Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-14

shes a sc,ry look to her, with her yard
arms sinking every other sea- said Capt.
Image and her decks like the side Of a
house ] shouldn't care to navigate craft
that preferred to lie down on her beam
ends.
Take this glass sir. and you'll see the
lee Quarter boat davit tackles are over
hauled. That means they got at least one
boat in the water To my mind, she's dere-
Hct.'
II hope her crew have got 10 dry land
somewhere. poor beggars, said Capt
Image Nasty things, those old wind jam
mers Mr.. Strake. Give me steam
But there's a pile of money in her STILL,
said the third mate. following up his own
thoughts. She's an iron ship and she'll
be 2.pUD tons good. Likely enough IN the
Frisco grain trade
And you're thinking she'd be a nice plum
if we could pluck her in anywhere said
Image, reading what in his mind.
We'll, me lad, l know that as well as you,
and no one would be pleaseder to pocket
tS0o. But the old poses q maiiboat and
because shes got about quarter of hun
dred weight of badly Spelt letters on board,
she can't do that sort of savage work il
there's no life-saving thrown in an extra
reason. Besides, We re behind time. as il is,
with smelling round for SO much cargo, and
though | shall draw my IA per cent on
that, l shall have it all to pay away again
and more 10 boot in fines for being late.
No, tell you it isn't all sheer proht ard
delight in being skipper on one of these
West African coast boats.
Strake drummed at the white rail of the
bridge He was very young man, and he
was very KEEN on getting the chance of dis
tinguishing himself; and here, on the warm
winaIeSs sweils abeam, the chance seemed
10 SIT beckOning him. I've been thinking
sir, If you could lend NE half dozen men
could take her in somewhere myself"
m as likely to lend you half a dozen
angels Look at the deck hands; look at
the slchIy trip this has been We've had In
put some OF them on double tricks AZ the
wheel already; and as for getting any
paihtih h done, or having the ship cleaned
up Dat. Why l can see We SHAH go inro
poor as dirty as a GeOrdie collier Mr.
tIdAe' II you nave a penn 9th of brains
yo,' ~ I d~aE anywhere. l wish to whskers
YOU snow en- sometimes
Old mans mad at losing a nice I,,,,r 90
'tNast' thought Strake: natural I
5T,I $50 80 ne said quietly: Aye aye sir.
'i,u "dIhed TO the other end of the brjdaa
APT Image followed him haIf wav b,,t
e,,1Ijpt lfIeSolutely with his hand on The
deek ba IoUhi he teiesraph On the fore main
hettle was leaning on The rail -, -, wen
FULLY at the dereiict. '''i' staring visit
b,r r"or besgar,' Image unused. ..,tisn.t
70 guess what he's thinking ahoIt
wonder If | could fix it for hin re ""oI II
sI nome 1t might set him on his -
san-' ana he's come low enoueb 80
+bo II hadn't given him a room in
-''7| IOI ora times he.
nave mad TO go home as a Gfstrs1'-e'', ne
man ana touched his cap to me VIZ +
paSStu- We not done badly bv him ~
cIsss Ia. 20 pay Tor that room in the first
80. dsS out OF my own pocket. and if he v,as
! taAe mat Old wind-jammer i'm sornev,b1-re
hosi,5 Loih out and very like give me a dash
besl 'tS- les. will say that about Kettie.
ne : honest a barkeeDer ana , -
besides He's a steamer saiIor - IouS
anu mas been most of these wears a,1J -,
20 the white wings business aoair
d,.rtI,. only y, Knows. Forget he hasn't cot
lsIHtS III It's too late. and then 49,
HIIiSeI probably. However. that's his III
aNer- where We're going to scratch bir,
W crew from's the thing thar hotbars
80 " eN, we II see He leaned down
o.tT lh= UPPER bridge rail. and called.
mere q minute, captain"
~. 'I iazi Nettie eye lit. and he came up
'i1E Iau"erS with a boys quickuess
sci ri, .ot c-.It toward the deserted YES
VI me 1ulIriSser, hasn't she been .
" IA. 90 you make her ont for?'
tts Jb FtScg grain ship, Stuff the bulk. And
an your 'mainsdiI haul and the sn,,.r, ~
gymnasticS?" '"e Sq"dFe rig
l m hard enough pushed now 20 raros,r-
-, 'ie , 'ht"TE sums they taught at navfga-
me" my "VuIu serve
l know. And I'm as sorry for Won can-
t.,Ih' as l can hold. But you see ft's mis-
m short of sailormen; I've bortI,- - -
10 steer and keep the decks cIee,,.' , cI.ot7i II
We none TO spare ''' way
u don't ask for fancy goods" said Kettle
asetiy- IFe me anything with hands
on tapes. nisgers. stokers vhat Van
hhe- and III soon teach them tbcir dapcfDs,
Ups Lei me 90 round and see. I beIfev9.
an rake up enough hands somehow,
wi You must be quick about it," said
captain" ION ''S minutes,
captain Kettle ran down of the bridge
his M M ~ s chiy out Of sight, and hard at
waited minute, and he turned Ia hi 1bf|I
mat Now, my lad" he said. Il know,
you Re disappointed but with the other
litIa Sl'N IKE they are, it's just impos-
SIDE Tor me TO let you go If I did tba
company would sack me and the dirt.
BOARD OF trade would probably fake av-ay-
my tIcket. 50 you may as well do The kind
ana help poor old Cappie Kettle Won sec
what's he come down to. through NO 81
OF MS own You're young and you'ra fItII
W inc codnhngs with Confidence I'm old
Si, ana knew that luck may very Wen
ger Up ana hit me. and IN be. vantirf, n
heib!is hand myself. Us a rotten unde-
pthdab!e trade. this slilorins You might
Jest can the carpenter and get the cover
or mat smaller Nfeboat"
You think he'll get a crow tbsn eli.
and not our deck hands, so
Iilm? Hell get some things with legs
anu arms 10 them if he has TO white EN-
Out OF kihdln wood It's not that tbaT'u
s'op 'app-e Kettle now. me lad.
iTsSEAtIy Kettle came back
eh' captain he said Il got n fine
ere" 10 volunteer. if you can see volJr Wv
70 Iet me have them. There's fireman ana
trimmer. both English: there's a third
ctaSS passenger. a dago Of some sort 7
thihk he IS. that was Canger on the CON
= FaiWaE. negro stone mason and
thefs Mr.. Ddytip-Phiiipps: thatU make a
bp"d.-Strons ships company"
Day u-Phiiipps.- said Iu,aa. ..Jrb,
n an offlcvr IN the English army. and he's
bSen some sort of resident or political
thihS up N one Of those Niger towns at
the back there. What's he want to 90 for9,
thing" VI 'i's
captain Image gave grim laugh We'll
l think he'n find all the fun he's any usq
Tor before he's ashore again Now Nr
Strakc. hurry with that boat. You're 70
take charge and bring her back and mind
you re not to leave the captain here and his
gang aboard if the vessels too badIy
wrecked 10 be safe"
The word was hurry" The third mate
Tended on the boat. while Kettles crew o,
h0hdrScrpts scrambled unhandily down to
TAKE their places The negro stone mason
VINO had ueen a stowaway, refused sinh.
boTnly to leave the steamer and So WAS
lffgNFE rEag4 ,.St,ss.