The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-09


in very business-like way, with sharp
voiced Sergeant at their head whose eyes
and manner seemed to say that he would
rather enjoy having Capt. McTwigg and
his crew enter upon a discussion as to
the control of the ship. Maria's eyes
cleaned, and she stepped back quickly
so as to give the men plenty of room for
the fight. Mrs. Klegg looked serious and
distressed, and thought for a second. OF
begging the men not to fight, but re-
Trained. She afterward explained to the
girls:
/ Il noticed long ago that when men real
ly intend to fight, womails begging don
do any good. When they don't mean to
| fight, they are mighty glad to have wo-
man step in and give them reason not
to. l kept quiet and saved my breath,
| for | saw in Capt. Eliison's eyes and those
of his men, that he meant hight unless
that old bach gave in"
| Capt Ellison knew men, and glance
at Capt. McTwigg's face assured him
| that he was conquered. capt. McIWlSg,
with all his fierceness of manner was one
of that numerous class of b!usterers whose
| bark is much worse than their bite.
Capt McTwigg" said Capt. Ellison
courteously, there is 10 sense IN our
auarreling over the presence OF some
ladies whom the President OF the United
States has hOnored us by sending as our
guests. We are on voyage or. great
Importance to the army, and should work
together tremendously for the end which
we both have at lieart-tfat or helping
Sherman's army at this crisis. The best
we can both possibly do is needed at this
time, and from the looks of our crew,
L think that you will probably need the
| assistance of myself and men before you
get through You have shipped most
villainous looking lot of beach-combers,
if | am any Judge"
'Ay, they are" responded Capt. Nc
TwigS with emphasis, his thoughts drly-
ing in new direction. From First
Mate down, they are the devils own leav-
iligs. ] never sailed with such wicked
gang OF roustabouts before; but what can
we do, with all the decent sailors running
off after the Governments bounty, re-
fusing to ship in merchant vessel on any
terms? l think they are equal to any
thing, from rObbing the ships stores to
running away with her and making her
rebel pirate. l can't get them to more
than half mind me, and that BLACKBOARD
Of Second Mate leered in my face as
l came up and jibed me about the women
being aboard. If there was ever mutiny
in mans face, it was in his"
"Well, you can rest assured there will
be no mutiny aboard this ship while were
here, and that your men will promptly
obey you if, they don't like. being bay
onet.ed," answered Capt. Ellison.
lyon can trust your soldiers, can yOu!'
asked Capt. McTwigg.
Trust them?' echoed Capt. Ellison,
with fine seorf at the thought of any
thing else. l91'I wish 1 had as many thous..
and dollarsI asiI can trust every one OF
them. Those are all boys from my own
State, and l would trust any one OF them
with busliel basket of diamonds"
''Then yoa can stand by me, and will
take you to- Goldsboro as fast as steam
can send yaWs there. Port your heinz
lie continued to the man at the wheel, at
the same time ringing the bell in the en-
gine-room 10 go ahead fast. Put her
head out terseaw
GAY, ay, Sir" answered the wheel-man
sullenly, as he moved the spokes languid-
ly. Port it is"
The other responded as indifferently to
the Captains orders as the helmsman
Capt. Ellison told the Sergeant to dismiss
his men, but keep them handy, and be
sure their arms were always within reach,
and out Of reach of the crew.
The ship was now running through the
narrow strip of blue water between the
low-Iying Capes Henry and Charles, with
her prov pointing to the limitless sea be-
yOnd. while the three women gazed in rapt
wonder at the rolling waves which seemed
COMING ITOui the ellUS VI Inc WOTlu
Capt. McTwigg, with lighter express
sion on his rugged features, walked away
4 to attend to his duties.
Captain" reported Serg't Downing of
the guard in low tone to his superior,
these sailors are drinking. They've got
liquor aboard some how. AS l came up
on deck I saw one of them in a dark cor
ner pass bottle to another. They are up
to something, sure's you're born. That hog
faced First Mate is back there behind a
stanchion whispering to that Baltimore
dead rabbit, the Boatswain. / am sure
l saw a revolver in sailors pocket, a
while ago."
Il have seen lot Of things myself that
don't like" answered the Captain.
There are more men aboard than are
necessary to work the ship, and none of
them is making more than pretense of
working"
did you notice those capstan bars,
axes and Delaying pins piled up there?''
asked the Sergeant with a motion of his
head to indicate them.
81 saw them, but hadn't thought about
them," answered Capt. Ellison, with a Sc
rious glance in that direction.
"'Taint at all ship-shape," remarked
the Sergeant laconically. ''See therep
A sinister-looking sailor, evidently half
drunk, dropped hatchet on the pile as
, lie slOuched by.
eyes open, Sergeant" said Capt. Ellison.
Seems to me that we are running much
nearer in-shore than is customary. We
: should be out Of sight of land by this time.
; l will hunt up Capt. McTwigg and speak
to him."
Gas the Goth Psalm says, Mrs. Klege
murmured in reverent lowIiness of spirit
looking down over the bow, at the tremb-
ling waves: "DeIiver me out of the mire,
and let me not sink; let me be delivered
7 from them that hate me, and out of the
, deep waters,
''Let not the flood overflow me, neither
let the deep swallow me up, and let not
the pit shut her mouth upon me-"
3 81 noticed the lifepreservers down there
in our ROOM" said the practical Maria,
"and read the directions for using them.
l hope. though We won't have any need of
, Them -;
, "Oh, myv' calculated Annabel, clnging
! to her. "aip't the sea big and our boat
, little? The sea seems wider than the
: whole world out home, and out boat no
bigger than a chip in the river. Wonder
if that man who is steering knows the
way. Don't look as if he does. Wonder
if that was q whale that Just went by?
1t was bigger'n a haystack"
Capt McTwigg came up on deck with
, his face flushed with anger.
'That beast of First Mate has been
| Hnv in, H. 4