The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-11-09

over" replied Captain Ezra, turning
his back on the two men and walking
forward.
He was employed to sail the Betsy.
and not to exhibit her good points to
prospective buyers. The senior men,
Der of Peck & Son stared hard at him
a moment and then turned away.
Captains little gruffy today" he
muttered. "These coasting shippers
always are when you board their
schooners after they've left port
Think they own everything. and they
try to lord 1t over you. But I'll settle
that with him later"
There was every opportunity to In
spect the Betsy under most favorable
circumstances. The tug was dismiss.
ed, to call later, and after two hours Of
close examination Peck senior took
possession Of Captain Ezra's cabin to
talk over the deal under the QuietinE
influence Of something peculiarly good
which the company furnished for Just
such occasions.
Eyes, she's one OF the best schooners
in the trade" the shrewd owner said
as he poured out the third glass Of port
Captain Ezra's sailed her for more'n
twenty years without an accident.
Why, she could weather this gale with
ease" Conversation continued, accom-
panied by the clinking Of glasses, until
suddenly lurch Of the schooner pre-
cipitated the contents Of the glass in
Owner Peck's lap. ....
1.-The storm must, be increasing" he
added. Il never. knew It SO rough
here In the Horseshoe before. Now. 40
was saying,
And so on through half an hour Of
Mandatory talk Of the Betsy. As they
talked the wine seemed to go to their
heads, for certainly the floor Of the
cabin lurched and tipped until, they re-
tanned their upright positions with DIFF
ficulty. Finally Jonathan PECK started
| to his feet.
IL think I'll. go ON Deck" he said.
II need little fresh air. This cabin IL
hot and stufry, everything seems to be
reeling."
Once ON deck he stood moment In
blank dislnay, fully convinced that the
wine had befuddled his mind. Instead
Of quietly riding ut anchor inside Of
the Hook the Betsy was blowing her
way through seas so boisterous that
every one seemed to break over her
deck, sweeping her from stem to stern.
"Captain-9-what has happened r.
he stammered, wipiny his perspiring
forehead and staring at the calm fea-
lures Of the skipper.
"Nothin', Mr.. Peck" was the quiet
reply. Were sailin' before a pretty
stiff breeze an the seas q little
rough"
Sailing! Where tor gasped the
head Of the shipping nrm.
Boston. sir. Them pine collins
must be delivered thar by the 10th, an
the Betsy's got ter move lively ter gel
thar In time"
Good God. Captain. are you crasyT'
suddenly shrEeked the now alarmed
man. Turn herbs Turn her back
at oncer'
Cant do it, sir. My orders was te
sail soon's the cargo was aboard, an
got ter reach Boston by the 10TH"
The calm, imperturbable face of the
grizsled old sea captain increased th<
apger of the, frightened owner.
Turn her around and go back t.
New York, 1 sayr' shouted the man
II order you'll command your
Don't make much difference eft y,
do, Mr.. Peck. I'm captain Of tn,
Betsy, an got my orders before
left port"
"You-yuu-refuse to obey mef
gasped the owner.
I'm, obeyin' orders+thnts all"
"In discharge you-aFrest you 70
thist I dischargessyou now! I'll max
the first mate CAPTAIN. Here. Billing
r.
A.heavy hand 1vas suddenly laid o.
h1s arm and a voice growied menae
ingly In his ear:
"Stop that, now, or I'll put ye 1
irons! Get back in the cabin an sta
thar until I tell We ter come on dec
again. Eff ye don't obey I'll iron y
Yes, by Jimmy! I'll do it anyway {
We don't shut up. Ye amt on lant
, Mr. Peck, where We, can order an kic
yer men around. Ye're on the hig
, seas, an I'm captain of the Betsy.
/, may be the last time I'lr san her.
Eyes, the.last tmer' snorted Jon,
, than Peck.
Az N~s. ~ -
| time with her, ach.as we used ter ha,
!. together when we was both young a
: fresh. The Betsy amt too old ter strugs
through this storm. an we amt afeard
no. ne lthertone ,of US. But. by gum, We
goin' ter let ye.see what we can do. We
1estJ soin' ster have tearin' old time .
q this trip. m we'll convince ye that '
ant afesrd Of anything that blows
p tie high seas"
4 YOU'RE crazy, captain - crazy a.
J.. ! 1oon." ssammered Peck in dismay. ''Y'
will drown US all. and-and"-
''Mebs, WILL" was the unsatisfacto
u answer. II amt answer1n' fur the sa
9 delivery Of any Of ye into Boston. but
4 want We ter find out fur yerself that
;. amt afes.rd Of any Of yer storms q
u winds an that the Betsy Is a stan
It craft Yes. sir" turning to the prospe
tive buyer, "a stanch craft! She
- weather any gale that any other coast
= GEN. an she's worth buyin. But tn
u amt no captain that knows how ter s.
=. her bettern me. I've been with her mig
k an day fur nigh on to forty years. q
i, she's never had a wreck. Mebbe 1t "
because l was too careful with her. n
"a Peck-too timid an not risky enough ,
suit ye.'
v, The evident contempt in the words a
voice stung the oh merchant. who turn
upon the akipper and apologixed.
&c II never said YOU didn't take good ca