Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1904-01-15
Whats wrong with Salisbury" said

/
MN about like so much paper. What
ne wants is stiffenin': he's like a
sprung spar. That's what he's like"
| Inc mate, tough.looking dog with
hair like anaemic tussac grass In
patches on his face, shook his head.
I've got a greater opinion of him,
captain, than you have. All his double
shuttle II cunning. It's getting back
sos to lead them French on. Mark
me. he'll play them yet fair knock.
out"
The Gaf1ln sneered.
He may have cunnin', Lampert, but
ne amt no real tact. Now, diplomat
ic tact, take 1t, Is not givin' way into
the gutter, but just shown as you're
nice pleasant-spoken chap as don't
mean to be put on. It's my good opin.
ion as these foreigners don't yearn
70 hight us. And men like you and me,
lIampert, gets to learn the way OF
handlin' foreigners. Who has so much
experience with EN- as them in com.
mand of English ships?"
That's So" said the second mate,
who had been listening. "Now last
wye In the Battleaxe, there was
Dago IN my watch as come from the
betw1xt and between land where
Spain jines France. And he was the
Dagoest Dago ever sailed with. But
| knew the breed, and the first time
he opens his garlicky mouth ! hauled
on and hit him. And then took my
knife away and snapped the point off.
And says to him, Now, you black
beggar, every time at muster you'll
show me that Knife, and therell be
peace In the land And he done so,
and there was peace"
The captain (of "Gufln") smote his
| thigh.
You're right, simcox, you're right,
and If Salisbury was to take Leaf out
OF your logbook in respects of handliu'
Dagoes, 'twould be better for all con-
cerned. But no, not him. He goes on
SEEM them French make fleet and
he lets EN-! He actually sees em
with their feet sharpenin On the
grindstone and never says from the
poop, Chuck that overheard, you
swine, or I'll come and 'andle you SOS
you'll be glad to die"
The second mate was much gratified
as was obvious by his standing first
on one foot and then on another. But
Lampert was not SO pleased.
why, you talk-you, captain, and
you, Simcox-as II they had a feet.
Why, it's my opinion-and experts say
ditto to me thele-that a string o.
band-hoxes with crackers in 'em, and
ali on a mud-aat, would do as much
harm as the French fleet-unless they
blows up when we takes EN-"
The Guffin shook his head
well. you know, Lampert, as
never 'ad no opinion Of their fleet. But
that amt the question. Salisbury may
have is reasons for not takin' it away,
though fails to see EN-; but the real
question Is, why we don't have man
with CUTS and go in command. It's
my firm belief as there's many mer-
chant captain as could work the di.
plomatic game to better hadvantage.
Look at the experience we has, dealing
with owners contrary as hell, and with
consignees and with 'arbour-masters
and pilots. Where Salisbury Is wrong,
is in his not goin' about and freshin'
up his mind. And he works by rule o.
thumb and dead reckoning. 1t amt no
wonder we can see where's his eyes
out"
1T amt" said the compliant Sim
cox.
WELL" sighed Lampert, Il owns
freely as l don't feel that sues Id
like to run his show"
The Guffln laughed.
But you amt 'ad my experience
yet, Lampert. Now, I'd undertake
to come right down into the harena,
and make them French and Germans
sit up like monkeys on horgan while
played the tune"
II believe you," said 0dmcox, rub
bling his hard hands. -
Look at the difficulties we as to
contend WITH" said the skipper, with
rapidly thickening utterance and an
increasing loss of aspirates-"look at
the vigilance we as to use. Rocks aad
shoals and bother ships. It's Ugh edu-
cation to be master-mariner, and the
Board of Trade knows it-knows it
well. This ere crowds all English
except that one Dutchman, and Dutch.
men and Calashees, I'd ave showed
you and Salisbury 'ow to 'andle mixed
sweets. Vigilance, iff'culties, bright
lookout, and the rule o. the road.
And look at the chart! That's mel"
And very shortly afterwards the
triple conversation ceased, for the
captain lay snoring in his cabin.
The Potluck was barque Of eleven
hundred tons register, and was bound
for Adelaide, with q general cargo Of
all mixed things under heaven and
on earth. Now she was engaged In
running down her casting, and, as her
skipper believed, was somewhere
about Lat. A degrees 30 minutes s..
Long. so degrees E., and not far of
the Crozets. The westerly winds were
blowing hard, but had the worst chill
OF winter of, for the month was Sep.
TENDER. Nevertheless, as old Jones,
the skipper, was on composite track,
with a maximum latitude OF As de.
Srees S., and was bound farther south
still it might have been to the advan.
tage OF all concerned If he had drunk
less, talked little, and minded his own
business instead OF arguing foreign
politics.
But to each man Fate often gives