The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-10
In the Uasp's Nest
BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY.
Copyright 1902, by Charles Scrbner's Sons)
BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY
CHAPTER XII.
Ned Boston Learns the Ropes.

Ned Boston Learns the Ropes.
T HERE trial among the that made the
life of a midshipman miserable that Ned Boston
spared. He-was seasck He had knocked around
in small boats, in all sorts of weather. with the old
modore that he had become immune to that dread
full malady. put watch the moment
he struck the deck and not until five bells or half
after six o'clock, that he relieved to go down and
get his supper. ship that day from port,
instead of the usual ships biscuit bareback, they
had soft-tac (bread) and butter, tea with milk sweet
brown sugar. and the everlasting salt pork.
That, with the addition Of bean soup, varied with
soaked bareback, salt beef coffee and potatoes with
in while heavy, soggy pudding,
ms, called plum duff" constituted usual bill of
fare It plain enough food for who had been
brought up comfort and plenty but the midshipmen
usually attacked their ratons with furious energy
begot by salt-air appettes, stimulated by hard work
When the first night came Boston had another sur
prise. His hammock boy, of the who, for
a small extra compensation dashed and prepared his
hammock turned his friend, Billy Bow
line, graduated into smart "A. b. who had been
attracted to the ship by old Jack Langs
when he had been recruiting services. The young
sailor taught the boy not only how to swing and lash
his hammock but how to get in it. without Immediately
falling out oft not an easy thing by any means SO
that when he below to turn in after Whit Of
fresh air deck the of the steerage
much disappointed to him do well.
That night he had the mid watch out It was aw-
fully hard for a little boy, who had always gone
at sundown and slept like top until the next
day. to be routed out of comfortable ham1nock-and
his be the most delightful bed he had
slept or-and forced to deck and keep awake
for four solid hours Indeed after the first excitement OF
standing watch had passed away night the
youngster fairly fell asleep leaning his head upon his
32-pounder battery. Rodgers had
with him, and instead of reporting him the
but gruff lieutenant took off his
jacket laid it carefully the little boys shoulders
and let him sleep. It kindness the meaning of
which Ned realized after while, and he for
got The pitching ship she progressed down
bay into rougher water caused him to slip
the gun woke him up at last, and very much
ashamed having given way this weakness.
He glad little fellow indeed when eight bells
struck forward and he heard the boatsWain's mate
hoarsey calling. -. -.
All starboard watch! Relieve the wheel and
chain! Tumble up here, all you star-bow-1ines!''
When he relieved he down to the steerage
and tore Clothes eager enjoy Of
sleep yet remaining to him. AS he attempted to swing
himself into his hammock however his arm struck
something large hard and the pull of his elbow
sized division tub half full of water which his kindly
associates had secured hammock little
prise for him. The cold water flooded him from head
to foot, and drenched he
spent Of the night wrapped in his
and those his messmaes of the uproarous steer
age gave when they his plight, stretched out
hard, locker, being rolled to the deck
eral times by the rough motion of the ship.
When morning broke, after the hardest and most
uncomfortable night he had spent, after washing
in salt water, which he found uncom-
Portable, his to the deck to find that the
Wasp we'll at stretching away to the south
eastward with bright lookous at masthead, in the
hope falling in with cruisers merchant ships of the
... 1855.
For the days he applied himself assiduous-
ly and literally to learning the ropes There seemed
to be countless numbers at the pin rails below
shrouds either side of each mast and at the fife
the rnasts. He despaired of mastering
their indeed their names, UNTIL at Leuten-
suggestion, he wrote the of each
sprawng schooboy hand, the rail where it
was Delayed every spare minute he fingered over
textbook coming it again and again, until,
being bright lad finally mastered it, and could put
his hand BRACE sheet halyard or line on
ship, and tell it's well.
What with this effort and constant drills at quar-
practice, and the learning of the rough
ready but necessary knot-and-splice seamanship
Lang and Billy Bovine, and standing his
hardly had time to call his soul his
own. good thing for him, too, for he would
dreadfully homesick if moment had not
been filled with new and strange duties
in
at his but he strove to bear their
and cheerful and jolly wher
victim Of their rough, practical jokes that
became general favorite In spite of the fac
that always properly and securely lashed
hammock would come down with anc
send him sprawling out on the deck
Once, when he jumped to the call of his watch, hi
trouser legs tied into hard knots HI