Middletown transcript., 1899-04-08
OUR RUSE.
BY G. d,

J
We were in the old ship Vineyard
New York and our cap'n was JAG
Lunker-one of the ugliest, hardest
hearted and hardest-fsted men I evt
knew. He wasn't so quick tempere
as some; but if he got down on mai
look oulI One Of our crew was Bi
Warren. l think be was New Ham,
shire boy. He was the youngest of th
foremast hands, and one of the kiGdes
hearted fellows that ever breathet
You wouldn't think that any ma
could ever find fault with Bill Warner
but be was just the man for Lunker
hate; aud what made it worse was tha
the cap'n got spite against him afor
we sailed. A brother of one of th
owners was minister, ard one day i
New York we had preachin' aboar
our ship; and this minister, not KNOWN
what mischief he might be doin'
pointed Bill Warren out as ft man t.
copy, and he went so far as to tell th
cap'n that he might take example from
Bill with profit.
You can see, mates, how this thing
worked with a man like Jack Lunker
1t made him mad; and from that time
he hated Bill and resolved to take hin
down. We were bound up the Mediter.
ranean after fruit and wine. All the
way across the Atlantic the cap'n was
short and crusty toward Bill, but it
wasn't till after we entered the Straits
that he let out his real meanin'.
We were runnin' down from Mar
seilles to Naples. One night Bill bad
his trick at the wheel. The cap'n
came up and, seein' him there, asked
him what he was steer'n' so wild for.
Bill said he was steerin' accordin' to
orders. And so he was-and he was
steerin' as neatly as any man could
steer with orders to hug the wind right
into the edge of its eye. I can't tell
you all the words that followed. Lun-
ker swore like a pirate, ard Bill was
calm as could be. By'm by the cap'n
called him name that was awful-a
name that reflected upon the mother
that buTe him. Human nature couldn't
endure it. Bill answered back, not
but independently. Then the
cap'n struck him, and Bill struck back.
He couldn't help it. But it was a
blow, and that was enough. Lunker
called the mates, and had Bill put in
double irons and showed under the top
gallant forecastle; and be swore that
the lad should have the sweetest taste
Of the cat-o'-nine-tails that ever man
had.
Of course the cap'n had got twist
on Bill, and, accordin' to the rules of
the service, he could fog him, and we
knew very well, that the doggin' would
be dreadful. In fact, we knew that
Lunker would kill the lad if he could
fnd way to do it safely. And can
lell you that aboard that ship we ere
glum and unhappy. We all loved Bill
Warren, but we daren't say word in
bis favor. The tigers blood was up in
the cap'n and we might only make
matters worse if we opened our heads.
On the next day we cast anchor in the
Bay of Naples, where we might lie a
week, as we'd gcta large and varied as
sortment of cargo to get off. Bill was
kept in double irons under the topgal'
liant forecastle, and whenever the cap'n
went that way we could see the sign of
blood in his eye. A terrible reckoning
was to come.
Every evenin', when we'd done work,
one of the watches was allowed to 60
ashore. Cap'n Lunker generally went
before we did, leavin' one of thu mates
in charge. Tom Bowditch and l were
in the starboard watch, and it vas our
evening ashore. Tom came to me and
said he'd got an idea. He was goin' to
Try for Bill.
"How'll you do it?" said I.
"Do you know Jack Hearty of the |
said he.
The Electra was a Baltimore ship
then lynn close by US in the bay, and |
Tom had introduced nae to Jack on |
shore the day before. I said 1 remem-
bered him.
SWELL" said Tom, "Jack is one of |
the best play-actors ever saw. He's a
screamer at it. We know where Cap'n |
Lunker puts in nights, and 1 think,
with jacks help, we can find a way to
'righten him. Will you come along
and help pay the billsP"
I told him I'd do anything to help
Bill Warren. So ashore we went, and
without trouble found Jack Hearty.
And let me tell you, Jack was a splen-
lid fellow. He stood six feet and an
nch in his stockin's. was handsome as
picture; and had voice like o. them
eep, grum notes in a big cathedral
rgan. He ought to ave been a
reacher, only for the spoilin' of
plendid sailor. And Jack had his wits
bout him, too.
When we had told to Jack the whole
tory of Bill Warren he asked US if
.unker was superstitious man.
Mercy, I never knew a man more
uperstitious. He would sooner bore a
ole through his ships bottom than
boot Mother CArey's chicken; and
ed ave thrown uphis berth afore he'd
lake sal on Friday; and once 1 knew
i'm to lie in port five days after his
me rather than sail while the moon
'as risin' near the dog-star. Aud
lore, like all men Of his class, be was
moral coward. No man can carry
cart like his and be truly brave at the
anne time. He was brave like tiger.
Tn oorJd arnnah or,l s,.rn.~ -. = -x.r |