The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-01-02
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GOODMAN'S
FORTE...
By 7. JENKINS HANS |
Observation-Disclosures
. APTAIN BREEZE was of a
1902. by 7. jenkins HaIns

given W luuulSluS uluSelI III Tue lOr-
mer. 1t was said that he had trusted
not wisely, but too well. and had be-
come warped. Mr.. Enlis, his first
mate, gave it as his private opinion
that, although Jimmy Breeze had been
through many tight places and in
dulged in many dangerous fracas on
his ships main deck, his courage was
not "gilt edged"
Just what he based this conclusion
upon he did not say. A former second
officer, one Garnett-a thoroughly dis
reputable sailor, who feared neither
God, man nor devil-had tried to ex-
plain this matter to some of his watch,
who, of course, in duty bound, saw
that the said attempted explanation
was duly carried aft to the captain.
This led to some pickering and eventu-
ally to vacancy in the second officers
cabin.
Since then the meaning Of Mr.. Enlis'
encomium was left to work itself out
among those who were unfortunate
enough to have heard it.
II don't want no more deadbeats
with twisted ideas a-comin' aboard
this here ship as mates" said Captain
Breeze the morning after the Northern
Light had finished loading and was
about to pull out of the river Plate.
AYE, aye, sir" said Mr.. Enlis, who
sat at the end of the cabin table.
can l don't want no remarks made
forrads concernin' the runnin' of this
vessel neither" continued the captain.
eff hear any more concernin' me or
my affairs, there'll be some whangin'
a-takin' place. Dye take me for a
fool, Mr.. Enlis?"
mo. sir; We amt no fool, an that's
fact" said the mate.
'D'ye think 1 can't size up a man
or woman either, for that matter-be-
cause I've trusted in one or two male
or female raskils, hey"
II never could say any sech thing,
cap'n." replied the mate penitently.
II didn't ask ye what ye cud say"
roared Jimmy Breeze. "I'm talkin' of
what We might say, an If We do''-
Here he looked straight at Mr.. Enlis
and set his wide jaw tight until his
large mouth drew into line. Mr.. En-
lis looked meekly at the salt junk on
his plate and said nothing. There was
very little left to be said, and he was
satisfied to leave that little where it
was.
'T'll have a second mate aboard be-
fore noon that'll be a credit to this
here ship" continued the skipper, $50
ye'll be on the watch for him. He's
gentleman, that's what he is, an a
man I amt ashamed of at the table
like some know-or on the poop. An,
besides that, he don't talk too much.
got him up at Jackson's, an he's been
captain of one of them bone vessels be-
fore"
II once went out in a bone vessel"
said Enlis by way of turning the SUBJ
ject, ''an' 1 call to mind how the scor-
pions an centipeds took charge. They
was more'n million in the bones, an
every one was bit. He'll be all right
If he ever sailed in bone ship. l reck-
on he'll do"
"Ye reckon he will do, hey"
81 do SIR"
NChs JCNS SOL dAOlucI TeChOus
Reckon again. Don't go takin' any
thing for granted aboard here. SeeY'
''If ye mean for me to take him in
hand, say So"
Il mean to have ye do yer duty or
whang yer hide loose; that's whatp'
said Jimmy Breeze. AS Mr.. Enlis' du-
ty was perfectly plain, there was moth
fnC
ended in silence.
At four bells in the morning the crew
| had all been mustered and the new
! second mate had arrived He was q
tall man, thin and gaunt. His face
| was smooth shaved, and the lack of
beard disclosed a strangely angular
| jaw, with many lines and creases
about the mouth. His eyes looked out
from straight brows and had peculiar
shifting motion, focusing for a mo-
ment upon the skipper and drawing to
small glinting points, to instantly shift
again and resume their apparent rest
less search for something. His voice
had a harsh drawl, but he evidently
had it well in hand, for in spite of its
grating sound the words were gentle
and the tone conciliatory.
'My forte is the runnin' of a ship
the way she should CO." said Jimmy
Breeze after meeting him at the gang
way. ''If We know yer business, yell
1 soon see the lay of that. My forte
is srunnin' a ship without any extra
advice from forrards, see? l know
thing or two about men when l see
them, an I'll just make it known now
that I'm the whole thing aboard here.
This is Mr.. Enlis, first mate. There's
the men, an the sooner We get down
on that main deck the better. Ye say
ye haven't any paper or a discharge?'
The newcomer looked sharply at him
with his glinting eyes, shifting them
from mate to skipper while he spoke.
mo; haven't no mates certificate
nor discharge. I'll have to go on tick -
he drawled slowly. ''When ye' get
tired of me, put me ashore, hey? Amt
that it? Any passengers?
"Well, I'll trust ye. l know some.
thin about handlin' men, an 1 reckon
know good one when I see him.
There's some passengers comm along
an the rules is politeness at all times
They amt enemies of the company, an
won't have them treated that way
seeY'
A. II -