The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-08-08

lpinrail abreast of the starboard fore
rigging, with his arms crossed over his
chest, cycling every man closely as he
came on deck noticed puzzled ex-
preston come into his face as his eyes
fell upon Barney, and the scowl he gave
me as came within range of the lantern
"Chips" was holding convinced me that
had not been forgotten.
After we got on the fOrecastle-head
and had the windlass brakes shipped,
Barney struck up "Sally Brown" and
we began to heave in the sixty or more
fathoms of chain she had out. 1t was
still blowing fresh and freezing hard,
but the teeth had been drawn from the
gale by the night frost, and my expert
ence with nor'westers in those parts
told me that there would not be a great
deal of wind left by sunrise.
A little after four O'Clock we had her
hove Short and as the tide was still
running in we were sent to get our
coffee. l went to the galley door for
the pot and found the doctor a big
Thompson street darkey, busy doping it
with long tailed sugar. AS l brought
1t into the forecastle the steam issuing
from the spout saluted our nOstrils with
the familiar bug smell of bootleg"
| However, it was cold morning and
no fire in the forecastle, and most any
| thing hot to drink was welcome, so with
the help of "a little applejack which
had saved | managed to make potful
of stiff toddy for myself and Barney. I
handed Barney his share, and as did
so, he whispered to me: eff l should
get into trouble with Taylor want you
| to do what you can for me, and I'll do
the same for you. Let us two stick to-
| gether. | have sized the others up and
| there isn't man among them who'd put
, up a decent fight to save his life" l
promised, and we shook hands to ratify
| the pact.
At five O'Clock we were called out to
pass the hawser to the tug. Itwas now
! slack water, and we hove up the anchor
and got her headed for the Ship Chan
mel. After we got around Romer Shoal
we set the topsails and foresail, and by
| the time we were abreast of the Hook
we had all the muslin on her, bar the
crossJack and spanker. Then we Gated
and tished the anchor, and when this
was done we were past the lightShjp,
and the tug blew her whistle for us to
haul in the hawser The sun was now
up and the wind had fallen to a five-knot
/ breeze or so. At eight-bells all hands,
with the exception of the man at the
| wheel, went to breakfast, which con-
sisted of lobscouSe bareback, and some
more bootleg"
After breakfast | and Barney strolled
into the carpenters shop to have yarn
with Chips" whom we found to be
! st. Johns man. He told us that the old
man was sort of religious and owned
the larger part of the vessel, and that
! the second mate youth of twenty-five
or thereabout, was the sou of the man
! aging owner. BLACK Bill Taylor, it
appeared, was distantly related to the
captain, and was slated to take charge
OF the vessel after the expiration of the
present voyage. | noted Barney cock
ing his ears when he heard this and saw
wicked CLEAN flash from his dark eyes.
j ust then two-bells were struck. Turn
+ to- | heard the second-mate shout, and
/ we went on deck.
! There was just enough wind left now
to give her Steerageway, and what there
was had hauled more to the northward,
SO that the first thing we did was to
brace the yards sharp up on the port
tack. Then we had good hours watch
tackle drill, swaying and stretching
everything from chesstree to truck.
Next, the decks were swept fore and
aft, as it was freezing too hard to wash
Il llou uoN Ii. Iuo iopcS "CIt Coileu uP
and temporary lashings put on the
anchors, for we were yet too near the
land to take them inboard. Then, being
as it was Christmas Day and the old
man ''sorter 'ligious," as the cook re-
marked, the watches were set. | was
the first man picked by Taylor. and
Barney the next, which, knowing the
mate as l did, BODIED no good to us,
Barney seemed pleased at It, however,
and | made up my mind to keep my
lamps trimmed and my knife sharp and
handy for action. AS it was not yet
seven-bells, it was the port watch be.
low, and Barney and l therefore HE'D
ourselves to the forecastle for smoke
and to get ready for dinner, the strong
smell of which could be scented mile
to windward, for it was pork and pea
soup day, according to the Government
scale In honor of the day we also got
a "Blackball'' pie.
TO BE CONCLUDED.