Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1904-02-05

cause II was not particularly healthful
tor them to be anywhere else. Not
that they were really a bad lot. but.
as | have already said, they were of
that class who had acquired al attitude
toward human life not compatible with
the laws of more civilized parts.
One of the men was n chap called
Happy Steve. II was his optimistic
temperament that had given him his
name. Come what would, hard
weather. topsalls to reef, a leaky ship
to pump or, in fine weather, decks to-
holystOne, boats to scour with sand
n canvas, Steve always accepted
hardships with a jolly smile, while his
shipmates loosed black and swore.
Steve could swear, too, but he did It
In such a humorous way that the foul
words on his lips lost their worst Sig
n%ificance. Even when he had a growl
with the captain 1t usually ended with
the captains laughing and granting
the demand.
Usually an optimiSt Is not n favOrite
in a ships ~fOrecastle, but Steve could
give everything such q humorous turn
that his shipmates would laugh in
spite of themselves. During the second
dog watch he kept the men in Il contin-
uOus roar of laughter with his tales
of past exploits.
We had passed the doldrums and
were well down into the southeast
trades, where the steady breeze made
" seldom necessary 10 pull q rope or
| o., tn,trh n coil la thot n,,n Il $50,
almost like s~teamboating. Our dog
watches were never disturbed, and
every mans artistic ability as a story
teller was in full demand.
One evening the conversation turned
10 hard-case Yankee packets, of ships
where men take and give blows with
deadly intent. Each man told Of the
bucko mates he had known, and as al
most every one had known Dick
Hardy, or Black Jack, he and his mys-
FERROUS fate became the principal sub
ject for discussion.
Gle was Il bad 'un,' commented
Kanaka Joe; blessed If he weren't
I've known hard-casc mates, but most
OF 'em was on the square in a fight.
Black Jack weren't; he was a mucker;
ho'd hit a man when he was down."
You bet" agreed another man;
"drownin' was too good fer him. lie
should "A been hamstrung first, then
hung by his arms in the main chains
an then billed in a pot o tar"
Here each man gave his idea Of a
fitting end for Black Jack, and some
wnrn anita tnunpin,u rrh.t IL, all .Iil
so except Happy steve. lie only
laughed immodcrately as each man
presented his method.
come, Steve" said Kanaka Joe.
how would you have him cooked?"
Steve laughed uprOariously, while his
mates grinned in anticipation of a par
l~icularly funny account Of an imaginary
death for Black Jack. But Stcvc's
laughter increased; his face was red
with suppressed mcrrimcnt.
Come, Steve" said a cockncy sailor,
enc~ouragingly, Tets ave the joke;
don't be a-keepin' it all to ycrself."
why, ye blessed g%aloots," chortlcd
steve at last, II could tell ye a story Of
Black Jack as would make yer eyes
water. Here you chaps Is a talkin' of
Black Jack, with me here as could tell
yc more about him than any man liv-
in" And steve shook with keen APP
probation Of the humor Of it.
"Well, why don't you tell u.s. sug-
gestcd the cochncy.
well" painted Steve, betwcen
spasms, "scein' as how | am with a
rra,yH 40 Iun a y.fraci.ia IA, l,pnu .tly
OF Il good story, ! am goin' to obligc ye.
aye see, ~fellcrs, | was bos'n'8 mate
of the Southern Cross the trip Blaci
Jack croakcd."
well. | be hanged" CALCULATED sew
cral of the men together.
Steve chuckled at the astOnishment
in their faces.
you bet" he continued, IAN | am
the boy AZ can tell We "a few things
about that trip.
I'VE left Liverpool for Frisco with
general cargo an a crowd O greer
cOckneys aboard as didn't know the
spanker boom from q marlin spike
Naturally, Black Jack piled into EN-
before we got clear OF Ushant light
an tho scuppers was red with blood
night an day.
well. about five days out we struck
a bit OF nasty weather. n one nigh,
ali hands was up al0ft reefin' the fort
upper topsail. Black Jack was vi
there In the bunt lookin' arter The Job
1T so happened as I was next tt
him. but he didn't know 1t was me
Well, something hapDcned to rile him