Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-10
CHAPTER XVI.

Pig Jones. four years older. grown
to mans physique, and with the
facial characteristics fore
head. protruding chin. and small
squirting eyes-which had given
him his nickname among the boys.
developed into as unpleasant a COM
bination as may go toward the make
up of the human cOuntenance. 1t
was a brutal. sensual. cruel face-a
face bearing a standing invitation to
An honest fist one that most men
would feel pleasure in striking. And
as Dick backed toward the bucket
rack at the foremost. It followed him
with a leering expression strongly
tmpregnated with curiosity, wonder,
and doubt.
Hey, you!" he cried, in a tone as
unpleasant as his face; you the man
l pulled out at eight bells? What's
your name?"
"Billson, SIR" answered Dick, re-
Numbering the ensign's injunction
as to caution, and Influenced in his
choice OF name by the momentary
comparison with his late antagonist
which the offlcer's giant figure had
aroused.
"Billson. heyf You look bloody
like a plug ugly I went to school
with. Look out we don't look more
like him. or I'll take it out o. you"
Aye. aye, SIR" returned Dick,
submissively, as he took down a con-
pie OF buckets. The officer stepped
toward him. searching his immova-
Bile face for any hint of sarcasm be-
hind the answer. and finding none,
Numbered forceful objurgations to
the rest to get that deck-pump aft"
In the washing down OF the deck
that morning the second mate
watched Dick continuously, and SO
impressed him with his suspicious
that when opportunity offered, he re-
quested Sawyer to tell no one that
he was a man-of-wars-man: for he
had reason to believe that Pig had
known Of his choice of career. And
when the watch turned out at seven
bells he apprised the ensign of his
change of name and his reasons.
Zone OF the gang, Halpin? Well,
II we are any good-you and L
you'll have a chance at him before
long. And perhaps not with your
fists. I'll do murder before I'll SUBJ
NIT to this. Now. Billson. get to
work: here comes our superior
officer"
Mr.. Jones was coming forward.
The ensign stepped into the fore
castle to his breakfast, and Dick re-
sumed his deck swabbing. There was
strong cause for the ensign's bitter
tone and murderous mind. You can
not drug. rob. and strip naval off,
Ger. dress him In greasy rags, swear
at him and kick him until he Is will
Ing to pull wet. hard ropes through
a stormy mid-watch. and have him
in the mood of the gentleman
temperate OF mind and refined Of
speech. Dick was now the milder Of
the two. At eight bells his watch
was relieved and he went to break
fast, - manufactured coffee and
cracker hash. the latter an unsavory
mess of broken bareback and gristly
beef, soaked overnight and baked
brown. Confscating as his own a
last voyage pot with pan and spoon.
he helped himself. wondering, az he
forced the stun down. how the we'll
fed ensign had succeeded; and there
came to him q momentary feeling of
ungenerous and anarchistic Joy that
this pet Of society and the govern
ment knew now what sailors must
eat. The mood was but transient,
and left him with the filling Of his
stomach, so that when a loud sum-
mons for all hands TO muster at the
break Of the poop came In through
the door. he walked aft with the
crowd Of men. fully prepared to en-
ter into any defensive and offensive
alliance which Mr.. Breen might pro-
pose.