The National tribune., 1904-07-07

cred in the after cabin. with the ladies'.
In the presence of the officers Serg't
Byrnes at once became severely military,
and saluted with, rigid precision. Every
offcer as punctiliously returned his salute.
Ii was evident that they highly approved
Of him.
Il saw you straighten things out below.
Sergeant" said one of them quietly. "Quite
properly done, sir. By the way. a bolster
ous crowd came aboard back there at the
Point, and are in the front cabin Their
loud talk reaches the ladies.
Very good. Colonel" said Byrnes re-
spectfully saluting. "Oi'm going forward.
sir"
On the way forward they passed the Cap
tain. who Scowled at Byrnes. but was over
whemed by the Sergeant's air Of unmis-
taxable superiority. There was a crowd
around the clerks Office awaiting assign
ment to rooms. Byrnes elbowed his way
through them. and looked at the diagram.
Give me that room there. next 10 the
officers" said he. authoritatively. indicat-
ing with his long foreiinger the one ne
wanted. big, broad-shouldered English
man. with a green-lined cork helmet said
angrily:
Go away, Tommy. bugger your bloody
heyes. Hive picked hout that room for
myself"
The look that Byrnes turned on him
would have stopped the heartbeat of a re-
cruit.
"Who are you daring to call Tommy, you
pop-eyed SasSenach?" he demanded. with
withering haughtiness. DO you praysume
10 spake to a United States soldier as you
would 10 one of your dog collar-wearing,
lobster-backed minons of the Duane? OF
| with you. you Dutchwoman's slave"
THE quarters for enlisted men are on
the lower deck" interposed the steamer
clerk.
Are they. Qnills?" retorted Byrnes with
fine scorn. well. you just look out that
the enlisted men are quartered there. In
the manewhile. you'll wipe your glasses and
recognize in me a United States non-com-
missioned officer av the rank Of Color Ser
geant, travelling under orders. and entitled
| to quarters next to the commissioned Off
GERS. Without any more words. you'll just
| clane your pen. and wrote against that
| room. "Phelim Byrnes. Sergeant, T., s. A.
On public business" Moind that y6u spell
| it with "" Ohm none of the common
Rurnses. but second cousin to the Byrnes.
the head of the clan and vance Kings Of
Oireland."
lie stalked grandly away. with the air
| that the clerk would do exactly as ordered
The noise in front was rising. and his
presence was needed there. The crowd
which had come on at Old Point Comfort
was a squad of spectators. ex-blockade
runners. and generally unscrupulous adyen-
ity for running risks to make big money,
and expecting TO pull through BY bluff,
bribery. reckless employment of any means,
from murderOus assault 10 highway rob-
berry. They were of all nationalities, sharp
ers and sharks from Marselles. Antwerp,
Amsterdam. Bremen. Liverpool and Glas-
gov, all buriy, loud-mouthed and horsey
as to clothes. The high prices of cotton,
tar. rosin and turpentine had gathered them
this side the ocean. where they were now
| picking up, by fair means and foul what
| ever rich grabs they could snatch out Of
| the wrecks Of the rebellion. All had wads
Of money, and they had taken as complete
| owned the boat. They had begun drinking
as soon as they came aboard. and were now
noisily playing crack-loo with English SOW
ereigns. for the drinks, and anything else
that suited their fancy. As they drank
and gambled they became more openly
abusive of the Yankee Government, the
Yankee officers and the Yankee soldiers
| who were marring so many of their get
| rich-quick schemes.
| 81 and Shorty felt a warmth under their
collars at what they overheard, and Serg't
| Byrne's face Redeemed He stepped for
ward into the ring where they were pitch
| ing the coins.
shouted Liverpool blockade-runner
Take yer bloody 'oofs away from my
plunk. blast yer bloody heyes."
Serg't Byrne's reply was TO give the
sovereign a kick which sent il spinning
| the length of the abin. and then to seize
its owner and jam him down on a chair
| with force that seemed to stick him into
| the wooden seat.
SlungshOts and revolvers were drawn
/ by some of the others. but these were
snatched away by the watchful Si and
Shorty. and their brandishers treated as
L ha -
ana Durly as the men were, they were no
match for the quick. sure grasp of those
used TO handling men in camp disturb
| ances. NOn-cOmmissioned officers soon ac-
quire a ready knack at this suppressive
1 work that aStOnishes civilians. and i'm
minute or two every one of the squad had
been set down with such emphasis that he
concluded TO consider matters a little be-
fore making another move.
/ Now, Jlntlemen. said RyrneS with an
| official dignity. which had not ruffled
feather. and surveying the collection.
| you'll kape your positions until Oh give
| you lave to stir. This is a country of free
| spache to livery man. hut the -oudma houn
| what lSps a word against any man wear
ing the uniform of the United States, or
the Government or flag thereof. shall suf-
| fer death. or such punishment as the
court-martial may direct. See the Articles
of War"
\
| Immediately" called a querulous feminine
voice. from one of the state-rooms in the
| ladies' cabin.
"Yes. man." responded the Sergeant,
hurrying ohediently back.
''Sergt Byrnes. I'm glad I've found
somebody at last 10 do something for me-
Nobody here will pay me the least atten-
ton. | heard that you'd come aboard. bu.
! couldn't find you until recognized your
voice. continued the lady. large, fieshy
person. coming out of her door toward
him. Il want you to 60 down on the lower
deck and find my trunk. You'll know it at
once as soon as you see ii. It's the same
one the Captain used to have. Have it
brought right mp to my room."
Yes. man." said the Sergeant, very
respectfully
'And then 60 and find the stewardess.
and tell her that | must have jug of hot
water Immediately. My heads just burst
ing. and nothing will do it any good but
| hot water
''Yes. ma'am. you shall have the hot
water at once" said Serg't Byrnes
And then go and find one of the cham
bermaids. and order her to come here and
make up nv berth properly. Bring her
| right here The berth isn't fit to lie down
| upon il is.'
"Yes. ma am" responded the Sergeant.
nd vanf 60