The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-03-27
The Promotion OF the Admiral

through his 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.
and inside of ten seconds Mr.. Simpson
was lying totally insensible under the
spare topmast. To encounter the ad-
mirars right fist was to escape death
by hairs breadth, and it took
Charles Simpson, able seaman (vice
Mr.. Simpson. chief officer), two hours
and quarter to come to.
"And l tho't he could fight" said
the disguised skipper: come right up,
Mr.. What's-your-name, 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 up good. And don't care if 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 adj
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. Il 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 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 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 a
pollard 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. 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, che
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 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 ali
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 focsle
whatever he was in the ship, the Others
dried up.
Nothing Of great interest happened
till they were well east of the Horn
and hauled up for the northward run
And then Baker took to religion (o
what he called reiigion) and rum il
equally undlluted doses.
I'm a miserable sinner | am" h,
said to the Admiral; "but, all the same
III do my duty to the crowd
He called them aft and preached tt
them for two hours. And when on,
man yawned he laid him out with
well-directed belaying-pin The mex
day, when it breezed up heavily ant
they were shortening sail, he called al
hands down from aloft, on the grount
that their souls were of more impor
lance than the work in hand
Come down on deck, you miserabl,
sinners" said Blaker, through a speak
ing-trumpet. His voice rose triumph
antly above the roar of the gale. Cons
down on deck and listen to me. Fo
though I'm a miserable sinner, too
there's some hopes for me, and for yo,
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, | don't" replied Baker, mo
much. don't not by jugful. For i
one of 'em went overheard I'd be re
spcnsible before the Throne. AM
don't you forget it,"
He's mad" said Sir Richard, "mae
as March hare. She'll be shaking tn,
sticks out of her soon''