Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-02-27

you We, so to speak, signed on Tor duty
here. away with You on deck and get
those four other beauties mp out Of the
boat"
Dayton Philips touched his cap and
grinned. AYE. aye, sir" be said and
went back up the companion.
Shortly afterward he came 10 report
the men on board, and Kettle addressed
his late opponent. "Now, look here.
young man. ! don't want to have more
trouble on deck before the hands Have
you had enoughf"
.'For the present. yee. said the third
mate huskily. But I hope well meet
again some other day 10 have bit of
further talk.
"I'm sure / shall be quite ready. No
man ever accused me Of refusing a
scrap. But. me lad, just take one tip
from me-don't you 90 and make Cap
tain Image anxious by saying this ship
isn't seaworthy. or he'll begin TO ask
questions. and he may get you to tell
more than you're proud about
"You can 20 and get drowned your
own way. As far as I'm concerned, nc
one will guess it's coming of till they
see it in the papers
Thanks, said Kettle. 81 knew
you'd be nice about It. p"
The third mate went down TO his
boat. and the three rowers took her
across to the M'poso. where she was
bauled up to davits again. The steam
er's siren doomed out farewells asshe
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 1t
three times in salute. He breathed
more freely now. One chance and a
host OF unknown dangers lay ahead OF
him. But the dangers he disregarded.
Dangers were nothing new To him 1t
was the chance which lured him on.
Chances no seldom came in his way that
he intended to make this one into a
certainty IL 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-
quired The vessel lay in pathetic help
lessness on her side. liable 10 capsize in
the first squall which came along, and
their first effort must be 10 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, shoyels were made fast along the
combings Of the hatch. The six men
took these. and with shouts dropped
down upon the grain. And then began
a period Of Homeric toll. The fireman
and the coal trimmer set the pace. and
with fine contempt for the unhandi-
ness OF amateurs did not fail TO give a
display Of their utmost Kettle and
Dayton Philips gamely kept level with
them. The Italian gauger turned ont
to have his pride also and did not lag
and only the freeborn British subject
from Sierra Leone endeavored to shirk
his due proportion Of the toll. But high
minded theories as to the rights of man
were regarded here as little rs threats
to lay information before a justice Of
the peace. and under the sledge ham
mer arguments Of shovel blows from
whoever happened to be next to him
the unfortunate colored gentleman de
scended to the grade Of nigger again
and toiled and sweated equally with his
betters.
The heat under the decks was sitting.
and dust rose from the wheat in chok'
ing volumes, but the pace OF the cir
cling shovels was never allowed tc
slacken. They worked there stripped to
trousers. and they understood one and
all that they were working for their
lives. A breeze had sprung up almost
as soon as the M'poso had steamed
away. and hourly IL was fresheuing
The barometer in the cabin was regis
tering steady fall the sky was bank
ing up with ugly clouds.
Kettle had handled sheets and braces
and hove the vessel TO 50 as to steady
her as they worked, but she still labored
heavily in the sea. and beneath then
they could hear the leaden swish Of wa
ter in the floor Of the hold. Theii
labor was having its effect, and by
infinitesimal graduations they wer'
counteracting the list and getting TIM
ship upright. but the wind was worsen
ing. and it seemed to them also tha
the water was getting deeper undel
their feet and that the vessel rode more
sluggishly.
So far the well had not been sounded
II was no use getting alarming stats
tics to discourage oneself unnecessarily
But after night had fallen and it wa'
impossible to see to work in the gloomy
hold any longer without lamps Captain
Kettle took the sounding rod and fount
eight feet.
He mentioned this when he tool
down the lamps into the hold, but h'
did not think it necessary to add thal
as the sounding had been taken will
the well on the slant it was Therefore
considerably under the truth Still HI
sent Dayton Philips and the trimme'
on deck to take spell at the pumps
and himself resumed his shovel worl
alongside the others
Straightaway on through the nigh
the six men stuck to their savage toll
the blood from their blistered hand
reddening the shafts Of the shovels
Every now and again one or another o
them choked with the dust and wen
to get draft Of lukewarm water from
the scuttle butt. But no one stall over
long on these excursions. The breez
had blown up into gale. The nigh
overhead was starless and moonless. bu
every minute the black heaven wa
split by bursts Of lightning, whicl
showed the laboring, disheveled shiI
get among great mountains OF breaking
seas
The sight would have been bad from
a well manned powerful steamboat
from the deck Of the derelict 1t ap
preached the terrific. The men wit
the shovels worked among the fright
ened. squeaking rats in the closed II
hoy nf the. hold
lTo BIZ CONTINUED.
MA . wholesale Huaineaa