The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-04-14

DICK RODNEY:
Or, The Adventures of ;
An Eton Boy. 5
BY JAMES GRANT.


in the same fashion, and all wore false
noses of singular size and great bril-
lance, with low wigs and long tails.
On Neptune and his goddess receiy-
ing a dram and questioning the can
tain about his crew, it vas discovered
mat Antonio and l We're the only two
on board who had never crossed the
II before; Whereupon the Tritons
Whooped and danced as they laid vio-
lent hands on me. I submitted to the
usual shaving and 81 forth with a
good grace, and compounded, to az old
other annoyances, for two bottles of
brandy, and ascending to the main
crcss-trees without going through the
lubber's hole. But for the Cubano
there was neither ransom, escape O
outlet; and the poor wretch, in conse-
quence Of his mysterious antecedents,
was very roughly handled, the more so
that he had threatened to use his knife
if molested.
1t was soon trundled out of his hand
by n body Of Tritons, while another
soused him we'll with salt water as he
was conveyed past the long boat,
Which was dashed amidships, and in
which they We're stationed with buck
cts ready filled.
Held last on every side, he was
brought before the "goddess-born" and
memorable monarch of the main. who
ordered the Lord Chief Barber at
once to shave him."
NOW, as Antonio had 4 rather Ink
urlant beard and mustache, the n|enti-
full application thereto of a
CT tar and slush, such as we used for
3reaslng the masts, was the reverse of
agreeable; but the stern orders of NeD-
tune, which We're beloved hoarselv
through a tin trumpet, were faithfully
and deliberately obeyed, and the con-
tents of a dirty iron pot were smeared
over the cheeks, beard and mouth of
the Cubano by Billy, a mischievous
ship-Doy, with an unsparing hand.
"Demonio! Malditai' was heard at
intervals, II greeted with lauchter.
but When he attempted to storm or
swear the hrush--a reeking tuft of
Oil, tar and every horrid grease-was
thrust into his mouth.
The Lord Chief Barber was now
commanded to remove this roisome
mess with his razor, and he scraped if
OH with a piece of hoop, which had
been carefully notched for the purpose
"a process which, as it uprooted sun
dry thick portions of Antonio's coal
black bristles, caused him to veil and
sputter out hoarse Spanish oaths al
ternately.
He was again deluged with salt
water; and greater serverities were
about to be practiced upon him, as
some of the Tritons cried for .the
ghost of Roberts to come out of the
sea- others, to "smoke him, bv put-
ting his head in the hood of the cooks
%fuhnel,' when Weston ransomed him
for two bottles of brandy, and he was
permitted to stink away to his bunk.
breathing vengeance against all his
tormentors.
Grog was again served round. the
deck was cleared for a dance, and the
crew footed the hours away in 2 s7c-
cesslon of hornpipes, while the grim
Cubano lay growing in the forecastle.
Three cheers for the Captain. and
three more for Marc Hislop, terminated
the fun, and all but the watch retired
below.
"They have gone too far with that
fellow, as some Of us may discover be-
lore the voyage comes to a close,' said
Hlslop, when we were having a parting
glass in the cabin.
YES" replied Weston; "he is q
dark dog, and though I am not verv
rich. 1 would give a hundred pounds
to fathom the mystery of old Roberts
disappearance. Well, here's to orr
wives and sweethearts at home"
81 have neither sweetheart nor wife"
said Hislop, as he tossed off his glass:
"but 1 have a poor old mother who
loves me as well as either could do"
Weston's eye wandered to the DOR
traits of his wife and child, to whom
he was tenderly attached, and for
whom all his savings, by salary, ton
mage, and hat-money, were carefully
boarded; for whom, poor fellow, he
tempted the dangers of the great deep,
the war Of the elements, and endured
the h%ardships of a sailors life-his
wife, his little one, and their home
"his all; his sheet-anchor in this
world, and his guide to the next" as
l once heard him say, forcibly and
strangely.
CHApTEp WV