St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-11-24
warks or on the windlass, paying not
the least heed to the command.

the work himself, assisted by his Off
GERS, and further reinforced by tn,
cook and steward, who were full fed
because they fed themselves.
| The third mate was at the wheels
the captain himself attended the lee
braces, the others tusged away at tn,
weather ones, and so, after time
they got the ship around. But tn.
voliey of abuse and threatenings tha
we had to hear when this was accom-
plished would have startled any ont
/ but a sailor. R
Off went the ship on the opposite
tack, and still we lonnged idly about
some of us ON deck and the others ir
the forecastle
"You, steward" we heard the cap
tain say, don't you weigh out an
other mouthful of grub for the mer
till they return. to duty! Cook, take
care that they get nothing from the
galley!"
The affair was getting complicated
Could it be that after all we must re
sort to force?
IF it comes to that" said one of the
boat steerers, well stop the steward
from taking any grub into the cabin
Wen just tell the cook to stand aside
and We'll do our own cooking"
II hope we shall raise that school
of whales again before night" re-
marked one of our young fellows.
Eve ought to have kept our lookouts
aloft, the same as ever"
"No." replied the shipkeeper;
"we've nothing more to do with look
cuts. Let the old man find whales
for himself-we're out of that busi-
ness"
But then, you know" said another.
'the sooner we raise one, the sooner
we'll bring the old man to his senses" "
The shipkeeper was about answer
ing. when stirring call rang out
from the quarter deck.
There she blows!"
1t was the voice of the chief mate.
Starting up, we saw directly off the
ships quarter and not more than half
a mile distant, two large whales, one
of which lay spouting upon the water.
while the other was just in the act of
shooting above the surface.
The captain few around like 4 wild
man.
"Heave aback the main yard." he
shouted. looking straight at us.
We made no motion more than deaf
men might have done. Then he rushed
forward. stamped upon the deck, and
shook his fist in our faces.
"You mutinous scoundrels," he cried.
"T'll have everyone of you imprisoned
for ten years as soon as l get ashore!
Heave aback that yard. 1 tell you!''
Capt. Winthrop said the ship.
keeper, do you think that hungry men
men half starved-are going to catch
whales for you? All these men, sir,
would be as glad to catch them as you
would. They will obey you the mo-
ment you give them enough TO eat; but
they won't pull round yard or lower a
boat as the case stands" -
"We're running right away from the
whales every minute!" exclaimed the
commander, whirling about on his heel.
"Mr. Brown. let go that lee main brace!
Mr.. Wells. grab hold here with me!
Here cook! here. steward! stir your
stumps, and rouse away to get this
yard round!"
ITS of no use to heave TO, Capt.
Winthrop" said the chief mate; "the
men won't go in the boats"
mo use, you say. Mr.. Wells? I'll
make it of use. They shall go!"
So they hauled the yard aback. and
the ships course was stopped-the
whales all the while spouting in plain
view, as if waiting for us to come and
get them.
Then the little drama went on-the
captain stamping and threatening. and
the crew standing dumb and immov-
able. without the least sign of excite
ment.
We would not man the boats; we
would not do a single thing except
to stand there and listen.
What do you want?" he at length
cried. "How much can you get down
your goodfor-nothing throats?'
All, ha. he was coming around. We
knew that our point was gained the
moment that he jerkcd out those saw
age questions.
I'VE want two pounds of beef to a
man-bones and all-and pound of
Bread" replied the ship-keeper. "H
Ne find it to be more than we need, we
will report to you, sir; but that is what t
we ask for now"
There's ship in sight to the wind
ward. SIR" called the mate, just at this
If anything further had been needed
70 turn the scale in our favor, it was
precisely this.
A ship in sight! This meant that
our terms must be closed with at once,
,r the stranger would get the whales,
though she could not yet have discov-
cred them.
The captains common sense got the
better of his stubbornness. He would
lot put out his own eyes to spite his
crew.
'Well," he snarled, impatiently. "re-
urn to your duty and man the boats |
1t once. Consider this matter settled |
you shall have what you have asked |
or"
Still we did not move.
"We want the thing well understood |
IN both Sides" said the shipkeeper, so |
hat there'll be no trouble in the future.
Tou agree that every man in the steer
lge and forecastle shall have daily al |
owance of two pounds of meat and a |
,ound of bread?"
"Yes. yes! What do you mean? Can't
-ou believe me? Turn to and man the |
'oats, men,"
Two pounds of meat and pound of
,read," calmly repeated the shipkeep-
r. land the allowance to begin to-
Iay?"
Yes. yes. yes! two pounds of meat
md pound Of bread and the allowance
o begin to-day. agree to all this
Then. sir" was the reply, .it is all
ettled. and we return to duty"
Down with the boats!" cried the