The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-06-29


to keep the boat In order and to pull
the captain ashore or aboard when the
ship was In harbor
This was the nrst time tire gig had
been lowered since the Rajah had
sailed from Liverpool. and the boys
wondered what on earth the "old man"
was after John Campbell suggested
that the gig was going TO tow the ship
TO the Hooghly and wished his mates
Joy Of the Job
The skipper came down the side lad
der, stepped into the boat. and, shov-
ing on. oars we're manned and the boat
headed away from the ship - a point
astern. The boys wondered where
their skipper was bound. but II was
no part Of their business TO question
a sea captain. and II they had they would
not have received an answer
Soon came the order: Way enough"
The boys ceased rowing. The gigs
helm was showed hard a-starboard. the
boat described a semicircle. the skip
per leaned over the side. seized some
thing. hauled It aboard and dropped II
into the stern sheets, where IL topped
with great ylgor.
The animal was large turtle. which
the shippers keen eye had discovered
asleep on the water. The catching OF
a turtle while sleeping requires a kind
OF knack gained only By practice. You
must approach him with caution, as
well as celebrity and you must grab
him by the hind fiipper and yank him
aboard before be awakens or your
quest will be in vain. II you catch
him by one OF his fore clippers the
chances are that he will bite your hand
before you get him In the boat. and
bite OF a turtle is by no means a joke.
When the skipper grabbed the tur-
tle and landed him In the gig he handled
him SO as TO let him fall back down
ward in the boat A turtle is not
able to turn over; SO when once on
his back he Is al the mercy Of his cap
tors. The captain tied his beak to-
gether with a rope yarn, and thus dis
abled be was taken alongside the Rajah.
where he was hauled up on deck and
turned over TO the cook. an African
OF great skill In the cooking OF all kinds
Of birds. beasts, fishes and reptiles.
The capture of the turtle excited the
steward. who was a cockney. and had
never seen the animal as he appears
In his native element. his only deal
ings with him being after he was killed,
cooked and canned. The skipper or
a.-.a ~. .t.r.ar1 q, I'm fha tt,rtIa d, "a
prepare him for dinner next day. This
command upset the steward terribly.
for he had not the slightest idea how
10 20 about the job And worst of all.
he end the cook we're not on good terms
and he hated 70 ask favor from an
African.
But his fear Of the skipper was 80
great that he pocketed his pride, and.
going forward to the galley with a
huge piece Of tobacco slowed away I'M
der his coat, he opened peace negotia-
lions with the cook.
win you ave a chew OF 'baccy, doc
tori" asked the steward, in his softest
society voice.
well. sab, being as it's you, and you
axes me so kindly. | don't mind If |
do. This is hot weather, sab, and the
last chew you gave me was so long ago
II never seems TO have happened" re-
piled the cook.
"'Elp yourself, doctor dear" said
the steward passing the piece to the
cook. who took a big bite A beam
of smiling happiness played over his
shining features. Illuminating them with
JOY.
ITS about that ere turtle doctor.
guess you know all about 'em. Never
afore did set eyes on the beast, and
sech object to look at, swear"
'Mebhe he Amt pretty TO look at,
sah. but he's simply gorgeous to eat.