The Red Cloud chief., 1902-01-10
The Promotion of the Admiral

tnrOugn MS teeth, the Admiral jumped
down on the main deck.
Now, according to all ~precedents.
the fight should have been long and
arduous. with varying fortunes. But
the admiral never regarded precedents.
n inside OF ten seconds Mr.. Simpson
was lying totally insensible under the
spare topmast. TO encounter the ad-
miral's right fist was to escape death
by u, hairs breadth, and II took
Charles Simpson, able seaman (vicc
Mr.. Simpson. chief o%fhcer), two hours
and "A quarter to come TO-.
And | tho't he could fight" said
the ~disgu5ted skipper; come right mp,
Mr.. What's-your-namc. you're the man
for me. There amt no reason for you
to trouble about my second mate, for
Simpson could lay him out easy. All
| ask Of you Is to work the whole
crowd mp good. And | don't care if you
are an admiral. you are the right sort
all the sams. | guess that Simpson
must have reckoned he struck u cy-
clone
And Blaker rubbed his hands. Like
Simpson at the fight between the ad-
miral and Knight, he did not know
when he had enjoyed himself more.
He improved the occasion by going be-
low and getting far too much to drink,
as was his custom, and the promoted
admire. took charge of the deck.
Ability tells everywhere said Sir
Richard Dunn. Il didn't rise in the
service for nothing. Ship me where
you like. and I'll come to the top. II |
didn't take this hooker into New York
as captain and master I'll die in the
attempt"
He had quite come to himself, and
was beginning to enjoy himself. His
natural and acquired authority bios
somed wonderfully when he took on
the new job, and, as Blaker never
swore, the admiral's Gift of language
was a great vlcarious satisfaction to
him. Virgins accepted the situation
without q murmur. Even Simpson
himself bore no malice when his sup
planter not only showed none, but after
knocking the bo'sun's head against a
bollard gave his place to the former
mate. Though he kept the men work
ing, and got the last ounce out of
them, none of them were down on him.
II tell you he's an admiral, sure
they said.
Hes got all the ways of one. l
own" said Bill, an old man-o'-war's
man. Il spoke to an admiral myself,
once; or. rather, he spoke to me-"
sXEpot lti ha ,,vo'' ockaJ thn rect
of his watch.
"He said" replied Bill, proudly, "he
upped and said, 'You cross-eyed son OF
a dog, if you don't jump, I'll bash the
ugly head Of YOU And you bet
jumped. Oh, he's all the ways of some
admirals, he hast"
well, admiral or none" said the
rest OF the crowd. things goes or
pleasanter than they done when yor
was mate, Simpson"
And Simpson grunted.
and he gets more work out Of us
than you done, either, Simpson, for al
yer hammerin' of u.s."
"Ill likely be hammerin' some of yOr
again shortly" said Simpson. And a:
he was cock of the walk in the fo'c's'le
whatever he was In the ship, the other.
dried up.
Nothing of great interest happened
till they were well east of the Horn
and hauled III for the northward run
And then Baker took to religion Coz
what he called reiigion) and rum il
equally undlluted doses.
I'm a miserable sinner, l am h,
said to the Admiral; but. all the same
I'll do my duty to the crowd"
He called them aft and preached t
them for two hours. And when on,
man yawned he laid him out with
well-direoted ~belaying-pin. The mex
day, when 1t breezed up heavily ant
they were shortening sail, he calle1 al
hands down from aloft, on the grount
that their souls were of more impor
lance than the work in hand.
Come down or deck, you miserabl,
sinners" said Baker, through a speak
ing-trumpet. His voice rose triumph
antly above the roar of the gale. Com,
down oil deck and listen to me. Fo,
though I'm a miserable sinner, too
there's some hopes for me, and for yol
there's none unless you mends you,
ways in accordance with what I'm tell
in you"
Even with the speaking trumpet h,
could hardly make himself heard owe
the roar Of the increasing gale and tn,
thunderous Stating Of the three top
, sails in the spilling-lines.
Don't you think, sir, that they't
better make the topsails fast befor,
you speak to them?" said the Admiral
NO, l don't" replied Baker, mo
much, ! don't not by a jugful. For l
one of EN- went overheard I'd be re
sponsible before the Throne. AM
, don't you forget it,"
, He's mad" said Sir Richard, ma,
as a March hare. She'll be shaking tn