The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-04-13
FORCASTLE YARN.


Bill Warren, and the man from tie Elec-
ira. Well, afore the watch Is called IL
have time 10 spin that yarn. that is. il
take up III my short terms. This Is how
it was:
We were in the old ship Vineyard. Of
/ New York and our capn was Jack Lun-
ker-one Of the ugIiest. hardest hearted
and hardest-hsted men l ever knew. He
wasn't 50 quick-tempered as some: but
if he got down on a man. Io0l. out, one
Of our crew was Bill Warren. l think
he was a New Hampshire boy. He was
the Youngest Of the foremast hands, and
one Of the kindest hearted fellows that
ever breathed You wouldn think that
any man could ever find fault with Bill
Warren: but ne was just the man for
Lunlzer 10 hate; and what made it worse
was that the cap'n got a spite against
him afore we sailed A brother of one
of the owners was minister, AMI one
day, IN New York, we had preachin
aboard our ship: and this minister, not
| pointed Bill Warren out ~ fit man to
copy and he went 50 far as 10 tell the
capn that he might take example from
Bill with profit
Iou can see mates how this thing
worked with man like Jack Lunker
It made him mad; and from that time
he hated Bill and resolved to take him
down. We were bound up the l[editer-
rauean after fruit and wine All the way
across the Atlantic the capn was short
and cru,ty toward Bill but it wasn't till
after we'd entered the Straits that ne let
ont his real meanin'
We were lunnin down from Marseil-
/ les to Naples One night Bill had his
tricl. IT the wheel The capn came mp.
aud -e-iu him there, asked him what he
was ,tcerin' 50 wild for Bill said he was
~teerin accordin 10 orders. And so he
/ was, and he WAS steerin as neatly ~
any man could steer, with o1ders to hug
! lie wind right into the edge Of It's eve
I | can't tell you all the words that follow
| ed Lunker swore like a pirate, and Bill
was calm a> could be. By.m by the capn
called him Il name that was awful a
name that reflected upon the mother that
bore him. Human nature couldn't en-
/ dure it. Bill answered back, not saucily
but independently. Then the cap.u struck
him and Bill struck back He couldn't
| help it. Bat il was blow and that was
enough, Lunker called his mates. and
had BIZ put IN double irons. and showed
under the top gallant forecastle; and he
Swore that The lad should have the sweet
e~t s.t-Ie oi rile c,ss-o -zI-- ,ssiIs ,i..>.y.y
q man had
OF course the capn had got a twist on
Bill. and accordin to the rules OF the
service. ne could fog him: and we knew
very Well that the fogging would be
dreadful. In fact. we knew that Lun-
krr would kill the lad If h. could tind a
way to do it safely. And can tell You
that aboard that silp we We're glum and
unhappy. we all loved Bill Warren.
But W, daren,t say a word in his favor.
The tigers blood was up III the capn.
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,
rs we'd got a large and varied assortment
Of cargo to get eff Bill was kept i'll
double-irons under the topgallant fore
castle and whenever the cap,n Went that
way we could see the sign of blood in his
eve. \ terrible reckoning was to come.
Every cvenin' when we'd done work.
one OF the watches WAS allowed to 60
ashore Cap'n Lunker generally Went be
fore we did Ieavin one of the mates III
charge Tom Bowditch and | We're in the
starboard watch and it was our evenin
ashore. Tom came to me and said he'd
gog IN idea He was aoin to try for Bill.
How II YOU doitz" ,aid l.
DO you know Jack Hearty, Of the
Electra" said he
The Electra was Baltimore ship then
Iyin close by H. in the bay, and Tom had
introduced me to Jack on shore the day
before. | said remembered him
We'll. said Tom, Jack i one of the
bestplay- l eycrsa He'sascream-
er at it. We know where Capn Lunler
puts in nights, and | think with Jacks
help, we can find way to frighten him
Win YOU come along, and help pay the
bills"
told him Ia do anything Go help Bill
| Warren So ashore we went. and with
out any trouble found Jack Hearty. And
I let me tell you. Jack was splendid fel-
low. He stood six feet and an inch in
his stockins was handsome aS a picture:
and had a voice like o them deep. grum
notes in IA big cathedral organ. He ought
u ave been preacher, only for the spoil
III of q splendid sailor And Jack had
his wits about him too.
When we had told 10 Jack the whole
story Of Bill Warren, he asked rs if Lun-
ker WAS a superstitious man,
Mercy, never knew a man more su-
perstitous. He would sooner bore a hole
through his ships bottom than shoot
Mother Carys chicken; and he'd ave
thrown up his berth afore he'd make sail
on Friday: and once | knew him to lie
in port five days after his time rather
than sail while the moon was rising near
/ the dog-star. And more, like all men of
! his class he was q moral coward. No
man can carry a heart like his and he
truly brave at the same time He was
brave like a tiger. He could crouch, and
jump. aud strike: but he must DO it und-
Ier cover OF superiority OF power,
said Jack: If your capn's that kind
of a man, l guess l know how to take
him Come With mo