The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-12

I next house stood in the middel of a
large, hedge-bordered lawn, while on
the other side was an extensive paddy
field, Sinful was fairly secure against
embarrassing liteners. He climbed the
ladder, stood up on the top Of the wall.
and lookd down.
There were the thirteen men he had
fought, some hatless, some coatiess.
all emaciated, gloomy, and desperate
OF face, and all pacing up and down TO
keep warm. Scattered around the en-
closure We're over two dozen dogs of
all breeds and sizes and at sight 81
Sinful these imediately set UP a furious
chorus of barking. over which TO man
voice could be heard, until it was sub
dued 10 an occasional zap by the boots
OF the biggest men. Sinful smiled down
sweetiy.
Quite an assembly" he drawled; "a
family ga~tehring-a reunion, should
suppose. But who are the guests and
who are the hosts?'
oh, you've called us dogs often
enough" answered one big, intelligent
looking fellow, and perhaps we are
from your present standpoint; but is
that q reason why you shOul ormen
US with the sight of tobacco smoke?
DO o realize hat we AVE been out
OF tobacco for nearly a month";"
No one but a sailor can appreciate the
HNNHOo II lle pldlIll' Dul Slllul was iii
mune- Still smiling, he took from an
inner pocket a bunch of cigars and
ounte them. There were eight. He
put them back, and from another pocket
drew six more. AS he counted these.
they fidgeted visibly and looked up
hungrily.
Just enough to go around" he said.
and one for myself" Then as their
faces Frightened he pocketed the sec
ond bunch n added: But it would
not be advisable, 1 think, to waste good
cigars upo men accustomed to pipes"
Unable to conceal their chagrin and
humiliation they turned away, and a
few dogs received vicious kicks. But
| Sinful called to them and they looked
IN.
You fellows seem to think" he said
sharply, that you're badly treated. Do
you know what the law says about your
case? Step here and listen, you evil
minded Holsters"
They stepped closer. scowIing vicious-
Iy. Sinful drew a pamphlet from his
pocket.
Article five" he said. 'of the amend
ments to section forty-five hundred and
ninety-six Of the revised statutes. has
this to say" Then he read: For
disobedience to lawful command or con-
tinued wilful neglect of sea duty at sea
by being, at the option of the master,
f-~N~' II IA OA bItdd anu water,
with full ratiOns every fifth day. until
such disobediance shall cease. and upon
arrival in port, if of the United States,
by forfeiture for every twenty-four
hours continuance of such disobedience
or neglect, of either n sum of not more
than twelve days pay or sufficient to
defray any expenses which have been
| properly incurred in hiring Il substitute
or upon arrival in a foreign port, in ad-
dition to the above penalty-listen now.
o ingrates-'by Imprisonment for not
more than three months at the discre-
ton of the court
What that to do with u.s." growled
the big fellow. Wen overrula all that
when we get back"
But as you haven't up to date you
are amenable to it, and ought to be
thankful that you haven't received the
full penalty. Listen to this: For as
saulting any mate or master, in what
ever trade engaged by imprisonment
for not more THAI two years."
"Oh. get out O this, you and your
law What'd you come around here
for, anyhoW-rigged out in your glad
rags? Think we want to see you?"
only to inform you that Captain
Jackson. from the goodness of his heart,
has not insisted upon the full penalty of
the law, but is willing to take you home
with him when the ship is ready for
sea"
Another passage in that hellshfp,"
snarled the man, picking up a beef
bone. Tell him We prefer jail-and get
off that wall or I'll knock you Off" He
drew back his arm to throw. and the
dogs. at the sound of these harsh tones
from their fellow prisoners, resumed
their noisy protest at his presence and
the other men joined in with more or
less articulate profanity. Over the
hubbub Sinful smiled serenely, and
placed the pamphlet back in his inner
pocket. In doing so a cigar was dis
palced, which, in falling, went inside the |
wall.
There was a rush of men and dogs,
and a dog got the treasure. but he i'm
mediately Spat it out, shook his head
and rubbed his mouth with his paws;
then. on receiving a violent kick. retired
bowling while two men broke the cigar
in halves in the endeavor to secure it. |
Sinfu uttered a joyous whoop, and
pulled out another: then, whistling-as
men whistle to call dogs-he tossed the
fragments Of this one down to them and
drew forth more. "Snipes," he yelled.
Just the size of snjpeSi"
1t was a painful spectacle; but sailors
deprived of tobacco have lost half their
manhood. and will go to extremes to
secure it. Only three men-One, the big
fellow-held aIoOf from the mad
scramble of men n dogs, and when
the Dig man. with hatred II disgust
in his face, let fly the beef bone-which
missed-the other two objugated the
scramblers.
Shame upon you boys" called one
of them. Have you no self-respect
left? Are you willing to be baited like
wild beasts in a cage while the little
laughs at you?'
KNOCK him of the WALL" shouted
the other. picking up another bone, and
hurting it upward. The eager men
wavered. liked s~heepishly at the mas
ter spirits. hen up at the little man,
dancing hilariousIy along the wall,
Whtstling to them calling out canine
names, and tossing down fragments of
cigars When at last he tossed them
the butt from his mouth, the sight
brought them to their senses. and there
an eager scramble for beef bones
of which the compound was full.
But it is notorious that a sailor can
throw a stone traigh Not Il mis-
sile in that upward shower hit happy