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

moon Overhanging the southern hort
ION. BY a prearranged schedule
among the men. II was Dicks trick
at the wheel from twelve until two;
and, when the other watch had been
dismissed, he went aft with q few
misgivings, but thankful that wind
and sea were easy. He had learned
as much about steering az man-of-
war's-man may--which, beyond the
technique. Is very little-but had not
acquired the nice sense of pressure"
which enables a trained merchant
sailor TO steer almost by feeling
alone. After repeating the course
given by his predecessor, and grind
Ing the wheel over and back few
times with unnecessary vieor, he
gradually brought the ship under
command; and, as his nerves were
now in good order, and his judgment
of the best, he steered a course which
called forth no objurGations from
Mr.. Jones, though he frequently
peered into the pinnacle. and as Of
ten turned TO look Dick squarely IN
the face Then he would resume his
pacing back and forth on the quar-
ter deck forward Of tho after house.
Twice before two bells had struck
he stepped into the companion out OF
sight, and when next he appeared at
the pinnacle Dick smelled liquor on
his breath. This time he spoke,
thickly but good humoredly.
What's UP tween you and tho
cook" he asked.
Nothing, sir; I lost my head and
doused him before thought"
"What'd he do?"
"Only made faces, sir; but he
looked like murder, and let go
"Ye doused him well--'cordin' to
what Chips says" chuckled Pig.
But look out for him: he's a bad
proposition; knitted two last voyage"
Then you've been shipmates be-
fore, sir?" said Dick, hardly knowing
what attitude to assume
For three years-in fact, all my
goin' to sea. amt been long at It,"
said Pig, proudly. Il licked a grown
man first voyage. and took the fight
out o that Niger second voyage, an
he's afraid to look sideways at me
now; and ! licked the second mate
last passage home. That's how l step
into his place. That's what skip
per wants in an officer. Learn all we
like to--be the best seaman on earth
and less We can thump men. and win
out every time, yer no good aft.
so l should think, sir" answered
Dick, humbly; but don't think I'd
do. can work. but can't fight.
Never could. sir"
We'll, We want to brace up and
learn TO box. and-another thing,
stick to yer skipper. and get naviga-
ton. I'm halfway into 1t now. No
good pullln' ropes all yer life. What
part O. the States We como from?'
New York State. sir-Port Jer-
WIS.," said Dick. remembering his
geography.
I'm a York State boy myself"
said Pig. From Allvile. Say, you
do look mighty like a Tiger l went
to school with-Redhead Halpin;
but your hair amt red. He shipped
In the navy and never was heard
from up to when lit out
Think he's dead, sir?" Dick was
humanity anxious to hear OF himself.
Hope So He was a moan sucker
for the size OF him. Give away q
whole raft o. fellers and got EN- into
trouble with the police. ! wasn't In
It, but l was one O. the gang that
done him up for II. Then he got
fred out O. school for stealth, and
skipped the town
"Oh, thief, sir, too" said Dick.
We'll, no, to give the devil his
due, he wasnt-at least, he didn't
take the Doodle in this case, but It
looked that way. 1t came out months
after he skipped, little by little; he
was tryin' to shield the real thief.
who was a pet brother O. the gal he
was stuck on-see7 And he got
into his boots in the mix. The gal
got dead on to It omehow-nobody
ever knew what happened-and
made the brother own up. Then his
dad took 'em both out O. school"
Did Mabel do that?" burst IN
Dick.
Hey? Say sir when We talk TO
me. Mabel, IS It? Who said anythin
bout Mabel Hey? That's the gals
name right enough. but I'd never ha'
'membered It, without hear!n II.
Mabel, hey I'm dead on to YOU, Dick
Halpin, and III make you crawl fore
I'm done wi ye, What game ye up 10
anyhow? Hey?"
NO game. SIR" answered the fus-
tered Dick. I'm only listening &c
what you say about other people.
don't know them. How could l2'
How could ye? Dye mean to say
yer not Red IIalpin? How'd ye know
that gals name?"
You spoke the name, SIR" said
Dick, gathering his wits, and, no
knowing her other name or any
thing about her, repeated 1t. was
interested, Most girls wouldn't have
done that"
Il blieve yer lynn How could
! speak her name when I'd forgotten
It? Hey?"
You must have remembered SUP