Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-04-26

ladder to the spar dock at the same
speed; then he had sped to the
closed In space on the forccastle.
Another boy had followed, then an
other; and there was that in their
faces to induce men and boys loung-
ing on the deck and sitting in ports
to close books with snap, TO put
away sewing gear, or hurriedly fin
ish tasks they had "sogored" at, and
Join the scattering streams of blue
Jackets crowding up from the decks
below.
Ensign Breen, officer OF the deck,
shivering at the gangway in a close
| ly buttoned overcoat saw the com
motion and mastering OF men and
boys, and turned his back. He was
| a Young man, not tweuty-four. with
a pleasant face, as brown az a eau
| casian's may become nearly as
brown as his hair and CHEEKY eyes;
for he was Just back from tropic
station, and had not yet bleached
| ont or grown accustomed TO the win
try chill of this navy yard berth.
who Is 1t this time Quartermas-
teri" he asked OF big man who
stood near him.
Don't know both, sir" answered
the Quartermaster. touching his
cap; "but one of ems my boy. Hes
lickin' all hands as fast as they'll
take IT,"
What's his nance"
"Halpin. sir: apprentice Hes
1
guardian"
"Halpin? I've noticed him.
What's his Crudge AGAINST all
hands,"
NO grudge. sir. But YOU see,
when he shipped four years ago. he
was an undcr-built little runt, and
every small scrapppr I'm the ship who
could box thought II right and pro-
per to soak Dick because he was q
red head. He'd f-ht en-, but al
WAYS got done up. until the cap'n o.
the hold. and few more of us. no.
ticed his quick movements, and
trained him In boxing Then came
his turn. and he had all the fun.
He was cock q the walk fore he
went to Newport. He isn't quarrel
some. sir: bar there's lot o.
strange men in from the Southern
Station. and the bucKoes among en-
don't know Djck and he looks so
soft and innncnnt that they begin
rubbing his fur wrong war. and
thoo got ,,,rnr,sed
The yo,ng officer smiled. and no
loohod ~ his watch Il was the
FIRST dog watch. and there was TWEEN
~ minutes before the time for the
royt disturbance Of the ships COM
ranv mess formation.
"Pr0nenr." be said in a tone that
the orderly and messenger boy a,
the pangwav could not hear. "gc
forward and watch II unofficiallv
Report the result to me. Don't lei
II 90 too far. though"
,ycrv good sir" answered the
ouartormastor. with grin. He lef
the bridge. went forward ant
crowded HE uav into a circle O
fully q hundred men and bows sur
roundine two who. stripped TO IN
dershirts. we're resting after
round. and listening to advice from
their seconds. one was Dick Halpin
twenty wear old. FIVE feet ter
inches in height. square shodldered
fun cnested. with his froctle'
drowned in darker tan, and his hail
changed BY the action of the SUI
and wind 10 color which might Be
called coppery. b1t ncrer red. j
was uncut and wayy, 100 long 70
landsman careful Of his persona
appoarance. but II formed al
agreeable border 10 his sunburnc'
face and harmoui2cd peculiarl
with his gray eyes
His antagonist was taller an
, heavier and slower, as evidence
bv his well-marked face and har
breathing The fight, short as
, had been, was nearly finished whe
= Bronson arrived As he elbowed hi
way to the front rank OF excited an
whispering onlookers, time wa
= called. and the combat resumed
The larger man struck wildly an
l heavily, making no effort to guard
i bat not a blow reached the agi'f
2 Writhing, whirling body or IN
l other, who lodged and duokec
. sprang forward and back. plautin
! taps on his face and breast with a
y most the Quickness OF rattle
p snakes stroke smiling through