River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-10-25

but sailor.
Of went the ship on the opposite
tack, and still we lounged idly about,
some of us on deck and the Others in
the forecastle.
'You, steward" we heard the cap
tain say. don't you weigh out an
other mouthful of grub for the men
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 il comes to that" said one of the
boat steerers. "we'l stop the steward
from taking any grub into the cabin.
Wen just tell the cook to stand aside,
and Wen do our own cooking"
81 hope we shall raise that school
of whales again before night" re-
marked one of our young fellows.
I'VE ought to have kept our lookouts
aloft, the same as ever"
"No," replied the shipkeeper;
we've nothing more to do with look
outs. Let the old man find whales
for himself-we're out of that bust
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 a stirring call rang out
from the quarter deck.
s'There she blowSf"
It 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 a 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,
I'm have everyone of you imprisoned
y
Heave aback that yard, l tell you'll"
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 CAD to catch them as you
would. They will obey you the mo-
ment you give them enough to eat; but
hoK I'D n
boat as the case stands"
Were running right away from the
whales every minute!" exclaimed the
commander, whirliDg 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!"
And, flying to the quarter, he seized
the weather brace.
Its of no use TO heave to, Capt
Winthrop" said the chief mate: 1.-THE
men won't go in the boats
No 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 @dmb and immov-
able. without the least sign of excite
ment
he h. TO-
would not do single thing except
to stand there and listen.
What do you want?" he at length
cried. How much can you get down
your good -for-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.
1--WE want two pounds of beef to
man-bones and all-and a pound of
bread" replied the ship-keeper. IF
we find il TO be more than we need, we
will report to you, sir; but that is what
we ask for now"
There's a ship in sight to the wind
ward, SIR" called the mate, just at this
moment.
If anything further had been needed
to turn the scale in our favor, it was
precisely this.
A ship in sight. 'fhis meant that
our terms must be closed with at once,
or 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
not put out his own eyes TO spite his
crew.
We'll" he snar.ed, impatiently. RE-
turn to your duty and man the boats
at once. Consider this matter settled
you shall have what you have asked
for
Still we did not move
Eve want the thing well understood
on both sides" said the shipkeeper, so
that there'll be no trouble in the future.
You agree that every man in the steer
age and forecastle shall have daily a.
lowance of two pounds of meat and is
pound of bread?"
''Yes. yesl What do you mean2 Can't
you DeileNe me IuFu 10 ana man the
boats, men"
1.-TWO pounds of meat and pound of
bread" calmly repeated the shipkeep-
er, land the allowance to begin to-
day?"
"Yes. yes. yes. two pounds of meat
and a pound Of bread and the allowance
10 begin to-day. agree 10 all this"
Then. sir" was the reply. sit is al
settled and We return 10 duty"
Down with the boatsl" cried tn.
captain.
And in few minutes we were palline
off from the ship with strong. sweeping
strokes.
That evening we had both the large
whales alongside. and were refreshed
after our labor by q plentiful supper
which the cook had prepared in our ab-
sence.
During the voyage we had no fur
Their trouble about provisions. and the
Audromache finally arrived home fu.
of oil. with all hands in excellent spir-
its-Gclden Days.