The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-05-08
( DICK RODNEY;
Or. The Adventures of
) An Eton Boy.
nv JAMES GRANT.

ny JAMES GRANT.

&c SSGeEGEEE eSkgKEEGEe<eEG
In the same fashion, ard all wore false
noses Of singular size and great brill
lance. with low wigs and long tails.
On Neptune and his goddess receiv-
Ing dram and questioning the cap
tain about his crew, it was discovered
mat Antonio and were the only two
on board who had never crossed the
line before; whereupon the Tritons
whooped and danced as they laid VIC
tent hands on me. l submitted to the
usual shaving and SO forth with a
good grace, and compound i. to avoid
other annoyances, for two bottles Of
brandy, and ascending to the main
] cTcss-trees without going through the
luooers hole. But for the Cubano
there was neither ransom, escape nor
outlet; and the poor wretch, in conse-
quence Of his mysterious antecedents.
was very roughly handled, the more SO
that he had threatened to use his knife
if molested.
1t was soon trundled out Of his hand
by one body of Tritons, while another
soused him we'll with salt water as he
was conveyed past the long boat,
which was dashed amidships. and in
which they were stationed with buck
cts ready filed.
Held fast on every side, he was
brought before the goddess born" and
inexorable monarch Of the main, who
ordered the Lord Chief Barber at
once to shave him"
Now, as Antonio had a rather lux
uriant beard and mustaehe, the plenti-
ful application thereto of a compound
Of tar and slush such as we used for
greasing the masts, was the reverse Of
agreeable; but the stern orders of Nep-
tune, which were beloved hoarsely
through tin trumpet, were faithfully
and deliberately obeyed, and the con
tents of dirty iron pot were smeared
over the cheeks. beard and mouth OF
the Cubano by Billy, a mischieVous
ship-boy, with an unsparing hand.
'Demonio! Maldita~ was heard al
intervals, and greeted with laughter;
but when he attempted to storm OF
swear the brush-a reeking tuft Of
oil, tar and every horrid grease-wa.
! thrust into his mouth.
The Lord Chief Barber was now
commanded to remove this noisomr
mess with his razor, and he scraped i
off with piece of hoop, which hat
been carefully notched for the purpos,
"a process which. as it uprooted sun
dry thick portions of Antonio's coal
? black bristles, caused him to yell AM
J. sputter out hoarse Spanish oaths al
= ternately.
;, He was again deluged with sal
u water; and greater seventies wer
about to be practiced upon him, a
. some Of the Tritons cried for 9Th
: ghost Of Roberts to come out Of tn
e sea-" others, to Smoke him, by put
4 ting his head in the hood of the cook
funnel" when Weston ransomed hill
y for two bottles of brandy, and he wa
permitted to stink away to his bunl
7 breathing vengeance against all hi
. tormentors.
i Grog was again served round, ii
q deck was cleared for dance, and ii
:. crew footed the hours away in a SUI
u cession Of hornpipes, while the grii
u Cubano lay growing in the forecast
u Three cheers for the Captain, ar
d. three more for Marc Hislop, terminate
the fun, and all but the watch retire
- below.
70 'They have gone too far with tn
= fellow, as some of us may discover b
u fore the voyage comes to a close" sa
Hislop, when we were having a partiI
IL glass in the cabin.
yes" replied Weston; he is
" dark dog, and though 1 am not We
rich, 1 would give hundred poun
to fathom the mystery of old Robert
disappearance. Well, here's to o
=. wives and sweethearts at home"
Il have neither sweetheart nor wife
~ said Hislop, as he tossed off his glas
"but l have a poor cid mother W
~ loves me as well as either could dC
Is Weston's eye wandered to the pc
~ traits of his wife and child, to who
he was tenderly attached, and
~ whom all his savings, by salary, to
We mage and hat-money, were careful
boarded; for whom, poor fellow,
ny tempted the dangers of the great de-
ns the war of he elements, and enduI
On the hardships of sailors life-l
As wife. his little one, and their home
.ei 'his all; his sheet-anchor in t
re- world. and his guide to the next"
II I once heard him say, forcibly a
IS strangely.
we CHAPTER XIX
JD- Tho C,hano TTDuaS1xed