The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-22

twenty days out from Liverpool. bound
for Calcutta. The captain had just
gone below to get his sextant TO take
his noon day observation. and the mate
was squirting and straining away at
ahe sun with an old quadrant that made
the bright orb OF day dance and jump
about the horizon in a most unaccount-
able manner. His features were under
going alarming convuIsions, and had IL
not been for the ample quid Of tobacco
In his cheek, the man at the wheel
might have thought he was trying To
bite of large piece of the Tropic OF
Cancer. In fact, he was 30 engrossed
In an astronomical feat that the man
at the wheel took advantage Of the OPP
portunity TO bite off "A piece OF navy
plug" and expectorate voluminously in
To the corner of the wheel house graf
ings. Then, wiping his mouth carefully
with the back Of his hand, he smiled
complacently and cast his eye along
the weather leech of the mizzen skysail
and let IL wander down slowly over the
whole yast-fabfie- Of stretching canvas
until IL rested upon the main deck.
Here something attracted his attention
and he kept his gaze fixed so long AZ
one spot that the vessel luffed-to near
ly three points before he knew what he
was about, and, had the mate been less
sharp reprimand.
The objects that interested this toiler
OF the sea were the figures OF two ap-
prentice boys engaged I'm a lively scuffie
on the main deck. just behind the deck
house from where the mate stood.
They clinched and pummeied one an
other Justify, but the bigger of the two
was fast getting the best of It,
The bly, boy was OF stout build, and
his sun-bronzed face was ugly with
passion. The smaller one was thin
faced little runt OF a fellow. with big
eyes and mouth that drooped sadly at
the corners. He was perfectly cool and
tried to keep the big fellow off. every
now and then lashing, out with right
good Will at his opponents side lights"
parts of the human anatomy known
on shore as eyes. While this was going
on and the helmsmans attention wax
so dangerously diverted a bow-legged
form rushed suddenly up the starboard
gangway. welding knotted ropes
end. This was the second mate. and he
landed the ropes-end on the stern
sheets OF the big boy with such "A hear
ty good will that he turned with a yell
and jumped out of the way OF second
blow aimed at the same spot
Nov see here ye young divvils.'
said the second officer. trying to look !
severe. III it's fightin' ye be after. jest |
wait till tn watch IS called an I'll see !
yez git enough. but mind yez wait till !
tn bell strikes" Saying this the good |
natured second mate went back TO his |
work.
The big boy stood looking at his re- |
treating figure a moment and then /
turned to his former opponent.
'Tll bust yer yet. YOU see IL | don't. |
I'll teach yer who's goin' ter run this 1
here mtis. I'll give yer er good one for
this"
That's all right. me boy: HI see
Yer every time" said the little fellow,
as he started for his mess-kid.
Eight bels!" roared the captain
from the poop. He had come on deck
and taken the sun while affairs were /
getting mixed forward.
Eight bells" bawled the mate, with
"A quZzical look at his quadrant.
Eight bells" echoed everybody for
ward: and sailor struck them off In
pairs OH the ships bell with such vigor
that the black cook popped his head
eGt Gt-ef-tAe- -sslley-aeor and grinned.
Down the gangways trooped the star
board watch To the galley with thei.
empty mess-kids, and as the cook. or
"dactor," dealt out chunks of salt beef
and pannikins of baked beans. they
seated themselves about the deck and
to eat The two boys who
were fighting few minutes before, and
who belonged to different watches, now
attacked their salt junk" with vigor.
The larger one. who was known as
Bill among his shipmates. had signed
the ships articles as William Coleman.
lie was the son of a widow whose hus-
band had died while the boy was an
infant. leaving her in moderate cir
William, however as he |
grew up, missed the restraint OF a
fathers care. He refused to study, and
worried his poor mother so that, at the
Ia. .t.... A. A. 4.
ping house-the boy was apprent ced |
To Capt. Gantline, master and part
owner of the good ship Richard Ill.
CAPS. Gantline was an easy going old
skipper, and had the reputation OF be-
Ing a father" TO his crew. He was
50 good-natured in fact, that when a
thin-faced, half-starved looking little
orphan boy came OH board his sh y just
before she sailed and told ptiful story
Jf suffering and hardship, and begged
10 be shipped, he so far gave way to
lis feelings OF generosity the shipping
master being a little bit -unrel able as
20 a crew--that he had the boy sign
lf' for his mess ami a draught on
he slop-chest" for a suit OF clothes.
This was the little fellow called Tom.
who strove so hard TO keep from being
pulled out OF plug of tobacco-which /
he second mate had given him--by the | a
big boy. Bill Bill was inclined to haz-
|
because he liked 10 bully little. ana | ,
,artly becausI Tom showed fight when '
'ver bullied beyond "A certain li0ut. ,
Tom always got the worst OF a fracas. 4
,ut he was just as ready for another d
Is though the last licking was part OF {
he ships discipline that he must sub v
nit TO. He was used to hard knocks u
ma physical suffering. but he had
arge soul for so small "A mite. and II
although he fought desperately when a
Iriven to IL, he bore no grudge against I
lis tormentor after the fight was over. p
n fact, life seemed so much larger b
low that he was sailor--that the n
title mean things he suffered i'm the a
o'castle seemed insignificant TO him. c
So he thought this day. or evening. o
ather, as the ship was running mcrrily "
long through the tropics. a few de- Il
ress north Of the equator. The yards &
fere braced sharp up on the port tack | d
as the trade wind was well TO the 81
outward of east at this season--and | n
he ship heeled over slightly ani rose n
nd fell with steady motion as she
ushed along through the moonlit wat Il
Toms xgatCh N Hs.fk nj h., ] 4.