Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-24
CHAPTER XXXIv.


At eight bells Mr.. Thorpe resumed
charge Of his watch; and, as Sawyer
had proven himself capable officer.
he was transferred to the port watch
under Mr.. Thorpe, while the second
mate went back to the starboard
watch. This promised to relieve
Dick OF a good share OF abuse from
Pig, but promised additional trou-
Bile for Breen. who already had
earned the personal dislike OF the
captain and carpenter. and now must
bear with q watch officer who dis
approved Of him.
But Dick found that the tall. mild
eyed, good looking flrst mate was
q past master Of an art In which Pig
was a bungling beginner. While this
broad shouldered and heavy listed
young rufflan would balk at no foul
word or epithet and with undoubted
courage would assault the men, sim
ely or collectively, on the slightest
provocation, Mr.. Thorpe, standing
etill In one spot, with his best arm
In a sling and only Delaying pin In
his boot to emphasize his remarks.
did more, in the eight to twelve
watch that night. to lessen Dicks
self-esteem, than mad any other In
fuence which had come into his life.
The mates orders were correct
loudly spoken when necessary, SOFT
as mothers murmur when the men
we're near; but there was vitrol In
the tone, and menace in the slight
| dropping OF his left shoulder and
| stiffening Of the arm toward the i'm
plement in his boot. Yet 1t was not
this-not these physical and visible
manifestations OF power - which
could be met with like manifesto
tions more or less successfully; 1t
was the colossal egot!sm of the man
the innate and aggressive belief in
| himself, in his sacredness and ne
cessity to the world; 1t was his su-
preme contempt for these animals
whom he was forced to oversee. q
contempt which seemed to find ex-
precision in resentment that they bore
the shape Of human beings, and
dared to think. speak, and suffer In
human way. He used but little pro-
family, and only once had recourse
to the Delaying pin-when Winskel,
the Russian, unwittingly passed to
windward Of him. For this breach
Of nautical etiquette he felled him
senseless-prone upon his back.
Then he calmly stepped upon his
throat as he walked forward a few
PAGES to order Wagner to 60 aloft to
the mizzen royal. Winskel had
taken the shortest road to the rig
ging, but Wagner was better-bred,
and made detour to leewward. Dick
ESCAPED individual attention that
watch, but went to his bunk at eight
bells wondering dimly If he was or
was not Dick Halpin. seaman gunner
cock Of the walk in the old Yer
mont. He was certainly being
Judged by standards unknown to
him. and condemned by this judg-
ment.
At four in the morning. under the
topgallant forecastle. Breen In
choking rage. informed him that he
had successfully run the gauntlet oil
the sleeping first and third mates
and the steward, only to find the
door between the forward and aftel
cabin locked from the captains side
Then, on his way out, he had beer
seen by the wakefal steward, who
arose from his berth, followed him
and bore witness to Mr.. Jones on tn,
poop that he had caught him stealing
the officers night lunch from thu
cabin table. Whereupon Mr.. Jone
had called him afs and forctbly rs
buked him.
Still" said Breen. as he rubbed
his sore spots, It's better that tn
steward thought l was after IT,
lunch. I'll try again All want Il
one gun and the drop. I'm sorr!
now that I didn't hold to my wheel
1t would be easy some quiet night t.
leave 1t and run down the after com
panion."
II could do that" answered Dick
eagerly; but so far" he added du
biously, the first mate hasn't lef
the poop. Sawyer attends to every
thing forward"
you would go down, search tn
skipper's room, and secure hi
pistols, would you not?"
"Why-yes."
II would necessarily be forward
perhaps asleep. You would not hav
time to finish the search and TAX
your wheel again-the ship woul
come up or fall of and you would b
discovered. even though you sue
ceeded in finding the guns. Yo
would have to drop the first and thir
, mate-for Sawyer Is consideration
| YOU would waken the skipper wit
the noise. and you would have
. drop him, too Though the stewar
I would be an easy problem. forwar
=. are the carpenter and cook, beside
the watch on deck. Good luck migl
carry you through, but-how ofte
must remind you Of your status VI
q der the law--of your proximity
a the gsllows? II you failed to reac
. me with shots enough left in tt
: pistols to finish the job and overav
the crew, you would 60 in irons,
you were no. killed: and unless r
= peated the feat and succeeded whel
= you failed, could not save 20
q You are q sailor before the NEST. ar
" the law of your country has placed
halter around your neck, only wal