Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-17

fnesse, or to conduct successful
mutiny. Go get Sawyer and intro
duce me. I'm too tired to seek him"
Dick went among the men and re-
turned with Sawyer.
Excuse my not rising" said the
unsubdued Breen. I'm a little out
Of form. and the saw wants sharpen
Ing"
AN It's a d shame, sir" an
swered Sawyer, sitting on the hatch
and speaking softly. IF ye could
only make the skipper believe ye, It'd
be all right. He wouldn't dare haze
ye--oh, know an of1icer, sir (Breen
had started up; I put in three years
in the SERVICE could tell by yer
walk. and yer voice, and the way ye
carried yerself. an when the skip
per twitted ye about maxim a bluff,
I knew for sure
Well" said Breen, coldly, "Ihope
you have kept your knowledge to
yourself"
"'No fear, sir; I've kept still, an
mean to; and II I can be of any SER
vice to We aboard this helldriver We
can call on me-"
Surely" interrupted Dick, "the
three of us could take charge"
mo, no." said the ensign, impa-
tiently. Sawyer, how about this
grub? Shall we get such stuff right
along"
Until we find out and give I'D the
man that crippled the mate. We're
on government whack."
THE old navy war ration, sup
pose; but I've passed upon and con-
demned naval stores much better
than these"
True enough, sir. But good
many shipowners an shippers buy
up condemned navy stores. They're
always used up, somewhere.
And I suppose we must find out
the man who assaulted the first mate
before we have change said
Breen, musingly. What will the
skipper do TO him."
ooh. he'll be ironed, Of course, an
perhaps thumped a little; but he's
sure to be tricad up by the wrists for
eight or ten hours till he confesses.
or bees off, or weakens somehow"
Sawyer" and Breeu's voice hard
ened, do you know anything about
the geography Of the cabin--how the
rooms are laid QUIT"
why, yes: they re all about alike
in these ships. The two mates rooms
are each side the forrard passage
that the companion opens into. Next
IS the dinin room with staterooms
and storerooms along the sides. and
next is the after cabin where the old
man lives. His sleepin' rooms in
one corner, bathroom in the other.
The after companion stairs is be-
tween EN-
Where does the steward sleep?"
In one O. the rooms off the dinin'
room"
And the carpenter and cook"
Chips has a little kennel off his
shop between the two forecastles.
! Cook has a room off his galley"
Then, to get into the after cabin
at night when the captain has the
deck, a man will have to enter By the
| forward door, pass the doors Of two
officers, either Of whom might be
awake. and pass the room Of the
steward, who also might be wake
ful?"
Yes, sir"
Sawyer, drop the sir before you
form the habit I'm tryin 10 break
off Bllson. here Where would the
skipper be likely TO keep his pistols?"
"In his pockets until the crew get
settled down; then in any good, dry
place, l spose It's a risky thing
you're thinkin of He'd be apt TO
shoot you II he caught you in his
cabin at night"
Unless | shot him first. It all de-
ponds on those pistols. Well, We'll
see Who is this"
A man had come forward on the
lee side, and, approaching them. now
peered into their faces. He was a
small-sized man of quick, nervous
movements, but evidently an Ameri-
can.
What's wrong. Steward" asked
Sawyer.
"I reckon you're the man. I'm
looking for the man that talked back
this morning. You him.
Reckon I'm him"
Captain Bilker wants to see you
in the cabin
What for?'
Il don't know"
AN right Sawyer arose from the
hatch. Il may come forrard feet
first" he said to Breen, an l may
go in irons. but-take care o. yer
selves, both O. ye."
He took the lee side in going aft
but the steward. who had come
this way, and doubtless found II
draughty, sought the shelter Of the
weather rail in returning. He blum
dered into a group of Dicks watch
mates. pacing up and down in the
darkness. and then became invisible
to the two on the woodpile. But his
presence in the crowd was attested
by his choked appeals for help, by
the stamping and shutting OF feet
the muttered oaths and imprecations
and the thuds and smacks of fist
and open hands. At last. just al
Dick and Breen understood and re
solved to interfere, he shot out o.
the crowd, followed by a whirlinl
Delaying pin. dashed past then
across the fore hatch. and with heae
lowered and elbows elevated sped oil