Missouri Valley times., 1901-10-31

Wnen Captain CONN appeared on tne
scene. attracted by the mates loud
tones.
What's the trouble here?" he de-
manded, as the officer tried to push by
him ON the steps.
Its mutiny. sr." was the angry re-
ply. "Wait till | get my pistol, and IN
soon settle i'll"
The captain looked about him in sur
prise. Tom stood alone ON the quarter
picable unless the new mate was crazy,
Il thought which found ample justitica-
tion in his disordered appearance.
Mutinya' he repeated, contemptu-
ously. See here. ii you've been drink
ing, Mr.. Rider, don't let 1t happen
again. / can make allowance for sail
Ing day, but see 1t doesn't happen
again!
y am as sober as you are" was the
Scout whelp, He refused to obey me.
end I'll see whether am mate of this
ship OF not.
With one stride the captain reached
his side and thrust his weather. beaten
face close to the mates, giving him y
look before which the other quailed.
Look Nou% he said sharply. When
you speak TO me remember l have a
hendle TO my name, and see you put 1t
The mate looked from one to the 9TH
er as ii he could not believe his own
senses. What did it all mean? Why
did the skipper refuse to side With him
ard allow Tom to stand there unmo-
Tested after assaulting his superior Of
ticer.
Seeing he could do nothing but glare
at Tom the skipper turned to the lat
ter and said, coolly:
ttol,
man nowadays. The best seamen all
seem to make 1t Il business to keep
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. II have not touched
drop of liquor today. l ordered this
man TO go forward and he resisted me-
'Ordered him forwards Well. that's
u good one" And the captain broke
into hoarse chuc!lie. Why, bless me.
but of course You didn't know, Mr..
Scott is y passense, on the Seabird and
is going to Frisco With us. There's an
ether down below ~ MIR. Avery. Make
YOU acquainted With MIR. Scott. Mr..
SCOTT. this is my mate, MIR. Rider. It's
all my fault not telling him you was
aboard. Kinder funny. wasn't it?''
"Me don't need any Introduction"
said Tom, quickly. Il have known Obed
Rider a long time. l don't know any
good OF him. either"
Captain Coffin was surprised, but he
asked no questions. preferrng to wait
until he could see Tom alone. The
mate bit his lip in hafiled rage as he
SAW his prey not only removed from
his power, but placed in position
where he must be treated with out
ward respect at least. He turned on
his heol and went forward, NoWing Ven
seance under his breath but not daring
to show his feeling further before the
captain
so YOU know my mate?" then asked
the captain.
u knew him years ago" replied Tom.
"and we had some trouble. 1t doesn't
matter What it was about, but his nose
got Broken and he hates me as hard
as | do him. He may be Il good sailor.
however and no doubt he is. He used
to sail With nay father
a hail from the tug saved Tom any
further explanation, and as the cap
tain BUSTED off to rep,y 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 cnmty be
| tween hsmself and Rider. for the
charge against his father was too sore
u subject To pass his lips
sci was w~ll down the harbor. When
Boston light Was reached the westerly
wind began To freshen, and the sails
stood full. Lines We're hastily cast off.
4 the tugs whistle gave Il short blast as
II parting salute, and, With a graceful
nod of her sharp bow in return, the
4 bark shot toward the open Mater, With
every square inch Of canvas pulling at
| the sheets. and the captain rubbing
1ali i,rlt at IA
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-
! manned the better part of two days,
| while the Scabrd flaw along before the
! favorable gale in q manner which did
not belle her name.
When he managed to get on deck
Cape Cod wos more than 800 miles
astcril, and already the weather MAS
4 beginning to grow mildcr. A few days
/ more made him completely We'll, and
! long before the equator was reached
he had acquired quite Il professional
\ roll and felt perfectly at home
or the mate he saw very little, as
/ the latter stood watch and watch with
the second officer, being on deck every
other four hours. night and day. Mr..
4 Green, the second mate. Was q bright
active young man about Toms age.
and the two became very friendly MS
the Seabird sped steadily to the south
| Ward.
! 1t seemed as if old Neptune had made
| an extra effort To help the vessel along,
1 for She escaped the customary calms
near tho line and caught the southeast
trades the same day she lost thesa
from the northeast which had served
i her so We'll. No incident of Importance
/ occurred to break the monutony of ths
voyage. and as they stood by the wheel
one noon when Captain Coffin was taxi
ing his observations he announced that
1 they were as far south of the line aa
4 boston was north of 1t.
Then he went below to look at the
glass, cast a careful glance around The
horizon. and went below once more
only to reappear on deck.
There ain't n cloud in the sky he
said, bluntly. but the glass is goine
down as though the bottom had
dropped out of everything. We're GO
ing to catch 1T. as sure as my name is
i Seth Coffin. My glass never lied to me
yet"
Il Gradually the wind died out, until tho
Scabird lay becalrncd, rising and fall
ing on the swell, but the sky remained
clear. The barometer continued to fal
in an alarming manner and after al
hour the heat became oppressive.
4 Then from all quarters of the horizon
i q mass of white clouds arose, until they
presented the appearance of huge
mountains of snow, darlsening ns the,
ascended, and massing together unit
they formed n canopy overhead, en-
tirely concealing the blue Sky above
Soon they deepened until the whole
heavens were solidly black, as if coy
c,al with folds f,f yelyct In ., f,,,