The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-02-20
Partners of
the Tide
-. By.
JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
Author q "CAp'n Err
Copyright, 1906, by A. s. Barnes & Co.


MrlStS, the mana WIN lue IeNolNeI was
turned backward till the barrel point
ed at the end Of the gaff and big Sven
sens voice said calmly:
yah. guess not. Yust wait a min
ute. Mr.. Burke. Mr.. Neekerson, vat
do Wit him, hey?"
1t was mutiny, Of course, mutiny
pure and simple. but Bradley had gone
too far to back out now.
Take him below and lock him in his
stateroom," he said. Tell the doctor
70 see that he doesn't break out Then
come back to me. Yes, you may give
me the revolver"
Swensen twisted the pistol from the
frst mates hand and then, picking him
up as he would a ten-year-Old boy.
started for the cabin. Burke struggled
furiously and swore like a wild man,
but he couldn't break away. The
shouts grew fainter and then were
muffied almost entirely by the closing
Of the stateroOm door.
Bradley put the revolver In his
pocket
Now. then, men," he said, I'm skip
per Of this schooner for the rest OF this
voyage. Is there anybody here that
doesn't understand It? No? All right.
OLeary, go for'ard on lookout. Peter
son, heave the lead. Swensen," as the
big swede came up the ladder, take
the wheel and keep her as she Is"
All that morning until daybreak sent
the fog rolling to the north in tumbled
clouds the lead was going, and the
crew were busy on the Thomas Doane.
Bradley stood close at Swensen's elbow
and edged her out. feeling his way
with the lead and listening to the calls
Of the fog horns. The schooner's own
foot power horn was kept footing, and
by and by, as they got out into the
ship channel, 1t was answered by other
horns and bells, some close aboard,
some distant
But by breakfast time 1t was clear
and fine, and, before cracking wind.
the schooner walked along as II she
realized her escape and was trying to
show her gratitude. Through that day
Bradley stood by the wheel, only leav-
Ing TO eat mouthful and to inquire
after Captain TitcOmb, who was much
Improved and beginning to ask ques-
tions. And just at dusk the gilt dome
Of the Boston statehouse shOne dimly
In the dying light, and the Thomas
Doane. resting from her labOrs. moved
easily behind the tug up to her dock.
She had made splendid time, but Brad
ley was far from happy. There was
trouble coming, and he knew il.
He sent word to the cook ordering
the latter to unlock the staterOom door
and release the imprisoned first mate.
A minute later the cook came on deck.
his eyes shining with excitement
Mr.. Burke he go right into the skip
per's room and shut the door," wills
pered the Portuguese And now they
talk. talk. talk. And Mr.. Burke he
swear all the time
When the first mate appeared he did
not speak 70 any one. but jumped 10
the wharf aud hurried away A doctor
. was sent for and Captain TitcOmb's
wound was dressed The physician said
the injury was not serious There was
no conclusion Of the brain, and the pa
ticnt would he all right in couple of
days.
Bradley didn't sleep much that night.
Next morning the captain sent for him.
When the second mate entered the
stateroom he found the skipper sitting
on the edge Of the berth with big
bandage on his head. but looking very
bright and like himself.
He seemed oddly embarrassed when
Bradley came in. For IA moment or
two he did not speak. The second mate,
who had expected Il scOrching rebuke
and was prepared to meet ii. was sur
prised at the mildness Of the first re-
mark
"Now then, Brad" said Captain Tit
comb, set down. What's this about
you and the mate? Tell the whole
yarn. first and last"
So Bradley told 1t just as it happen
ed-the crews behavior his suspicious,
the sighting Of the light and what fol
lowed.
"Humph," Captain Ezra nodded.
"Yup that's about what Burke said.
Now, Brad, spose you knew that
Mr.. Burke was your superior officer
and that what he said was law for you.
didn't your
Yes, sir; but
Never mind the butts now. Taking
command by force is serlOus-mighty
serious"
81 did what l thought was right,
Cap'n Ezra-what | b'lieved you'd
think was right. The schooner would
have been aground in ten minutes If
| hadn't"
well, s'pose she would. There'd
have been no lives lost Plenty of
boats and a smooth sea"
But Mr.. Burke knew she was headed
for the shoals. He must have known
II. The owners would have
What do you know about the own
sers and their affairsT"
But the schooner
''She's a hulk, that's all-and in
sured"
The reply was an odd one, but the
tone In which 1t was made was odder