New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-01
IRE use. and said moth


He was late on coming on deck ana ~ '''N :"
cuff on the ear without comment
Won lazy Young whelp." the mate added.
IT didn't sleep IN sir" he answered naiVeN'
"hrt something happened IN my soap. was
hunting Tor IT."
The mate went 70 the other end of the deck
aud made faces behind the wheelhouse. The
Young devil" he chucked.
Some hours later a passenger requested 'he
baggage boy to open trunk in the pile Of bag
gage and. seeing tip in the travellers ap-
roarance he went to work with a will The
trunk was dashed with a rope that had sailor
knots I'm every possible turn Of IT. He dared not
cut them He was busy hands and teeth FOR
o bad fifteen minutes before he got the trunk
omen. and when he lifted the lid he found MS
own clothes there tossed and tied together a
catfish crjnning at him from the tangle. lie
looked about for the passenger, but found only
an amused audience and the impassive mate
"AIightv careful way YOU tie up your trunk
that officer observed.
The boy smiled at him thoughtfully. Yes
s,~" no said Il was afraid that catfish might
get out again. an get into some ones bed.
Tho mate guffawed in a deep sea laugh head
hack. mouth opera single spasm and then
nerfect stolidity. with the rumbling only Of a
srothered chuckle in his interior 1t was his
ordinary laugh. and It used to lrritate the ner-
vous captain beyond endurance. Don 90
that he said once at table. Get a nj
The boy took his trunk back to his ROOM
locked his door. and prepared for reprlsas' bu'
when the mate was on the bridge now he KEPT
his window locked: and when he was not ne
opened the window to air the room. but watched
the gangway. The boy studied the SITUATION
until he found new approach The hfeooa's
on the starboard side Of the promenade DECK
were directly over his tormentor's CABIN. ana
behind these he could lower himself until ms
feet touched the sill of the window. once IN
side he could put the catch on the lock or the
door retreat the way he had come ana nave
the mate shut out from his room. Ihere "o""
be no proof that the lock had not been IN some
way tanned by the mates own clumsiness
Bill, who had been watching the boy as we"
as the cangway opened the door Of his room
in time to see pair Of very long ana thlh 'ess
hanging down before his window. He nipped
the nearest pinch in the calf that s'uns tn'
hoy with such sudden and sharp pain that he
lost his hold on the deck, kicked out wildly ano
fell past the Mortified mate into the foam from
the wheel There was a sudden commouon
from above decks a roar Of "Overboard! from
ing the water as he followed the boy
Now. the deckhands on an excursion boat are
anything but trained seamen, and despite the
heroic efforts Of the second mate, it was haii
hour before boat had been lowered to the
rescue and propelled through the lumpy water
10 the struggling Bill. But he was strong
swimmer and the boy feathers weight to him
He had still enough energy left, when they
cid IN
a gang Of dirty coal beavers who couldn't row
five wards without breaking all the pins In theii
boat He kent up the same manner when he
stripped the boy rolled him In a warm blanket
and forced raw whiskey between his chatterlne
teeth.
Sitting beside his enemys bunk that evening
he was different He had been trying to give
the boy some fatherly advice. "All you need.
he said finally. lis confidence and an idear.'
He smoked a solemn minute. AN edication
ia been captain OF this boat If ia had any
schoolin'." Another interval Of nicotine. "KeeI
vour togs cIean-an' don't talk back-an keel
away from women Sailors shudnt nevei
marry. know that
Yes sir" the boy answered patiently to eaci
advice
We'll I'll be In in the mornn." he said, "tc
see how y are. Don't you open your month
about the way you got in the water. I've hNe(
It with the captain. an want to do all The
talkin' Get asleep now.
The boy slept that night with an open dool
and without any apprehension for the morrow
He rose at his usual early hour in the morning
and took a deal Of coarse chan from the deck
hands with whom he washed decks. The frs
mate came up. and listened TO 1t silently for
time.
Boy" he said at last, "go down and clear
your brasses" He waited until his proteg
was out Of hearing Nov get on with you
work without that noise" he said to the men
An You needn't make game Of that boy 1
you was half as sharp as him. you'd be woru
your wages. 1 want you to leave IN alone afte
this"