Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-02-27
"n.,.on .ph;,;nr.w ..,a Image

army, and he's been some SORT OF u resi-
dent or political thing up in one Of
those nigger towns at the back there.
What's he want to 90 forf'
"Said he'd come for the fun OF the
thing"
Captain Image gave a grim laugh.
"Well, I think he'll find all the fun
he's any use for before he's ashore
again. Now. Mr.. Strake, hurry with
that boat. You're to take charge and
bring her back. and. mind. you're not
to leave the captain here and his gang
aboard IL the vessels too badly wrecked
to be safe.
The word was "hurry." The third
mate Tended off the boat while Kettles
crew Of nondescripts scrambled un-
handily down to take their places. The
negro stone mason who had been a
stowaway refused stubbornly to leave
the steamer and 30 was lowered igno-
miniously in bowline, and then, as
he still objected loudly that he came
from Sa' Leone and was free British
subject. some one crammed Q bucket
over his head. amid the uproarious
laughter Of the onlookers
Ahead Of them the quiet ship shoul-
dered clumsily over the rollers. now
gushing down till she dipped her mar
tingale. now swooping mp again. send
ing whole cataracts Of water swirling
along her waist.
The boat was run up cannily along
side and Kettle jumped into the main
chains and clsmbered on board over the
bulwarks. Now. pass up my crew.
Mr.. Strake. said he
I'm coming myself next. IL you
don't mind" said the third mate.
Must obey the old mans orders, he
explained rs they stood together on the
sloping decks "You heard yourself
what he said, captain.
well. Mr.. Mate" said Kettle grim
". II hope you'll decide she's sea
worthy. because whatever view You take
of IL here I'm going TO stay"
The mate frowned. He was n young
man. he was here in authority. and he
had great notion Of making his au-
thority felt Captain Kettle was to him
merely a down en- his luck free passage
nobody. and as the mate was large and
lusty he did not anticipate trouble. So
he remarked rather crabbedly that he
was going 10 obey his order. and went
aft along the slanting deck.
1t was clear that the vessel had been
swept. hdly swept Ropes ends stream
ed here and there and overheard in ev-
cry direction. and everything movable
had been carried away eternally by the
sen But the hatch tarpaulins and the
companions were still in place, and.
though il was clear from the list (Which
was 50 great that they could not walk
without holding ON that her cargo was
badly shifted. there was no evidence 80
far that she was otherwise than sound.
The third mate led the way down to
the lazaret hatch. He got his fingers in
the ring and pulled 1t back. Then he
whistled. Half full Of water" he
said II thought 30 from the way she
hoated. Its up to the beams down
here. Likely enough she'll have started
q plate somewhere. 'Fraid it's no go
for you. captain. Why, il a breeze was
TO come on half the side Of her might
drop ont. and she'd 90 down like .
stone
Now. to Kettles honor be it said
(seeing what he had in his mind, he
did not tackle the man as he knelt there
peering into the lazaret. Instead he
waited till he stood up again and then
made his statement coldly and deliber-
ately.
This ships not too dangerous for
me. and | choose TO judge. And II
she II do for me. she's good enough for
the crew I've got in your boat. Now
want them ON deck and at work with
out any more paiaver. "
DO you. by gadi" said the mate.
and then the pair Ct them closed with
ont any further preliminaries They
were bath of them we'll used to quick
rough and tumbles. and they both OF
them knew that the man who gets the
first grip in these wrestles usually wins.
and instinctively each tried to act on
that knowledge. But il the third mate
had bulk and strength Kettle had sci
ence and abundant witness, and. though
the pair of them lost their footing on
the sloping cabin floor at the first en-
brace and wriggled over and under like
a pair Of eels. Captain Kettle got q
thumb artistically fixed in the bigger
mans windpipe and held it there dog.
gedly. The mate. growing more and
more purple, hit out with savage force,
but Kettle lodged the bull-like blows
like the boxer he was. and the mates
efforts gradually relaxed.
But at this point they were inter
rupted. THAT wabbly boat was max
ing me seasick," said voice. 80
came on board here. Hello. you fel-
lowsr'
Kettle looked up. "Mr. Philips, :"
he said, 81 wish you'd go and get the
rest Of our crew on deck out OF the
boat"