Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-01-09

Next night saw the two brigs drop
ping down with the tide, the two skip
pers fresh and rosy and their respec-
tive crews busily engaged in making
sail.
Now, when the cask of herrings
came aboard the Sally, the opinion OF
the forecastle differed as to its destl-
nation and purpose.
"It's a present for his missus to
hoodwink her over the old sinner s
latest, said No. l with a significant
grin.
Maybe it's for the owners" re-
marked another.
The cask stood on end amidships,
and each time a man went below he
cast longing eyes at the barrel, and
when he came on deck again it was
the first object he looked for.
The bloomin' old cut raisin means
maxim profit out o en-" said the
second mate, who lived forward buys
EN- here at three penny or less and
sells EN- up north at a penny each.
However, while they were at tea,
all speculation was set at rest by the
skipper, who thrust his head down
the forecastle hatchway. There 8
some real Yarmouth reds in that cask
amidShips, and you can help your
selves, lads. It's just bit Of delicacy
like for you as l was persuaded to
get
Strange to say there was no reply
to this generous offer. Sailors are
suspicious, and they wanted time to
think it over and see what such a
voluntary act implied and how much
it included,
Il sees is little game now" said
the second mate. I'm and is deli
cacies, Pah Nice sort o delicacy red
herrin's is !"
well, o all the"-put in an A. B.
"The old sinner means feedin us on
these ere things and savin the proper
wittles as is pervided for the ship by
the owners
Il expect he's gone and drunk all
the freight, thinkin as how he'll make
it up out o herrin's."
"Out o us, you means.
"Weil, it's all the same.
mo, weain't-at least lain t a her
rim said the cantankerous man, $50
what's the use you sayin that?'
Hold your jaw and smelll' sud-
denly cried the second mate.
"Herrin's!' they calculated with
one accord.
They smell nice, too, was the COM
ment Of one man.
Il dare say they smells all right,
but that's not the question. l 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
battle to fight. And then he made
certain proposal to them, and they
assented.
Next morning the skipper and the
mate walked the quarter deck togeth-
er. Throughout the ship there was
the reek of cooking herrings, which
emanated from the galley and per-
vaded everywhere. AS a matter of
fact, the men had been cook
ing herrings all night through, more
or less, so that they might carry out
their intention resolved upon during
the foregoing conversation-to boy
colt them for the remainder of the voy-
age.
The quarter deck walk of the cap
tain and the mate came to sudden
stop. The former uttered an excla-
nation which we omit, for there in the
waist a man was busy raking good,
Wholesome, freshly cooked herrings off
his plate into the sea, meantime ele-
waiting his nose in an opposite direc-
ton.
The skipper was purple with rage,
but speechless. AS 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
laden with herriDgs and went through
the same process Of ostentatiOusly put
ting them into their native element.
Having accomplished this, he disaP-
peared with grin to join his fellows.
This procession of similar perform