Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-12-04
(Contfnued.)

/ (Continued)
Yet he did his duty like man
Though many things were strange to
/ him, he tumbled to them rapidly
One of his fads had been doing orna
mental work even when he was an
admiral, and he put fresh pointing
on the poop ladder rails for Blaker In
q way that brought every one to look
at it. There was no one on board
who could come within sight OF him
at any fancy work, and this SO pleased
Simpson that the admiral never had
cross word till they were south OF
the Horn. Then by chance the mate
and lne captain had few words
which ended in Simpson getting much
the worst of the talk. AS luck would
have it, the admiral was the handiest
to vent his spite on, and Simpson
caught him smack on the side Of the
head that made him see stars.
Don't stand listenin' there to what
don't concern you, you damned lazy
hound" he said. And when the adj
miral picked himself OF the deck,
Simpson made rush for him. The
admiral lodged him and shot up the
poop ladder. He took OF his cap to
the captain, while Simpson foamed
on the main deck and called him in
vain. At any other time Blaker would
have gone for the seaman who dared
to escape thrashing for the moment
by Decorating the poop, but now he
was willing to annoy Simpson.
We'll, what do you want?" he
roared.
The admira! made really elegant
bow.
"Well, sir, wanted to know wheth.
er Western Ocean custom goes here.
rye been told that If can thrash your
mate. shall have his job. They say
forward that that's your rule, end ii
30, sir. should like your permission
to send Mr.. Simpson forward and take
his place"
There was something SO open and
ingenious in the admiral that Captain
Baker, for the first time on record.
bust into shout of laughter. He
we'll " luc UISdh Va IAS POoP oAu az
dressed the mate.
do you hear, Mr.. Simpson," he in
quired genially.
"Send him down, sir" said Simpson.
"Are you sure you can pound
him?"
Simpson gritted his teeth and
fosmed at the mouth.
kick him off the poop, sir"
The admiral spoke anx.ously.
I'm q first-class navigator, sir. Is
it a bargain?"
And Baker, who had never liked
Simpson, laughed till he cried.
Are you willing to stake everything
on your fghtin' abilities, Mr.. Simp-
SOM"
And when Simpson said AYE"
through his teeth, the admiral jumped
down on the main deck.
Now. according to all presidents.
the fight should have been long and
arduous. with varying fortunes But
he admiral never regarded preced-
ents, and inside of ten seconds Mr..
Simpson was lying totally insensible
under the spare topmast. To encoun-
Ter the admiral's right was to escape
death by hairs breadth, and it took
Charles Simpson, Able Seaman (vice
Mr.. Simpson, Chief Ofticer), two
hours and quarter to come to.
'.And l thot he could fight" said
the Disguised skipper. Come right
up, Mr. What's-your-name; you're the
man for me. There amt no reason
for you to trouble about my second
mate, for Simpson could lay him out
easy. All ask of you is to work
the whole crowd up good. And don't
care If you are an admiral, you are
the right sort all the same. guess
that Simpson must have reckoned he
struck a cyclone"
And Baker rubbed his hands. Like
Simpson at the fight between the ad-
miral and Knight, he did not know
when he had enjoyed himself more.
He improved the occasion by going
below and getting far too much to
drink, as was his c.---om. And the
promoted admiral toe. charge Of the
deck.
ability tails anywhere" said Sir
Richard Dunn. II didn't rise in the
service for nothing Ship me where