The National tribune., 1902-01-23
TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON THURSDAY

Yes, sir. No. sir; if you please, sir; l
don't want the billet, sir!'
Dewey looked as if house had fallen
down on his hopes, but recovering him
self in moment he said curtly:
Nonsense! You don't know when you're
well off. | intend to rate you as Can
tain Of the Top, and | shall look to you
to see that the men do their duty and
that you do yours. You may so forward,
sir
There was no more to be said. Dewey
arose from his seat with a wave of his
hand and Mac saluted ard retired, with a
rather sullcn air.
The next day / was standing on the
fOrecastle just before the time when the
starboard watch was piped below. Eight
bells had just been struck, when a noisy
alteration was heard i'll the waist of the
ship.
Walking slowly down in that direction.
| arrived in time TO see one of the main
| topmen staggering about with a badly
confused eye and a prOfusely bleeding
nose. He had evidently not been handled
with care.
The Master-at-A Arms and a Ships Cor
! p0rai or two were already on the ground,
and soon out of the tanglc our new Cap
tain Of the Top emerged under escort of
| Jenny Legs" Macs eyes were ablaZe
/ and his whole manner showed that some
body had walked up his Irish. His
! clenchcd fists worked convulsively, and
| his red hair seemed to stand up straight
as if the ships barber had just cut it
! pOmDadOur.
Mac was led up to the nlainmast and
reported to the Officer of the Deck, who
happened to be Mr.. Sampson, now the
muct-talked-abOu Rear-Adniral
William II. Sampson was at that tine
| the type of q perfect man in form and
feature. Tall, brOad-shouldered, erect as
I r,
blue eyes and nicely-trimmed blonde
beard, he was Il model-looking sailor man
but withal he was i'll great disfayor with
the crew Of the Colorado" He was ac-
cused Of being ''too much stuck on his
shape" He certainly was lacking in that
| magnetic power that drew men to Dewey.
Sampson looked at the pugnacious top
man with superciliOus air.
Fighting, eh?' he said, in response to
the report Of Babcock, the Master-at
Arms.
Yes. SIR" answered Jenny Legs.
Knocked one of the topmen down as he
came from the top
Take him below and put him in the
brig said Sampson shortly, preparing to
turn on his heel to resume his promenade,
trumpet in hand, mp and down the quar-
ter deck. 1t was this habit of taking
judgment on the fly. without attempting
to dig up the attending facts, that made
pdHIbSoH 81 hHpDpfltT.
"If you please Mr.. Sampson. I should
like to see the First Lcutenantr broke
in Mccarthy, taking off his cap and strid-
ing eXctedly forward
"Humph. Grossly exclaimed the off
Ger; what do YOU want to see him f0rt
Want to gain time to invent some more
plausible excuse for your outrageous con-
duct, ] suppose"
Mccarthy had the good sense to say
nothing in answer to this innuendO. but
his face flushed and his jaw worked.
showing what effort silence cost him
Sampson glared at Mac for a moment
and then turned aside and with q surly
air bade the messenger boy summon the
Executive Officer. 1t is an arbitrary law
in the navy that seamen believing them
selves aggricved may go to the mast and
demand to see the Executive or the Cap
tain.
In a few moments Dewey appeared, |
Suave, dignihed and sOldierly, and yet
with, methought, an amused smile lurk-
ing under cover Of the sweeping coal |
black mustache.
We'll. what's the matter now. my
man." he asked, after a few words in /
an undertOne frGm Sampson.
You rated me Captain of the Top fer |
ninst me willr' blurted Mac. This was /
a bad beginning, and Dewey looked grave. |
yes. my man." said he slowly. "and |
asked you TO do your duty and keep |
peace in the tOp.'
AYE, aye, sir" answered Mac, sullenly |
but we sometimes have TO fight for peace |
if yez want it,
"Ah." said Dewey, with a long-drawn
tone; then you have attempted to CON |
quer peace. Come, tell me about it."