Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-03-06

own vessel to and signaled that he
wished to speak
A boat was slopped into the water
from the schooner's deck, and ten
swarthy, ragged Portuguese fishermen
crammed into her. Two or three Of
them had working knowledge Of Eng
lish: their captain spoke 1t with fluent
inaccuracy. and before any Of them had
gone aft to Kettle. who stood at the
wheel. they had heard the whole story
Of the ship being found derelict and
very naturally were anxious enough by
some means or other to finger share
of the salvage. Even q ragged Portu.
guese baccalhao maker can have his
ambitions for prosperity like other peo-
pie.
Their leader made his proposal q:
once. IAN right-a, captain. I see how
you want. We take charge now and
take.a you into Ferrol without you be-
ing at more trouble.
Nothing Of the kind" said Kettle.
"Tm Just wanting the loan Of two or
three hands to give my fellows spell
or two at that pump. We're a bit short
handed, that's all. But otherwise we're
quite comfortable. I'll pay A. b. g
wages on Liverpool scale, and that's a
lot more than you dagos give among
yourselves, and IL the men work well
III throw in dash besides for 'bacca
money.
"Ta-ta.ta. said the Portuguese, with
q wave of his yellow fist. 1T cannot be
done, and will not lend you men. 1t
shall be as ! say--we take-a you into
Ferrol. Do not fear-a, captain. You
shall have money for finding sheep; you
shall have some Of our salvage. "
Dayton-Philipps. who was standing
near and knew the little sailor views,
looked for an outbreak, but Kettle held
himself in and still spoke TO the man
civilly.
"That's good English you talk, he
said. do all your crowd understand the
language
no" said the fellow readily enough.
"That man does not. nor does he nor
him.
"Right-o." said Kettle. Then as
those three men can't kick up bohDery
at the other end they've just got TO
stay here and help work this vessel
home. As for the rest Of You filthy.
sinking, scale covered cousins Of apes.
over the side Of the VESSEL you go before
you're put Thought You were going
TO steal my lawful salvage. did you.
you crawling. yellow faced-ahl"
The hot tempered Portuguese was not
a man to stand this TRADE. as Kettle
anticipated. unmoved HIS fingers made
a vengeful snatch toward the knife in
his belt. but Kettle was ready for this
and caught it first and flung 1t over
board. Then with a clever heave he
picked up the man and sent him after
the knife. He tripped up one OF the
Portuguese who couldn't speak English,
dragged him to the cabin companion
and toppled him down the ladder. Day
tom Philips surprised at himself for
abetting such lawlessness. captured a
second in like fashion. and the English
fireman and coal trimmer picked up the
third and dropped him down an oper
hatchway into the grain in the hold be-
meath.
But there were six OF the fishermen
left upon the deck. and these did moi
look upon the proceedings unmoved.
They had been slow to act at first, but
when the initial surprise was over they
were blazing with rage and eager to dc
murder. The Italian and the Sierrs
Leone negro ran ont Of their way on tc
the forecastle head. and they came on,
vainglorious in numbers and armed
with their deadly knives But the two
English roughs. the English gentleman
and the little English sailor were all OF
them men well accustomed to take care
Of their own skins The Delaying pins
ont Of the pinrail seemed TO come by
instinct into their hands and not one
Of them got 90 much as scratch.
II was all the affair Of . minute. II
does not do to let these little i'm
promptu ecrimmages simmer over long.
In fact. the whole affair was decided
in the first rush. The quarter Of Eng
hsh went in. despising the dagos and
quite intending to clear them of the
ship The invaders were driven over