The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-12-20

Hold your jaw and smellY' sudden
~ cried the second mate.
'Herrin'sH' they calculated with one
accord.
They smell nice. too,D was the COM
ment Of one man.
IL dare say they smells all right, but
that's not the question votes that
we have nuthin' whatever to do with
EN-
Lets have one good tuck out, = was
the suggestion of him who liked the
smell.
This caught on, but the second mate
was firm. mo, lads; we must stop
this from the beginnin'. We have a
battle to fight" And then he made a
certain proposal to them, and they as
scented.
Next morning the skipper ana the
mate walked the quarter deck togeth-
err. Throughout the ship there was the
reek of cooking behring's, which ema-
mated from the galley and pervaded
everywhere. AS a matter of fact, the
men had been cooking behring's all
night through, more or less, so that
they might carry out their intention
resolved upon during the foregoing
conversation boycott them for the
remainder of the voyage.
The quarter deck walk of the cap
tain and the mate came to q sudden
stop. The former uttered an exclama-
ton which we omit, for there In the
waist man was busy raking good,
wholesome, freshly cooked behring's off
his plate into the sea, meantime eIevat-
ing his nose in an opposite direction.
The skipper was purple with rage,
but speechless. AS a matter of fact
he could not think at the moment of
words strong enough to express the
extent of the volcano within. While
he stood another seaman came up from
the forecastle hatch with his plate lad
en- with herrings and went through the
same process of SYSTEMATICALLY putting
them into their native element. Hay
Ing accomplished this, he disappeared
with grin to Join his fellows. This
procession of similar performances
went on until the whole of the men
forward had done the same trick.
s'Pll make their eyes smart for this
snapped the skipper as he fumed and
stormed with one explosion after am
other. Then he went below to think
the matter out with the aid of glass
of rum and a pipe.
"Beg pardin, SIR as a head only
was projected into the cabin-s'beg
pardin, sir, but the men for'ard want
a word with you, sir"
"Wot aboutY' asked the skipper
sharply.
tits about the grub, sir, / thinks,
though I'm not quite sure" replied the
cautious second mate.
'They don't get no word with me-"
'sThen there will be mutiny this
blessed night, SIR
"Mutiny? What do you meanT
"Nothink, sir, only what / says. If
you won't let the men speak to yoa,
all | have to say Is don't sleep in that
fo'c's'le another night. Not that l
minds, only have wife as well as a
family to consider, and | amt insured.
If had been-just for a few pounds
event wouldn't have troubled you,
and murder isn't a nice sort o. thing
when man has come to my time of
life"
sect outv Numbered the skipper.
All that day the crew were becoming
mutinous, and the master was at his
wits end. He thought of signaling his
companion In the brig. which was with
in biscuit throw, but the fear of being
laughed at discouraged him. Every
thing cooked that day was promptly
thrown overheard, and they took care
to do it always when the skipper was
on deck. Just before sunset the second
mate brought his bedding out Of the
forecastle and threw it down aft near
the wheel.
Put it bFlow," yelled the captain
Thus 1t was that the second mate
came aft to live, and, with this some
what doubtful welcome. he took possess
sion of a sail locker.
Next morning the mate came down
and reported mutiny The men had
positively refused to'come on deck, and
be finished UP by suggesting that the
captain should give them an interview
With sundry growls and curses this
was acceded to, and they came aft in
a body.
what Is the grievanceT' demanded
tbe master.
tits the onchristian food" said one:
mot fit for dorgs."
SIS it the herrin's7' asked the skip
per.
There's nothing speshul amiss with
them except as they are putrid," said
the spokesman. and his companions
growled assent.
WHO says they're putrid?"
1--WE does. Arsk the second mate
there. as as tasted 'em. We didn't ship
on this old tub to be starved to death
by slow murder. All the stores is rot
ten. and we shall signal the first man
o'-war we falls in with, IT she's only a
revenue cutter"
AYE, aye!" said the men in chorus.
''Then what do you wantf" thunder
ed the master in desperation.
sNorthInk. sir, except little food
the same as you are 'avin' yourself.
We don't mind what It Is SO long as 1t
isn't rotten, and we don't mind how
little 1t IS SO long as it'll keep our pore
souls and bodies together until we
gets to SUNDERLAND and can buy some