The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-13

But Bradley would not go to bed
He WIS worried about the captain and
even more worried about the schooner
He did not like Mr. Burke. and he was
by no means sure-judging by what he
had sean-that the mate knew how 10
handle crew. About > o'clock he de-
cided TO 90 on deck
Bradley leaned on the rail and look
ed over the water toward where the
shore should be- As he stood there
the haze blew aside for moment. and
he saw not more than two miles away
and ahead of the schooner the twinkle
OF light. Then it disappeared again.
lie walked aft. One Of the new hands
was at the wheel, and there was dis
tinct smell of rum in the vicinity
who gave you that course?H
"Mr Burke, sir"
Burke was standing by the fore
shrouds, looking over the side He
started when Bradley touched his arm.
Excuse me. Mr. Burke" said the
second mate Where are we:''
Turned the Rip an hour or SO ago"
Burke's tone was distinctly unpleas-
ant. what are you doin' heref''
Il couldn't sleep so | came on deck
a minute. Isn't she pretty close in? /
thought l saw the Skakit light just
now
.Saw nothin', Skakit lights away
off yonder. Water enough here TO float
a Cunarder What's the matter with
you? 'Fraid 1 amt on to my job?
When I want your help I'll ask for it.
I've sailed these waters when you
was a kid"
well, didn't mean to-
''Then shut up. You go below and
tend to the skipper
Bradley bit his lip and turned away
If Burke was right, he had no bust
ness to interfere; if he wasn't right.
the Thomas Doane was shaving the
shoals altogether too close. He went
below, found Captain Titcomb sleep
ing quietly and a little later came on
deck again to lean on the rail amid
ships and once more stare at the fog
gy darkness.
A big figure doomed close beside
him. 1t was Swensen, and he obvious
ly wanted to speak.
"Well. Swensen,' said Bradley,
what is it,"
The Swede leaned forward and, shad-
ing his mouth with his hand, whis-
pered hoarsely: "Mr Neekerson, you
know bout the fust mate? He all
right? What?'
Bradley had been brought up to dis
courage familiarity with men before
the mast.
what are you talking about?" he
asked sharply.
''Nawthin' sir. Only he know this
course? All see Skakit light twice yust
now and only a mile n half off. That
not 'nough-not here"
Are you sure you saw it?'
"Yas, SIR
Bradley turned away. He hated to
risk another snub from the mate and
&c fully realized the danger of interfer-
ing with a superior officer, but Captain
Titcomb was not in command, and
here was SwenscE's testimony to back
his own that the schooner was running
too close to the dangerous Cape Cod
beaches. The course she was on was
taking her still closer in, and the fog
was growing thicker.
This time Burke was standing by
the man at the wheel He swore when
the second mate approached and snarl-
ed, 'Well, what's the matter now?''
Mr.. Burke, are you sure that wasn't
the Skakit light l saw? Swensen says
he's seen it twice and not more than Il
mile and a half away. If that's SO, we
are running into shoal water. Hadn't
better try soundings?"
In blast of profanity Burke con-
signed both Bradley and Swensen to
the lowest level in the birthstone flu
ture.
go below he yelled. GO below
and stay below, or I'll find out why"
Then, as If he realized that he was
showing too much temper, he added
in a milder tone: ITS all right. Nick