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

Baltimore rowdy. He led them directly
to the pile, and each picked up bar or
a belaying-pin. The hulking Second Mate
slouched along in the rear, with a slunS-
shot in his left hand, and his right rest
ing on his revolver.
'"The grub on this old walking rat-cage
amt fit for heather lascar to eat, much
less a Christian white man." piped the
| weasel-faced Boatswain, in a shrill ire
BILE. Its rotten; it stinks! 1t was got
out of garbarge pile! The man that'd
give it to his sailors to eat oughter- be
killed"
He followed with a screech Of Balti-
more slums profanity and obscaHity.
Capt. Ellison merely glanced at the
| ladies, to see il any sound of it reached
their ears. 1t did not. They were lean
ing over the bulwarks at the bow, look
| ing out to sea and down at the water.
The fresh breeze carried all sound from
them back toward the stern. Capt. Eli
son resumed his study of the distant hori-
zon. Serg't Downing looked up from his
work, and then calmly proceeded to thread
his needle. Sailors rows were nothing
that soldiers had any call to bother with.
| Sailors and their officers were
always having noisy rumpuses, that did
not amount to anything.
Crowd him, Rat; crowd him." growled
one of the toughs behind. '"rhe sojers
amt going to help, and We kin settle 'em
if they try"
"Why don't the Mate shoot him, if he's
goin' TOT" growled the Second Mate.
Lets get at it. They're signaling us
from Shore"
! Another glance around at the passive,
oblivious attitude of Capt. Ellison and
his men gave Capt. McTwigg little en-
1--WE got nothing to take back, you
| wharf-rat Go back to your place and at
| tend to your work, as l ordered you. I'm
master of this ship, and will be Obeyed. ;,
"Ill not go back to my work" roared
the Mate, until have settled with you,
you whiskey-burned oatmeal eater. I'm
going to settle with you right here and
now. You and them soldiers that you
brought aboard can't stop me-" and he
whipped out large revolver and levelled
it at Capt. McTwigg's head.
"Oh, yes, l think we cam" mildly re-
marked Capt. Ellison, flashing up from
some portion Of his person a good-sized
revolver of his own. II don't think
you can call the turn this trip"
AS he spoke Serg't Downing and his
men came into line. as if touched by cleo
tricity, with all their guns at carry,
ready for instant use.
"Ready," commanded Serg't Downing,
cooking his own piece. "Eph, take that
man with the slung-shot. I'll kill that
rat-faced BoS'n. Aim!"
The IL guns came down, leyeled direct
ly in the faces of the mob.
How do you like the layout. sir?"
calmly inquired Capt. Ellison, fixing a
very bright, black eye along the sights of
the revolver upon the First Mate. Will
you chance another turn? Capt. Nc
Twigg, please step back few PAGES.
You're interfering with Serg't Downing's
aim. Sergeant, don't fool with that Bos'n.
/ vI-@- Ill Il,
GUS. Drop that red-headed fellow with
the revolver"
you'll oblige me-" he continued, sweet
| ly, addressing the mob, "by not using any
more loud language. 1t might alarm the
ladies, who have SO far not noticed us. Go
back to your duties at once, every one of
could not help frightening them"
Though the First Mate and his gang had
| filled themselves up with 'longshore whis-
| ky to carry out their plot to seize the
transport and run her into one of the num-
erous inlets of the south Virginia coast,
where her cargo would be a great prize
for the barefooted rebels, and bring them
more money than a half-dozen ordinary
blockade-runnings, they had still sense
enough to see that the game was up.
A mob of sailors. even, armed with
such terrible weapons, was no match for
e handful of disciplined soldiers and their
| resolute commander, standing at bay on
the deck.
$50 for them, boys! Go for the blue
bellied land-lubbers! Smash 'em,
screeched the Bos'n, jumping behind
big coil of rope, and crouching down.
"Belt the life out O. the loafin' $16-a-
monthers"
The First Mate looked for a brief SEQ
ond into the black muzzle of Capt. Eli
sons pistol, and the unwavering eye be-
hind it. and was whipped. His pistol hand
fell to his side, and his eyes dropped in
submission.
Parsons, go to my room and get those
handouts, and put them on this man."
said Capt. Ellison, in quiet converse
tional tone to his servant. who had come
rushing up, with rusty musket, to join in
the affair. Il should by rights shoot him
now, but it would scare the ladies'"
Even before the manacles were snapped
over the Mates wrists, the sailors
had dropped their weapons and rushed
back toward the stern, to take shelter be-
hind boxes. and whatever else offered pro-
lection from tho soldiers fire.
ssRAnnvap ormoi Eiv ho noun