The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-11-30

-r recruit stopped and asked Seven
spots ex-volunteer companion for a
match to light his pipe. Sevenspot's
example had not been lost upon the
ex-volunteer, and he was prompt to
follow it.
do 1 look like cigar lighter?"
he asked. Save your money and buy
matches. If you haven't got match,
get light from your rifle"
'How in thunder am / to do. that?"
asked the recruit.
That's dead easy" said the ex-vol-
unteer, contemptuously; "stick car
fridge in your rife, put your pipe
close to the muzzle, pull the lever with
your foot and puff like locomotive.
The flash will light your pipe. That's
the way we did in Cuba last year"
The recruit stared operAmouthed
for a moment and then started down
toward the gunracks.
"Niver give a recruit advice" said
Sevenspot, good or bad, it makes no
difference. Whichever it is, he'll get
in trouble an blame We for it. Pwhat
II thot rook swallows thot. loads with
ball cartridge an blows his hat peg
OFF,"
let him blow" said the ex-volun-
teer, cheerfully, and stretched out ON
the deck for sleep.
Two minutes later the ex-volurteer
was snoring with will. The spite
full crack of a krag-jorgensen echoed
from the stern of the transport Sew
enspot stopped rubbing his precious
pipe bowl and glanced down at his
sleeping companion. Then he got up
slowly and sauntered indifferently
down the guard.
Half an hour later he lounged back
and resumed his old seat. Then he
reached down and gently touched the
back of the ex-volunteer's ear, awak-
ening him without any start.
Jack" said he, between now and
rethreat this noight yen be a mimber
av company @ with quarters in the
guardhouse. They're luckin' for ye
now, an they'll get We whin We line
up for mess. if not before"
"For what?"
"For gettin' gay an givin' advice
to rook. Yen get about six-six. Six
months in tn guardhouse and six
months pay. BY TIL best av luck thot
roole didn't load with ball, but with
blank cartridge. His face lucks loike
he'd had tn blue smallpox. The sur
geon says thot by bein' rale indus
thrious he could pick all tn powder
out av it in tn course av six months.
Thin tn captain ken an asked how
it happened. An av coorse tn rook
blamed you. AT first th' captain
laughed an thin he drew a long face
an ordered your arrest. Whin they
take We, say as litthle as We can with
out standin' mute. Take it aisy an
don't fret. III see av / can do any
thing for We. An III be witness me-
silf."
1t was just daylight on the morning
of the fifth day out from Honolulu. All
about the deck Of the transport the
men were sleeping soundly with the
sky for roof. Private Sevenspot rolled
out of his blankets. rubbed his eyes and
sat up. Then he gathered up his uni
form. folded it neatly in his blanket
and started below for a shower bath.
AS he passed the bridge the ships first
officer called to him:
Hello. Sevenspot!" he shouted,
sides good"
Sevenspot made a one-handed catch
and asked: NOW, pwhere do you sea
fakirs pretend thot ye've figured we are
TIL mornin'?"
The officer laughed. You don't take
Spot?"
''I wanst knew a man." said Seven
spot, 'pwhat claimed he could measure
TIL distance to TIL stars. Shure I'm
thinking he'd need long pole to do tn
loike av thot."
Just the same, we crossed the one
hundred and eightieth degree of longi.
tude last night, and we've skipped a
day. Yesterday was Tuesday, Septem-
Der 12, 1890 To-day is Thursday, Sep
tember IA, 1899. We dropped Wednes-
day. September 13, 1899, entirely. There
never was and never will be any such
day on this ship. What do you think Of
that?"
Sevenspot stopped as he was about to
take a bite from the banana and stared
up at the officer. Then he chanted,
Gregorian measure:
1t may be true,
But 1t sounds to me
Like blanked-blanked lie.
Then he scratched his head as ii
puzzling over deep problem, and final
~ said, with a serious face:
"Do you raylly name thot this boat
has skipped wan day an thot thot day
were Wednesday, September 1872"
THAT'S what | mean"
81 misdoubt We, but I'll take your
word for it, But if iver find that
ye've lied to me, ye red-headed sea tur.
tie, I'll pull out your bowlegs be tn
roots an bate ye to death with 'em."
With this parting shot Sevenspot
went below.
At nine o'clock that morning the
~