The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-10-31
Capt. J. n. b.

1 90
was fairly iendish as he snatched al
iron Delaying pin from the fife raj
and rushed at Tom, crying:
You won't stir, eh! Curse you, IL
show you h difference between afloa
and ashore!"
But his blow was arrested in mid ali
by an iron grip about his wrist and tn,
stantly. He found himself pressed
against the mizzenmast with a fore,
hat nearly took his breath away, whilt
Tom said, sternly:
Don't try that with me again or II
pitch o overheard"
AS he spoke he released the mate
who sprang for the cabin steps, hi:
face crimson with passion, shouting:
"Mutiny! Mutiny! I'll have YOU
life for this!"
He had reached the head Of the steps
when Captain Coffin appeared or the
scene, attracted by the mates louc
tones.
Whats the trouble here?" he de.
manded, as the officer tried to push by
him on the steps.
It's mutiny, sir" was the ,angr re.
ply. Wait till l get my pistol, n II
500 settle it,"
The captain looked about him in sur
prise. Tom stood alone on the quarter
deck, and the whole matter was mex.
plicable unless the, new mate was crazy
a thought which found ample tustifica-
ton in his. disordered appearance.
"Mutlny?" he repeated, contemptu-
ously. See here, If you've been drink.
ing. MI. Rider, don't let 1t happen
again. l car make allowance for sail.
ing day, but see it doesn't happen
again!"
Il am as sober as you are" was the
surly reply. THAT man there! That
Scott whelp! He refused to obey me
n I'll see whether 1 am mate Of this
ship or mott"
With one stride the captain reached
his side and thrust his weather. beaten
face close to h mates, giving him q
look before which the other uuailed.
Look you!' he said, sharply. When
you speak to me remember 1 have g
handle to my name, and see you put II
on every time! You must be drunk!'
The mate looked from one to the 9TH
er as If he could not believe his own
senses. What die 1t all mean? Why
did the skipper refuse to side with him
n allow Tom to stand there unmo-
Tested after assaulting his superior Of
ficer!
Seeing he could do nothing but glare
at Tom the skipper turned to the lat
ter and said, coolly:
It's next to impossible to get a sober
man nowadays. The best seamen all
drunk all the time they are ashore,
After they get out to sea they are all
right"
Captain Coffin said the mate, step
ping forward, Il have not touched a
drop of liquor today. I ordered this
man to go forward and he resisted me-
Ordered him forward! Well. that's
a good one!" And the captain broke
into a hoarse chuckle. why, bless me,
Scott is q passenger On the Seabird and
is going to Frisco with US. There's an
other down below, a Mr.. Avery. Make
you acquainted with Mr.. Scott. Mr.
Scott, this is my mate, Mr.. Rider. It's
all my fault not telling him you was
aboard. Kinder funny, wasn't it?'
1--WE don't need any introduction
said Tom, quickly. II have known Obed
Rider a long time. I don't know any
good Of him, either" 4
Captain Coffin was surprised, but he
asked no questions, preferring to wait
until he could see Tom alone. The
mate bit his lip in baffled rage as he
saw his prey not only removed from
his power, but placed in a position
where he must be treated with out
ward respect at least. He turned on
his heel and went forward, vowing ven
.geance under his breath, but not daring
to show his feeling further before the
captain.
$50 you know my mater" then asked
the captain.
II knew him years ago." replied Tom,
land we had some trouble. It doesn't
matter what it was about, but his nose
got broken, and he hates me as hard
as I do him. He may be a good sailor.
however, and no doubt he is. He used
to soil with my father"
A hail from the tug saved Tom any
further explanation, and as the cap
tain hustled off to reply Avery came
out of the cabin and Joined his room
mate, who told him briefly about the
recent trouble, making no mention of
the original cause of the enmity be-
tween HIMSELF and Rider, for. the
charge against his father was too sore
a subject to pass his lips.
By the time dinner was over the YES
sci was well down the, harbor. When
Boston light was reached the westerly
wind began to freshen, and the sails
stood full. Lines were hastily cast off,
the tugs whistle gave a short blast as
q parting salute, and, with a graceful
nod of her sharp bow in return, the
bark shot toward the open water. with
every square inch of canvas pulling at
the sheets, and the captain rubbing
his horny palms with delight at the
prospect of a fine departure.
John Avery was an old sailor, and
the motion of the vessel caused him no
Inconvenience, but Tom was soon
stretched in his bunk. where he re-
NAMED the better part Of two days,
while the Seabird flew along before the
favorable gale in q manne which did
not belle her name.
When he managed to get on deck
Cape Cod was more than 800 miles
Astern, and already the weather was
beginning to grow milder. "A few days
more made him completely well, and
long before the equator was reached
he had acquired quite "a professional
roll and felt perfectly at home.
OF hi mate he saw very little, as
the latter stood watch and watch with
the second officer, being on deck every
other tour hours. night and Say. Mr..
Green, the second mate, was a bright,
active young man about Toms age,
and the two became very friendly az
the Seabird sped steadily to the south
ward.
1t seemed as II old Neptune had made
an extra effort to help the vessel along,
for she escaped the customary calms
near the line and caught h southeast
trades b same day she lost those
from the northeast which had served
her so well. No incident of Importance
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