The Republican journal., 1905-05-18
reverie. After muttering to himself q
while he vent on:

eve crept along nicely for another
hour, and then heard the skipper call
for cast of the lead. The Plover came
to dead halt, while crept into the
forechains to sound 1t was pretty dan
gerous work stopping her, for she had
full head of steam and might have
blown off; that would have given the
whole game away. But she didn't do
it, and the skipper said we were too far
to the south after he looked at the sand
that came up on the lead. So he
changed her course two points and ran
along fast for thirty minutes or so.
Then l cast again, and this time the
skipper says: 'We'll head for Shore
Il was ON the bridge straining my
eyes, and it wasn't long before l seen
a glimmer of light on the starboard
bow. That's one of 'em, said. Over
went the wheel, and the Flowers head
pointed away, but she'd no sooner turn
ed when the first officer seen long
black steamer lying abeam on the port
side, and he passed the word to the
skipper. We knew right then that we
was in the middle of the Federal fleet,
but the skipper was a cool hand. He
didn't get worried.
Hard port he whispers; steady,
and steady it was. The Plover swung
as handsome as a yacht, and we was
just thinking that we wouldn't be seen,
when pleasant puff of wind come
along. 1t seemed cool, harmless lit
tie breeze as it struck our faces, full of
green leaves and grass-a regular land
zephyr, the skipper said taking it into
his lungs. We're getting in pretty
close says [, while that breeze natural
lxrI ,,f ka1 oh NO I iv,1y
ing how they'd like to have little of it
in the hot engine room, when suddenly
that boss snorted. I'd clean forgotten
was the matter, but the skipper, who
was used to bosses, jolted me in the
ribs and says: He's smelling the land;
stop him, and be quick about it,
Stop him-how?' | asks, all fuddled
in the head.
''The skipper give me another dig.
You bally fool he hollers as loud as
he dares; hes smelling the land; don't
you know what that means? He's
going to neigh. Throw a tarpaulin
over his head, smother him, do any
thing to him, but don't let him make a
racket. Wen have the whole fleet fir
ing at us.
My animal was calmly switching his
tail while he munched the grass at his
feet, and Captain Barrett watched him
with reflective eyes.
81 nearly fell to the deck, l come
down that ladder so quick" he said
presently; "but [ was too late. Just as
| reached the stall another little breeze
come along, and before l could get a
tarpaulin that boss laid back his ears
and opened his mouth. The noise he
made was like steam calliope, and it
woke up every gnnboat within five
miles of us. Overhead the skipper was
stamping his feet and cursing me and
the boss IN three languages.
"'Git into the STALL" he yells, and
when he see me hesitate he picks up d
musket. Cit in," he yells again, and |
was so excited that instead of climbing
over the stall at the boss head l opens
the door at his heels. You'd have
thought after all did for that boss he
might have bin a little bit GRATEFUL
but, no, he didn't even let me in the
stall. He just lifted his legs and |
didn't stop going till hit stanchion
on the other side of the deck"
l had not the heart to tell Captain
Barrett that excess of Joy and not in
gratitude might have been the real
cause of the animals behavior, and |
listened to him tell how guns doomed
and flashed and shots whistled around
the Plover, and how he did not lose
consciousness until the batteries at
Fort Fisher drove off the Federals and
allowed the ship to run into safety.
"When | woke up again." he said, Il
was in the hospital with both legs broke
in two places. The doctors pulley haul-
ed on 'em for weeks, but they couldn't
get 'em straight, and that was the end
OF my career as lively sailor man. I'll
say it for the skipper that he treated
me white, even if he did nearly lose his
ship, and he fixed it with the company
so that got enough money to keep me
to the end of my days.
after a time | came back to New
York to see my gal, and | thought at
first that She was going back on me-
Johnny she says, what ha' you
bin doing to yourself? What's the mat
ter with your legs? They're nearly
bent double?'
"'I had 'em broken by a hoss,' says l.
Why, didn't know you worked in
livery stable, she says, 4 thought you
was sal
$50 | am l replies, but before l
could explain she breaks in:
Go on, you've bin deceiving me,
you landlubber, and you'd better git
out of>my sight at once
Il didn't quite know whether she
was in earnest or not, but l thought l
saw twinkle in her eyes, and so l
waited, and presently she come over
and put her arms around my neck.
Johnny she says, tell me all about
it, and when l told her she said she'd
marry me if | wouldn't have nothing
more to do with bosses.
8" If you've got to be kicked about
was the way she put it, I'D sooner do
it myself and we made bargain right
there"
Captain Barrett rose and looked at
his watch.
Its pretty near time 1 was walk
ing" he remarked. Il wouldn't mind
taking chance behind that boss of
yourn, but Minnie, that's my wife, amt
seen fit to kick me about yet, and l
amt going back on my word till she
does. Nv. B. Hayward in New York
Evening Post.
SOCIALISM DEFINED.