Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-14
Copyright, 1893. by Cutclire Lyme

u
the Old mans ORDERS he explained, as
they stood together on the sioping decks
You heard yourself what he said cap
Well, Mr.. Mate" said Kettle, grimly.
L nope you'll decide she's seaworthy be-
Gause Whatever view you take of it, here
IN going to stay
The mate froWned He was vouno
man. He was here in authority and he
! had a great notion of making his authority
| felt; captain Kettle was to him merely
down-on- his-luck free-p ssage nobody
| and as the mate was large and lustv he
| did not anticipate trouble. So he remarked
rather crabbediy. that he was going to
obey ms orders, and went aft along the
| Slanting deck.
1t was clear that the vessel had been
swept, badly swept. Ropes ends streamed
mere and there and overheard in every d.
fectlon, ana everything movable had been
| carried away eterna1ly by the sea. But the
| hatch tarpauins and the companions were
sun in place, and though it was clear from
/ the list (which was so great that they cOurd
| not walk without holding ON that her car
| go was badly shifted, there was no evidence
| SO FAR that she was otherwise than sound.
| The third mate led the way down to the
lazaret hatch He got his fingers in the
| ring and pulled il back. Then he whistled.
| Half full of water he said. u thought
| so from the way she 1oated. It's up to the
have started plate somewhere. 'Fraid it
| no go for you, captain. Why. if a breeze
! was To come on half the side of her might
| drop out, and she'd go down like a stone"
Now. to Kettles honor be it said (seeing
/ what he had in his mind) he did not tackle
! the man as he knelt there peering into the
| lazaret. Instead he waited till he stood up
| again. and then made his statement coldIy
| and deliberately.
! This ships not too dangerous for me-
/ and l choose to judge. And if she'll do for
got in your boat. Now, / want them OH
| deck and at work without any more pa
/ 1aver"
| DO you. by gadr' said the mate and
/ then the pair of them closed without any
| further prelimnares. They were both of
| them well used to quick rough and tumbles,
who gets the first grip in these wresties
| usually wins, and instinctively each tried
| 10 act on that knowledge. But If the third
| mate had bulk and strength Kettle had
science and abundant wirineSS: and though
/ the pair OF them lost their footing the
| sioping cabin floor at the first embrace.
and wriggled over and under like a pair
I Of cells, Captain Kettle got thumb arts
| tically fixed in the bigger mans windpipe
! and held it there doggedIy. The mate grow
/ ing more and more purple. hit out with
like blows like the boxer he was, and the
! mates efforts gradually relaxed.
But at this point they were interrupted.
| That wobbly boat was making me sea-
| sick. said a voice, 80 l came on board
| here. Hullo. you fellows,"
| Kettle looked up. 'Mr. Philips" he said
Il wish you'd go and get the rest of our
| crew on deck out of the boat
| But what are you two doing down
| there?'
I'VE disagreed over a question of judg-
! ment He said this ship isn't safe, and I
shouldn't have the chance to take her
| home. l say there's nothing wrong with
her that can't be remedied and home I'm
| going to take her. anyway. 1t may be the
| one chance in my life, sir, of getting ball
| anee at the bank, and I'm not going to
miss it,"
| ''Ho," said Dayton Philips
| IF you don't like to come, You needn't"
said Kettle. But I'm going to have the
| stone mason and the Dago and those two
coal beavers. Perhaps you'd better go
| back. 1t will be wet. hard work here; no
way the sort of job to suit a soldier"
| Dayton-Phiiipps flushed slightly. and then
| he laughed. II suppose that's intended to
| be nasty" he said. well. captain / shall
| have to prove to you that we soldiers are
! equal to bit of manual labor sometimes
| BY the way. don't want to interfere in a
personal matter. but I'd like it as a favor if
you wouldn't kill Strake quite. 1 rather
| like him
| Anything 10 obIige' said Kettle, and
| took his thumb out of the third mates
| windpipe And now, sir as you've. so to
| speak, signed on for duty here. away with
| you on deck and get those four other beau
| ties up out of the boat
| Dayton Philips touched his cap and
| grinned. AYE, aye, sir" he said, and
| went back up the companion.
! Shortly afterward he came to report the
men on board. and Kettle addressed his late
| opponent: Now, look here, young man,
! / don't want to have more trouble on deck
! before the hands. Have you had enough?'
| For the present, yes, said the third
| mate, huskily. But L hope We'll meet
| again some other day, to have a bit of
| further talk"
I'm sure shall be quite ready. No man
ever accused me of refusing a scrap. But,
| me lad. just take one tip from me- Don't
I 90 and 70 ali
by saying this ship isn't seaworthy, or he'll
begin to ask questions, and he may get
you to tell more than you're proud about"
| You can go and get drowned your own
| way. AS far as I'm concerned, no one will
| guess it's coming off till they see it in the
papers
Thanks said Kettle. 81 knew you'd be
! nice about it
| The third mate went down to his boat
/ and the three rowers took her across TO the