours. we shall want every
dollar that can be raised
"That'S true, and neither me nor Tonic
nave 10 shillings between us
Kettle gave up pacing the room and
sat himself on the edge of the table and
%frowncd. Il don't see the use of taking
either Antonio. if that's his name, or
your other dago. | don like the breed
of them. You and | would be quite
enough to handle an open boat, and
quite able to take care Of ourselves. Ii
the wrecks got the money on her. and
we finger it, Wen promise to bring them
back their share all right; and if the
things Il tizzlc. as it's very likely to be.
well. they'll be saved Il very unpleasant
boat cruise
Its no GO said the engineer. "and
YOU may make up your mind to have
IT, ''i ittti VI ~ Nv L
on your tail where You are. Dye think
I've any appetite for dagocS myself!
No. sir. no more than YOU. | don't trust
them no more than a stripped thread.
And they don't trust me. They wouldn't
trust YOU. They would not trust the
provost of Edinboro if he was to make
similar proposals to them"
Then have you no idea where this
steamboat was put on the g%ronnd?"
Man, I've telled We no already"
Seems to me YOU don't know much,
Mr.. McTodd."
Il don't. What | know is this: I come
ashore here after Il vera eXhauSting
trip down the Mediterranean. just for Il
drink to fortify the system against the
chills on the run home. The brandy is
poor here on the rock. though I'll admit
1t : cheap. and as for the whiSkey-
Never mine that; get on with your
yarn"
'Dinna hustle Il man so. Wecl. l
went to a little dark shebeen, where !
kenned the cutthroat i'll charge. and
gave the name of the ship | wanted
sending back to in case sleep overcome
me. and settled down for an afternoons
enjoyment. YeH ken what l mean:'
Il know you're Il drunken beast
when YOU get the chance for an orgic."
q lily So sI'ttii ~
maybe I'd no nave left BalIinrochater,
where my father was Free Kirk meen-
lister. We both have our Weaknesses.
Capt. Owen Kettle. and it's they that
have brought us to what we are
IF YOU don leave me alone and get
III with your yarn" said Kettle acidly,
you'll find yourself i'll the street"
20, | like your hospitality, fine. and
Ill stay, thanks. Weel. I'd just settled
mySef down to a good square drink, at
this Spaniard's shebeen. when out Of Il
dark corner comes Tonic and the other
dago. bowling and taking off their hats
as polite as though d been an arch
bishop at the very least. It's cXtraor-
binary how the lower classes instinctive-
~ 90 to an officer when they need help"
1t is, Mac. it is"
I'D met Tonio in Lagos. He was
greascr on a branch boat there and / was
her second engineer. He knew some
English-coast EnSlish-and he did the
talking. The other Dago knew nothing
but his own unrlghteous tongue, and
just said See-Sec when Tonio explained
to him what was going on. and grinned
like a bagful of monkeys. | give Tonic
credit: he spat out his tale like a man.
lie and his mate were i'll the stoke hold
of q dago steamboat coming from the
1AINtE L idId 10 be1Od ana calling ut
some of the Western islands en- route.
One night they were just going off
watch and were leaning over the rail to
get Il breath of cool air before turning
III. They We're steaming past some
rocky islands. and there in plain sight
of them was Il vessel hard and fast
ashore. There was no mistake about it:
they both saw her: a steamboat of 100
tons. And what was more. the other
Iortugee. Tonio'S friend. said he knew
her. According to him she was the
l'uhcanSby Head. He'd served in her
S'"kehoid three voyages. and he said
NED know her anywhere"
~ DagoS word isn't worth much for
i Inlng like that" said Kettle.
"ail Il hlt. The pair of them stayed
"h'ie 'h"E were and looked at the rest
"i me watch on deck. The second mate
III NE orldSe was staring ahead sleepi-
me quaflermaSter at the wheel was
nodding and blinking at tbo h;nn,.Io.