The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-02-20
"But what are you two doing down

"But what are you two doing down
there?'
1--WE disagreed over question Of
judgment. He said this slip ism safe
and I shouldn't have the chance to take
her home I say there's nothing wros G
/ 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 a balance at the bank, and
l IN not going to miss it. /"
; "Ho, said Dayton-P Philips
If you don't like to come, you need
not" 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 It will be wet, hard
work here; no way the sort of Job to
suit soldier"
Philips flushed slightly, and
then he laughed. 81 suppose that's in
tended 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 personal
matter, but I'd like it as favor if you
wouldn't kill Strale quite. Irather like
him =
Anything to oblige' said Kettle,
and he took his thumb out of the third
mates windpipe. "And now, sir, as
you We, so to speak, signed on.for duty
here, away with you on deck and get
| those four other beauties up out of the
boat -
Dayton-Philipps 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 Snow, look here
young man, / don t want to have more
trorble on deck before the hands. Have
you had enongh?"
"Fol the present, yes, said the third
mate husiily. But I hope We'll meet
again some other day to have bit Of
further talk. >
"I'm sure shall be quito ready. No
man ever accused me Of refusing d
scrap. But, me lad, Just take one tip
from me-don' t you go and make Cap
tain Image anxious by saying this ship
isn't seawortlly, or he'll begin TO ask
questions, and he may set 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 i'll the papers
Thanks, said Kettle. ''I knew
you d be nice about it. ="
The third mate went down to his
boat, and the three rowers took her
across to the NJ poso where she was
hauled up to davits again. The steam
er's siren doomed out farewells as she
got under way again, and Kettle with
his own hands unbent the reversed en-
sign from the ships main rigging and
ran it up to the peak and dipped it
three times in salute. He breathed
more freely now. One chance and
host of unknown dangers lay ahead Of
him. But the dangers he disregarded.
Dangers We're nothing new to him. 1t
was the chance which lured him on.
Chances SO seldom came in his way that
he intended to make this one into a
certainty if the efforts of desperation
could do it,
Alone Of all the six men on the dere-
lict Captain Kettle had knowledge of
the seaman's craft, but for the present
thews and not seamanship were re-
CURED. The vessel lay in pathetic help
lessness on her side, liable to capsize in
the first squall which came along, and
their first effort must be to get her in
proper trim while the calm continued.
They pulled away the hatch covers and
saw beneath them smooth slopes of
yellow grain.
As though they were an invitation to
work, shovels were made fast along the
combings of the hatch. The six men