Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-07-18
The P1underers
BY c. :. cUTLiFFE HYNE.
CHAPTER X.
TONIGHT,

dense as that one looks upon in a hard
north sea gale. n the heavens over
head were as full OF lurid grays which
raced one another In sliding chase till
they were lost in the northern mist
drifts. The steamer rolled heavily to
a steep beam sea, n when they could
be seen h iron Of her lower decks for
ward and aft cleaned as though 1t had
been new coated with Ocher varnish.
But this was not often. for four min
utes out Of every five they were filled
with q churning. kissing pond OF green
and cotton white. which the
could only empty piecemeal.
The time was evening. twenty hours
after the quelling of the mutiny. and the
three tenants of the upper bridge were
the only human beings On any of the
outer decks. On the midship grating
stood q higher heeled Quartermaster
holding on to the spokes OF the steam
wheel. browsing on plug tobacco n
keeping his eyes mechanically fixed
In the jumping compass card. Alter
nately climbing n descending athwart
ships as the bridge swung under him.
the third mate took his sea cOnstitu-
tional in rubber thigh boots. with hands
thrust into h waist belt OF his
breeches. AS officer of the watch
every. time he passed the pinnacle he
faced front and took a regulation peer
round the foggy saucer lip OF horizon.
with an utter blank lack OF interest,
inc a face wooden and gnarled as a
walnut shell. He was an elderly man,
the third mate, and the sea held no
more surprises for him.. and no more
interest. and no more pleasure. II yer
he had ambition. he had lost it years
since. His aim in life was to hold a
position Of small responsibility and
earn Il monthly wage with the smallest
possible outlay of eXertion either mem
tai or physical.
The remaining Occupant of the bridge
sat on a campstool under the lee of the
weather dOdger with his red peaked
beard OF his chest, his slippered feet
stuck out I'm
Jacket pockets. Every time the third
mates footsteps neared him his eyes
opened and for an instant flashed round
to the right ham angle of their orbits.
Between whiles he slept. 1t was owing
to this faculty of literally snatching
moments of rest that Captain Kettle
at the end of his twenty hours spell on
the upper bridge was as fresh as
though he had just got up from a clear
nights sleep. This w-atchfulness was
necessary. for. as the experienced skip
per was quite aware. fully half of the
hands would have gladly tossed him
overheard if they could have grappled
him without danger to themselves
Presently. however. he dropped his
doze with a snap and slowed round to
a the head OF the bridge ladder.
tirely wakeful. A head showed itself.
b~lackhaired. with a clean shaven,
bright. determined face. The corre-
spending body followed. lean. tall.
muscular.
! "Ah, Mr.. Cambel. you've brought me
some prOvender? Thanks. indeed.
What. sandwich and tea! Couldn't be
better"
II have whisky in by pocket"
NN0f fnr mo nnuy Watt TN NO cot
ashore. and h I'll booze with any
a to his hearts content. The game
I'm on now Is like a boat race-if a man
wants to win. he's got to diet himself
accordingly"
The third mate. to show to any
chance onlooker that he was not in
sympathy with the unpopular captain.
planted himself in the angle Of the lee
dodger, which was the greatest distance
that h ties of duty would allow him
to depart. Kettle. with an acrid grin,
drew his companions attention to this
move.
"What'l that chap do tonight when
the fun begins?" asked Cambel.
Bolt like . rat at the first alarm.
He'd show pluck II he was paid for 1t,
would my third mate. but not being
paid he'll lake the best care possible Of
who'd ever like q tight corner for its
W sake. There's not an atom Of the
sportsman about him."
Cambel laughed. You're the other
way on. captain"
Kettles face clouded. ITS a fact"
he said. Times I am thai way, curse
my cantankerous luck"
Your weakness in hat direction
came in handily for me yesterday"
You're right. Mr.. Cambel. right all
through. BY my soul. I'd had a mind
to chip In with these rogues and grab
VWhnt NASsvA vt NuAa N tN~nwAN~- -G-~--
and 1t would have been a heap more
profitable to me than what I'm in for
now. Az for the honesty Of the thing,
there wasn't a pin to choose between
u and this racket Of yours and Mr..
Shclfs. But it was that Dutchman's
silly Jaw. and those other bladderheads
IA let me understand I was to hold
the pistol hand over them-well. the
Port would nave coral rock spout.
ing through her bottom plates his min
ute. and I'd been a man owning a mat
1t straight"
80" said Cambel. II suppose I have
to thank the said Dutchman for carry
ing a sound windpipe this minute"
mo" replied Kettle thoughtfully. II
don't think II. I fancy you'd have be-
and then I'd nave stood by you. espec-
tally" he added slowly. as though from
afterthought. especially II those dogs
thought that you'd have been safer out.
OF The . What" he asked. with
sudden frowns. AZ though the subject
annoyed him. what have you been do
ing with yourself his afternoon"
"Physicing . sick fireman principally.
The stokehold temperature was los de-
Grees ana he FnuSed himself drinking
cold condensed water ~ the quart to-
eether the somewhat natural conse-
Quence was cramp in the stomach.
They sent him up by the ash lift, and
your toward dosed him with chloro-
lyme and lAudanum and tincture OF
rnunafos The resul wasn't encourag-
ine:-