New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-01
NATE AND BAGGAGE BOY
A CHAPTER or REPRIsALS AND HOW
PEACE WAS FINALLY ESTABLISHED.

The Califa. a day boat. "763 tons. 40 men,"
carving passengers and baggage and the
necessary sea stores for the voyage was racing
through the waters of Lake ontario on her usual
route The early morning mist had lifted and
the second mate on watch upon the bridge. hr
81 his plug Of tobacco with an easy mind. The
captain in his ca bin read his morning paper and
ernoked his morning cigar. The passengers
distributed over three decks. filled their nostrls
with clean air doing IN the mild sunlight. II
was morning to auieten the most feVerish en-
erey with cool comfort.
But the first mate "Old Billy" who had the
spirit Of kitten behind the brown and hairy
visaee az n buccanecr. had just eaten a full
breakfast and felt sprightly. lie entered the
baggage room on the main deck 10 find the nag-
case boy sleeping in a chair. ANY lout' he de-
cided who would sleep at o'clock on such
morning deserved t. he treated as con-
,emptible butt He winked at the other idlers
IN The baggage room. We'll have some fun
he whispered as he tptoed OUT again.
"Old Billy" the baggage man erumoled with
mingled contempt and affection is sevral
dirrent sorts Of an old idiot. The transfer
agent nodded. Hes goin' 10 spoil the boy.
That young member Of the crew had only worn
the. "hl,e and brass" about week and he had
become
Measures which the proper discharge OF his
duties would demand Of him lie had pee"
ashore the previous evening amusing himself
after the manner Of youth. mac turned into his
hunk about > O'Clock and had been awakened
=, 1 to wash windows and help scrub decks.
- a result he was sleepy. and fitting his chalr
AGAINST the partition in the baggage room ne
had heen luued by the noises of the wheel and
tho srlash and rush Of water into a comfortable
doze.
Tho mat. came hack with nifty feet Of line.
mt one end in a loop carefully about the BACK
legs 81 the tilted chair and carried the other
ont the door and down the deck as far as he
could 90. A sharp pull threw the chair and the
.ieener heavily upon the floor The line slipped
eff the chair legs and disappeared through the
doorway. When the boy sat up on the floor and
Looked about him the three men regarded him
sternly.
Don't make such an Internal noise" the bag
cage man admonished him.
"Havin' pleasant dreams?" the transfer agent
snckered.
The boy smiled awkwardy. picking himself
IN and the mate. who spying at him
through the doorway shook with an inward
laughter. His victim prepared for another
snooze. propping his chair more firmly IN the
corner. and the mate prepared for another
awakening.
Bnt this time the line held TO the chair legs
and the mate. pulling vigorously. hauled the
chair as far as the doorway, where It caught
The boy ran to the door in time 10 see the oilcer
disappear around the corner of the engine
room. "Oh. the old fool" he said Eood
naturedly.
You'll get logged KID" the baggage man
warned him. IF You talk that familiar
The how had heard horrifying stories Of dscip-
line on the high seas. and the warning was
needed He busted off his coat without further
remark and reiterated to his room in the fore
castle. to finish his sleep in his bunk
The mate was not TO be 50 easily eluded. lie
,,os determined 10 give the boy lesson that
would correct his bad habits. and, borrowing
Gin NJ ,amphlack from the third engineer. he ioi-
lowed after a sufficient interval 10 the 1oie-
castle where his victim lay asleep on the rover
hunk in little room that was just '"'a'
enough 10 give a passageway around the wv
shelves on which he and the messfoom poS
snent the nights The boat was rolling. The
water swept over the portfolio glass, ana
slapped at the projecting guards OF the deck
above with a noise that quite drowned the
shuttle OF the mates cautious movements He
snrinkled the powder delicatey on the sleeper's
face The boy. feeling the tickle OF II, rubbed
T. into his skin. in his sleepy efforts 10 remove
the Irritation with such ludicrous effect that
the mate. unable to contain his laughter He'd
upstairs to guffaw at his ease.
Word Of the joke passed around among the
crew. They gathered at the head Of the foc'sle
stairs TO see the boy appear. lie slept until the
whistle slgnalled the boats approach to the
wharf and ran on deck then. hurriedIy. The
men exploded in yell Of laughter that brought
the mate down on them In feigned anger and as
constituent. and the boy looked from tie grin
ming men to the stern mate in the simplest he
widerment until the latter. taking him care
fully by a clean ear. led him into the ere" $
washroom and left him staring IN amaz'men'
at his reflection in the mirror
Gee" he said at last I'm fright" enjoy
.ne the Joke quite naturally. lie was an eX-
1raordinary hoy. as the mate af'er"ad DIS
covered
Hes glddy old goat" he conhdod 70 the
mirror. scrubbing his smutted face lie thinks
he's coin' 10 have gay time with me. I guess
III have to stand up 20 him.
Rut he was still very tired. and his dinner only
served TO make him worse When the boat le''
the dock fo- the afternoon trip he stole down
20 his bunk for an after dinner nap. lie locked
b,s door. but the mate poured dirty water on
him through the venti'ator. he was Devil
dered Hes crazy" he protested. Finally ne
hid IN the ieckmens quarters in the peak
and woke suddenly 70 find his face and hand'
Wanted with the muciiage that IS used 10 SUCH
labels on the passengers baggage II mas AT
adhesiveness calculated 10 resist the ac'oh o.
water. and the boy grew desperate.
He made O. reconnaissance Of the mates quar-
.ers while Bill was on the bridge That ofhcer
cabin was on the main deck. and ne kept III
door locked against thieving passengers. In'
hoy discovered that he could reaoh the "lhoo'
Of the cabin from the shutter OF 'ne oNsS's'
sangway He made two trips by 'na' 'ou's
and on the last he carried Win n''n 0a'''s'