Evening star., 1900-12-15
II do" said the mate LET me hear any

II do" said the mate. LET me hear any
body say as I amt
Yesterday" said the skipper, plucking
up courage and speaking very slowly and
impressively, you were George Smith. the
mate, but my friend, Captain Zngall mes
merzed you and made you think you were
me-
IL see what it is said the mate, severe
ly. you've been drinking; you've been up
to my whisky
Call the crew up and ask 'em, then"
said Bradd, desperately.
"Call EN- up yourself, you lunatc,' said
the mate, loudly enough for the men to
hear. "If anybody dares to play the fool
with me, l won't leave a whole bone in his
body. that's all.
In obedience to the summons of Captain
Bradd the crew came up, and being re-
queSted by him to tell the mate that he
was the mate and that he was at present
laboring under a delusion, stood silently
nudging each other and uneasily eyeing the
mate.
We'll" said the latter at length, "why
don't you speak and tell George he's gone
off his 'ead bit?''
ut amt nothing to do with us, SIR, said
Bill very respectfully.
But. d-n it all, man. said the mate,
taking mighty grip of his collar, "you
know I'm the cap'n. don't you?"
90 course l do, SIR said Bill.
There you are. George" said the mate,
| releasing him and turning to the frantic
Bradd, you hear that. Now. look here,
you listen to me- Either you've been
i drinking else your 'ead's gone little bit
off. You go down and turn in and If you
don't give any more of your nonsense
I'll overlook 1t for this once
He ordered the crew forward again, and.
being desirous Of leaving some permanent
mark of his command on the ship, had the
galley fresh painted in red and blue and a
lot of old stores. which he had vainly con-
demned when mate, thrown overheard
The skipper stood by helplessly while 1t
was done. and then went below of his own
accord and turned in as being the only way
to retain his sanity or, at any rate, the
clearness of head which he felt to be in
dispense BILE at this juncture.
Time. instead of restoring the mate to his
senses, only appeared to confirm him in his
folly, and the skipper, after another at
tempt to convince him. let things drift. re-
solving to have him put under restraint as
soon as they got to port.
They reachsd Tidescroft in the early
afternoon. but before they entered the har-
Dor the mate. as though he had had some
subtle intuition that this would be his last
command, called the crew to him and read
them touching little homily upon their be-
havior when they should land. He warned
them of public houses and other dangers,
and reminded them affectngly of their du-
ties AS husbands and fathers. always go
home to your wife and children my lads -
he continued, with some emotion. "as go
home to mine"
'Why. he amt got none." whispered Bill,
staring.
Don't be fool, Brll." said the cook; "he
| means the capn. Don't you see he's the
cap'n now"
1t was as clear as MONDAY, and the agi-
tation OF the skipper-a perfect Othello in
his way-was awful. He paced the deck
necessarily. casting fretful glancas ashore,
and. as the schooner touched the side of
| the quay, sprang to the bulwarks and
| jumped ashore. The mate watched him
with an ill-concealed grin, and then having
made the vessel snug, went below to
strengthen himself with drop of the skip
per's whisky for the crowning scene of his
play. He came up on deck again. and TAX
| ing no heed of the whispers of the crew.
went ashore.
! Meantime Capt. Bradd had reached his
house, and was discussing the situation
| with his astonished spouse She pooh
poohed the Idea OF the power Of the med
| ical faculty as being likely to cause com
| plicatfons with the owners. and despite the
| remonstrances Of her husband, insisted
| upon facing the mate alone.
| Now, you go in the Kitchen" she said
| looking from the window. Here he comes
| You see how IN settle him.
| The skipper looked out Of the window
and saw the unhappy victim of Can't, ling
from the window, and despite his remon-
strances pushed him into the next room
| and closed the door.
| She sat on the sofa calmly sewing as the
\ mate, whose hard hood was rapidly failfna
| him. entered. Her manner gave him no as.
| sistance whatever. and, coming sheeptshiy
| In. he took a chair
| 1--WE come home," he said at hast.
$50 see. Ben," said Mrs. Bradd calmly