Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-23

and flowed about the little stream in ever
increasing bitterness. an object lesson for
the native savages-this meeting of civil
lied men of the same mother tongue.
The Betsy AIMS stock of wood completed,
battle royal followed. The Englishmen
accounted for the result by saying they
were short-handed; there had been many
desertions during their long cruise.
The day before Captain Zeke was ready
to sail Captain Armstrong; gig appeared
What now? They had met but once. This
call would be in regard to the trouble be-
tween the crews, no doubt. Armstrong
would be ugly. Diplomacy had served
Captain Zeke once, he would trust it again;
he would soon be out of here now, anyway
+ A ladder was hustled over the side and i'm
promptu man-rOpes ostentatously dis
played
The kings fighter was all urbanity. He
approached Captain Zeke with a pleasant
smile, bowe1-not too formally-and taking
the whaler's hand. said:
How do you do, Mr.. Rawlins? Why
haven't you been over to see me? | hoped
we would have become we'll acquainted be-
fore this. Good fellowship should prevail
when those of the same language-almost
the same acknowledgement in such out of
the-way places; don't you agree with me?'
Yes, suppose So" replied Captain Zeke
guardedly. The unexpected affability of the
Englshman puzzled him.
Tomorrow is my birthday" continued
Captain Armstrong. "a somewhat impor-
tant event to me; a good enough excuse
for dinner in this beastly hole, anyway
and L have come to ask you to dine with
me. Have You ever eaten kangaroo tail?"
No replied Captain Zeke, CURLY, and
l guess III have to disappoint ye, Mr.. Arm
strong
Beg pardon" interrupted the other
stroking his flowing sideboards with ill-sup-
pressed irritation. Captain. if you please
Not posted yet. to be sure, but leutenants
commanding are captains for courtesy in
the absence of a ranking officer"
'Oh, they be, be thew 1 was aluavs nan
tain, too. aboard my own vessel, till that
whlpper-snapper of yours christened me
sailing master &"
'Ah, well we won't discuss that now. 7
came to invite you to dinner Strain n
point, can't you? It's my birthday, you
, know
II should like to accommodate you cap
ef-Mr-er-that is-captan, but L don't
see how L can. 1 expect to get awav early
tomorrow morning. Business is business,
you know"
"Oh, now, don't do that. 1 beg Aside
from the pleasant interchange of civiIIties
least of reason, you know, and all that
assure you, my dear sir, that an opportunf-
~ to taste kangaroo tail-as only these ra-
yves Know how to serve It's not to be
nightly declined. Don't disappoint me
there's good fellow. | had hoped To give
YOU pleasant surprise. What signifies half
d day more or less in your business? Whv
you might san right away from whales
tEough 10 I'LL you up. Come now grant me
thls small favor; l really wish to know
you better"
Overwhelmed by the gentleman,e eIo-
qGence. Capt. Zeke reluctantly accented for
| himself and his officers stipuIatinp how
ever, that he should sail immediateIv after
dinner was over
That evening Capt. Zeke and Amos sought
the EnglIshmans motive in vain There
was hidden deviltry. they We're sure but
they We're unable to lay finger on 1t.
shortly before midnight Ad Iarrabee
the second mate. slipped ashore with the
third mate. four boat steerers and six of the
hands who could handle harpoon They
took with them the ships seine and a dozen
whale irons fastened to short warns
Keeping the Betsy Ann between themselves
and the brig, they arrived at the thick
underground which skirted the proposed
picnic ground The seine was stretched ont
saplings. The net was then ''faked'' down
clear for running. like the braces when
lacking ship. An end of each short warn
carrying a harpoon, bent to it's upper
edge at regular intervals. They then went
into camp for the night.
AT sunrise Capt. Zeke moored his shin nv
slip rope to big tree, got his anchor
loosed all sails and set his fore and ar
canvas. The briggs cook and steward were
performing their rites on the beach while
the dingy piled between ship and shore with
provisions.
At seven bells-11 :30-the boatswain and
his mates piped a merry chorus and two
boats dropped from the briggs davits The
Betsy Ann followed suit, all but the piping
Capt. Zeke had impressed four of his likeli-
disappearing foremost hands to imperson-
e.e those of his officers who We're on the