Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-06-22

/ over tllejrall y
The boy moved nearer and leaned
over beside him. Waters pretty, isn't
it2
! There was no answer! After a mo-
ment the boy began again, Say, isn't
| itT'
''s'pose so.'
Again there was silence. Near the
man was fastened to the rail a smaEl
dial, with. tiny revolving wheel, and
from this a tWirling string led far out
into the water behind
The boy came around to the other
side Of the man and near this instru-
ment How many miles have they
made today? Did fine yesterday, the
captain said"
A faint look Of interest passed over
the mans face. Most time to take the
record now" he muttered
They both bent over the. instrument;
their heads were close together; they
almost touched each other and tn q rail.
The man forgot other things for a mo
ment
Then a great foghorn of a voice
sounded near What are you doing
tbeeef'
T9ey Strengthened up and faced the
second mate, a big, powerful man,
whose usually good natured face wore
fierce ffown of disapproyaI
Get out of that, you. What you
roun' here for anyway? Get back there
quick. II you touched it, I'll'' He
drew nearer to the instrument.
A sardonic smile, unseen by the mate,
came to the mans face AS he turned
away his hands rested on the railing
for an instant. How easy to vault it!
What a surprise to the mate, whose
words had been comparatively gentle!
What a sensation for the passengers!
lie balanced himself for the plunge,
when the boy spoke. The man had for
gotten the boy. He was leaning against
him now, the curls of his thrown back
head touching the mans soiled shirt
sleeves, while he expostulated with the
mate.
"Now, look a-here. 'Twasn't his
fault. / asked him to show me. We
never touched it. 'Tisn't hurt bit,
now, is itY'
The mate Strengthened up from his
examination. go round there" he
ordered the man again, and the sailor
skunk away. Then to the boy, sYou
mustn't touch things like this or shall
tell the captain not to let you go over
the Ship
"No, won't. Pom my word l won't t. -
cried the boy. Then, turning, he ran
after the man, who had dropped upon
the deck some distance away and was
staring at the sea with a perpIexed
face.
He's a nice man." explained the
boy, slipping down beside him and
nodding his head in the direction of
the mate, ''only. he has got an awful
voice. Yelled just like that once when
l got on top Of the engine house. He
doesn't mean it. y
mo, answered the man, still gazing
at the sea.
The boy looked slyly up at him once
or twice, then drew a piece of rope
from his pocket. Say" he smiled in
lone of the sailors told |
me you could tie more knots than any
other fellow aboard. Show me how,
won't your
The man took the rope and with |
mechanical fingers began to teach the
boy how to make the simplest knots.
The mate came by presently and look
ed at them from beneath his bushy |
orows, but passed on without speak
ing.
".My," the boy exclaimed ence in |
1onest admiration, don't you know a
OF! I bet you could beat the captain.
you learn 'em all?"
'Oh, i knowed some of 'em when I |
vas kid" answered the man, and he I
vent on tying more.
1t was an absorbing lesson, made so
1y the boys eagerness and the mans !
Increasing interest. Suddenly shrill
whistle sounded through the air. The
Joy looked up. His father beckoned
o him from the deck above, and the
10Y rose to his feet,
"I've got to CO." he said, "but I'll be
yraeticing some of EN-, and you can
how me the rest next time"
He started to run along the deck,
tufing the rope in his pocket. But he
lad only gone few steps when he
turned and came trotting
Jack. He stopped near the man lit
lie uncertainty, pulling vigorously at
he frayed end Of the rope.
"say, say, you didn't mind what the
nate said, did you? He didn't mean to
,e. cross. They just have to holler that
way"
The man did not speak. Again the
whistle sounded. The boy turned, but
,ersisted over his shoulder:
"You didn't mind, did you?"
Then the man laughed, a strange,
udden laugh, No, didn't mind"
md the boy sped away.
Then the change of istokers came, and
he man was called below. He went I'M
and promptly. AS he passed I!
'eneath the upper deck the boy, who
vas standing there, leaned over and
waved, and the man lifted his hand to
,iS ho+josS haad in "a info The anoenO- |