Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-12-09

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by saying they were short handed.
There had been many assertions dur
ing their long cruise.
The day before Captain Zeke was
ready to sail Captain Armstrong; gig
appeared. What now? They had met
but once. This call would be in regard
to the trouble between the crews, no
doubt. Armstrong would be ugly. Di-
plomacy had served Captain Zeke once.
He would trust 1t again; he would soon
be out of here now. anyway. A ladder
was hustled over the side and Inn
promptu manropes ostentatiously dis
played.
The kings fighter was all urbanity.
He approached Captain Zeke with a
pleasant smile, bowed, not too formal
~, and, taking the whaler's hand, said:
How do you do, Mr.. Rawlins? Why
haven't you been over to see me? I
hoped we would have become well &c
quainted before this. Good fellowship
should prevail when those of the same
language, almost the same nationality,
meet in such out of the way places-
4|SL yOu t5ACC M4lll A1ACb
Eyes, suppose So" replied Captain
Zeke guardedly. The unexpected affa-
bility Of the Englishman puzzled him.
Tomorrow is my birthday" contin-
ued Captain Armstrong. "a somewhat
important event to me. A good enough
excuse for dinner In this beastly
hole, anyway, and have come to ask
you to dine with me. Have you ever
eaten kangaroo tail?
mo" replied Captain Zeke CURLY,
"and / guess I'll have to disappoint We,
Mr.. Armstrong
BEG pardon" interrupted the other,
stroking his flowing sideboards with Ill
suppressed irritation. Captain, II you
please. Not posted yet, to be sure, but
lieutenants commanding are captains
by courtesy in the absence of ranking
officer"
"oh, they be, be they? was al
ways captain, too, aboard my own
vessel till that whipper snapper Of
yours christened me sailing MASTER
"Ah, well. we won't discuss that
now. came to invite you to dinner
Strain point, can't you7 It's my
birthday, you know"
II should like to accommodate you,
Cap-er-M that is, captain, but
don't see how can. expect to get
away early tomorrow morning. Bust
ness is business. you know"
.Oh, now, don't do that, beg. Aside
from the pleasant interchange of civil
ities-feast of reason, you know, and
all that assure you, my dear sir,
that an opportunity to taste kangaroo
tail as only these natives know how
to serve 1t is not to be lightly de-
clined. Don't disnppoint me. there's q.
good fellow. had hoped to give you
n pleasant surprise. What signifies
half a day more or less in your bust
ness? Why, you might sail right away
from whales enough to fill you up
Come, now, grant me this small favor
really wish to know you better"
Overwhelmed by the gentleman's ell
oquence, Captain Zel1e reluctantly ac-
cepted for himself and his officers,
stipulating, however, that he should
sail Immediately after dinner was
: over.
Tint evening Captain Zeke and Amos
sought the Englishman's motive in
vain. There was hidden deyiltry, they
We're sure, but they were unable to lay
finger on 1t.
Shortly before midnight Ad LARA
bee. the second mate, slipped ashore
with the third mate, four boat steer
ers and six of the hands who could
handle a harpcon. They took with
them the ships seine and dozen
whale irons fastened to short warps.
KeeDing the Betsy Ann between them