The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-11-14

lueIG SGelHeu 10 DS SOule SOTL Dl COu-
sultation and talk among the officers.
| asked the signal quartermaster what
was up, and he answered me politely
that | could go and ask the cap'n.
Then / asked the orderly who was
round the cabin door to run errands
and messages. He told me to go
right in the cabin and ask the cap'n,
and probably he'd tell me all about it.
Then l asked an afterguard-sweeper
what all the rumpus was, and he said
he was darned if he knew, but he
thought they was gettin' ready to so
a-fishin'. Well, l felt pretty we'll
snubbed, and by an afterguardsweep
er, too!
80 I watched and waited and pre-
,C, - his work to do around the.
cabin. l went aft and hung around
the port. l heard Cap'n Gushing talk
ing with some of his officers, and
found that they were goin' somewhere,
but from their talk l judged that if
they were goin' a-fishin' it must be
for something as big as a whale or
a sea serpent. One of the officers
said:
"'Cap'n, wish you'd let me take
charge of the expedition
WHO would look out for the ship"
asked the old man.
why. pardon me, cap'n, could go
in your place
Then l heard Cap'n Gushing laugh
the sort of laugh that says: I guess
you don't know me-
"No, no. said the cap'n. You have
your work to do here. It's a great
deal harder to stay behind, and that's
why | choose you to do it. l know
I'm selfish. but | always was in
case like this, and you'll just have to
put up with it. ORDERLY!
Il heard the orderly come running
aft
Tell Acting Ensign Jones that
wish to speak with him, and ask
Acting Masters Mate Howorth to
come into the cabin
Then l knew that he was in for
something desperate, for those were
two as plucky officers as we had on
board the old Monticello. l couldn't
really say with justice that they were
the most plucky, for there wasn't a
pins point, it seemed to me, to choose
between any of 'em.
We'll, l stood and listened. OF
course l knew it wasn't right but l
was bound to find out what they were
up to. l heard the officer who had
been urgin' that he might go along
rise and sigh and go out of the door.
Later, when l crept back to my sta
tion, saw him walkin' up and down,
up and down and lookin' on the deck
and shakin' his head, and l heard him
say; Just my luck! Just my luck!'
From this you can see how many
skeery ones there was in the ship.
"In a moment Acting Ensign Jones
was in the cabin, and shortly after
Mr.. Howorth followed him. The en-
sign was out of breath.
30, cap'n, he said, I hope you're
going to take me-
Take you where?' asked the old
man. l could hear the smile in his
voice.
Wherever you're going, cap'n. I
know something's up, sir. I can't say
what-Ill-do, but, Pll-Ill-'
There was silence. l peeked in
through the port There was Mr..
Howorth standin', his mouth working
sideways like dingey in the trough
of the sea, and actually, If you'll be-
lieve me, his eyes were full of tears.
He might have known he was goin',
and cryin'. Dang me, If l didn't be-
lieve | should boo-hoo over the rail,
too, if somehow or other l didn't get
onto that boat.
"'Of course, you're going said the
cap'n, and now whom shall we take
along?'
The mems names were discussed.
There's so and so, and there's so and
SO. Finally they mentioned me. My
heart actually stopped beating.
"'Well, they're all good fellows
said the old man.
Suppose we call for volunteers
said one of the ofilcers.
They'd all volunteer, every man
Jack of EN-, said the old man. No,