Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-03-28
Ia, in The Strand.)

T.
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 up good. And don't care II you
are an admiral, you are the right sort
all the same. guess that Simpson
must have reckoned he struck cy-
| clone"
And Baker 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
admiral took charge of the deck.
ability tells everywhere" said Sir
| Richard Dunn. II didn't rise in the
service for nothing. Ship me where
you like, and I'll come to the top. If
| didn't take this hooker into New York
as captain and master III 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 Baker never
swore, the admiral's gift OF language
was great vicarious satisfaction to
him. Virgins accepted the situation
without murmur. Even Simpson
himself bore no malice when his sup
planter not only showed none, but after
knocking the bo'sun's head against
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.
| Il tell you he's an admiral, sure"
they said.
Hes got all the ways of one.
own" said Bill. an old man-o-wars
man. II spoke to an admiral myself.
once; or, rather, he spoke to me-"
What did he say" asked the rest
OF his watch.
"He said," replied Bill. proudly, me
upped and said, You cross-eyed son OF
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 has!"
| well, admiral or none" said the
rest of the crowd, things goes on
pleasanter than they done when you
was mate, Simpson"
And Simpson grunted.
and he gets more work out Of us
than you done, either, Simpson, for all
yer hammerin' of U.s."
| "I'll likely be hammerin' some Of you
again shortly" said Simpson. And as
he was cock of the walk in the fo'c's'le,
whatever he was in the ship, the others
dried up ,.
| Nothing of great interest happened
| till they were we'll east of the Horn
and hauled up for the northward run.
And then Baker took to religion Tor
what he called reiigion) and rum in
equally undlluted doses.
"I'm miserable sinner, l am he
said to the Admiral; but, all the same,
I'll do my duty to the crowd"
He called them aft and preached to
them for two hours. And when one
man yawned he laid him out with a
well-directed belaying-pin. The next
day, when it breezed up heavily and
they were shortening sail, he called all
hands down from aloft, on the ground
that their souls were of more impor-
lance than the work in hand.
Come down on deck, you miserable
Sinners" said Baker, through speak
ing-trumpet. His voice rose triumph
antly above the roar of the gale. Come
down on deck and listen to me- For
though I'm miserable sinner. too,
there's some hopes for me, and for you
there's none unless you mends your
ways in accordance with what I'm tell
in YOU" ),
Even with the speaking trumpet he
could hardly make himself heard over
the roar of the increasing gale and the
thunderous Stating of the three top
sails in the spilling-lines.
| Don't you think, sir. that they'd
better make the topsails fast before
you speak to them?" said the Admiral
NO, don't" replied Baker, mot
! much, don't not by jugful. For If
one of 'em went overheard I'd be re-
sponsible before the Throne. And
don't you forget It,"
Hes mad" said Sir Richard, mad
as March hare She'll be shaking the
sticks out Of her soon."
He leant over the break of the poop
and called up Virgins.
Mr.. Virgins, one word with YOU
| Virgins came up, as Blaker roared
his text through the trumpet.
will you stand by me, Mr.. Virgins,
If knock him down and take COM
mand?" #
II will. but mind his gum" said Wig
gins. when he's very bad he'll shoot :"
It was not any fear OF Bakers six
shooter that made the Admiral hest
tate. TO take the command even from
q mailman at sea Is ticklish task, and
may land a man in gaol for all his be-
ing Shanghaied admiral.
II tell you, Mr.. Virgins, that Simp-
son Is a good man. III bring him aft
again"
And Virgins made no objection when
Simpson was called up by the Admiral.
"Mr. Simpson," said the mate, this
is getting past joke. Have you any
objection to taking on your old job if
l secure this preaching mailman and
| take commando"
Simpson was "full up of The fo'c's'le,
and as he had very wholesome adj
| miration for the admiral he was by no
means 10th to return to his old quar-
! tiers.
:"Im with you, sir. In another quar-