The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-12-20
On Different
TaCkS
A. Story OF the Xnordinato
Appetite of the British Seaman
BIZ ATHOL FORBES.
By ATHoL FORBES.

Jane, and William Robinson, skipper
Of the three masted schooner Sally, sat
very snugIy in the Indian King. on the
Yarmouth quay. They pulled their
long churchWardens and discussed two
topics Of unending interest the merits
Of their respective vessels and the mu-
tinous character of their crews.
II tell you, furnished apartments in
the garden O Eden wouldn't satisfy
EN-" said James Forster 'Blowed IL
they wouldn't want somethink more.
Sailors o. today are the dirtiest, mu-
finest lot O scallywags on the face o
the earth
s"The sea sarvice is not what it used
to be-" replied his friend. IF man
or boy set up his lip to the cap'n in my
prentice days, why, that man or boy
carried a remembrance o. it to his
grave. Now. the other week on the
homeward v'y'ge l had to hit man
with handspike, and what does the
bloomin' skunk go and do but sum-
mons me, and the fule O. a magistrate
fines me f5 and said as how / had no
business to hit man with hand
spike. | says to him. Your worship,
there was nothink else handy to hit
HIM with But, no; the pigheaded old
fule wouldn't bulge an inch. You just
pay the fine, he says, or seven days
Fancy threatenin' skipper with sew
en- days choky! Rahi'' And he struck
a match viciously and relighted his
pipe.
'sYes, things is goin' to the dogs with
a vengeance Before long we shall have
10 provide the men for'ard with feather
beds, scented soap turtle soup and
fancy biscuits. That's what things is
comm to, but it's the fault of the board
Of trade"
sTt's my honest opinion you might
give my crew toasted angels and then
they'd grumble," replied Robinson.
well, for the sake o. peace and
quietness / always gives 'em a deiicacy
now and again. You see, Pm not so
young as / was, and fghtin' 'em takes
Ia out o. me and upsets the owners"
What do you mean by a delicacy ?"
demanded his friend.
"Why, for example, here in Yarmouth
| always lays in a cask of herrin's
whenever comes. 1t pleases 'em, and
it saves the stores. At the same time
gees the credit O. bein' a better skip
per than most And he laughed at the
idea. ''For about 3 or 4 shillin's you
can get barrel of red herrin's, but you
save quite f3 or "a on the victuals for
the v'y'ge."
Il don't mind buyin 'em twenty bar
Fei6 Of herr;n, if the heggars would
only be grateful only be satisfied for
once In their dirty lives"
4Ah," said the other, you'll never get
that. Gratefulness is a thing quite I'M
bedSnown to EN-
'sWeil. I'll try the herrin' dodge and
see how it answers. Where can get
emp
-Tsook here. I'll be orderin' mine to-
nerrow, so I'll order yours at the same
time, and we can settle up when we
meets in SUNDERLAND. The night tide, /
Supposer'
eyes. If the wind holds, we hope to
get away then. Come, one more glass,
and then I'm off"
Half an hour later the two men rolled
out Of the inn and took their way along
the quay to their respective ships. A
nHmber of vessels, much alike, lay in
tiers, but a special Providence seemed
to guide these two men to their several
charges. Save for an occasional sprawl
over warp here or post there they
managed to make their way without
mishap.
Captain Forster's ship was lying out
side that commanded by Robinson, but
the latter stood by until he heard
Alright" which announced that his
friend was safely aboard his own YES
sell Then he went below. For few
mlnutes he sat on a locker in the evil,
close smelling cabin. that reelzed of to-
bacco and rum, looking vacantly into
the fire, wondering whether he could
drink another glass of spirits and still
be able to get into his bunk without
calling the mate. With sigh he came
to the conclusion that to take more
would mean the loss of steerage way;
so with many grunts he managed to
get of his elastic side boots and then
with satisfied snort rolled into bed
by making one dive into the little state
room. Next night saw the two briggs
dropping down with the tide the two
shippers fresh and rosy and their re-
spective crews busily engaged in MAX
ing sail.
Now, when the cask of behring's came
aboard the Sally the opinion of the
forecastle differed as to its destination
and purpose.
Its present for his missus to hood
wink her over the old sinners latest"
said No. with significant grin.
Maybe it's for the owners" remark
ed another.
The cask stood on end amidships, and
each time man went below he cast
longing eyes at the barrel, and when
he came on deck again it was the first
object he looked for.
1.-THE bloomin' old cut raisin means
maxim a profit out O en-" said the sec
ond mate, who lived forward; buys
lem here at three a penny or less and
sells 'em up north at a penny EACH
However, while they were at tea, all
speculation was set at rest by the skip
per, who thrust his head down the fore
castle hatchway. There's some real
Yarmouth reds IN that cask amidships,