The San Francisco call., 1907-01-20
CHATTER J.

lAl Rights ReserVed.3
Two days out from London and doing
q good thirteen knots, large ocean
freighter was paving her way through
the after waves OF a great storm. Al
most in the trough OF the seas she rolled
heavily. so that the five iandsmen from
the fo'c'sie, just passing art 90 their work
ia tow OF the bo's'n's mate, could with
difficulty keep their footing on the hesv-
ing deck.
Two OF the men he stopped annidships.
and told 70 wait, taking the other
three farther aft and setting them 10
work with pals OF hot water and bunches
Of cotton waste 10 ''sOogey-woogey' the
paint on the upper works OF the vessel;
the railing. deck fixtures. etc.
II was cold work IN a biting wind, With
no protection, but they went TO work un-
c0mplainingly excepting one old man. who
was iustly nicknamed slippery Elm,
who. as soon as the bo'sn's mate was out
o. sight. stuck his hands In his pockets
and stepped into the shelter Of the engine
room hatch shiveringly. keeping an aye,
however. around the corner for the return
OF the mate. while the other two swore
IN profusion.
Returning for-ard the mate picked up
the other two isndsmen-for ell i've were
merely passage workcrs-and set them 10
work sweeping down the deck around
the for-ar6 hatchwsy.
one of these persons was short and
6ark. thin Of face and with sharp,
prominent nose. His eyes had a peculiar
blink Of snrewdness in them. although his
vLole makeup did not indicate strength
OF character or any marked degree OF
Individuality. HIS shoulders and whole
figure seemed 20 0roop with q listless,
halliday attitude. while his sweeping was
none OF the best.
AS they worked the FIRST mate came
along passing the side OF the deck where
this young manly name Zallnor-was
working stopped for q second glanced
siong fhc scuppers wnere he supposed
Iallner ilao swept, end with an oath or
dcreo him TO come back and DO Il over
The Lad camo meckly enough as IL
afraid Of 3 kick, crossing directly IN front
of the mate, who with G shove sent him
sprawling on the deck.
Walk around, you lubber, walk
sround." he shouted Don't you learn
sny manners on land7"
The youth with q grovl picked himself
w and siouched around, this time back
OF the mate, giving MIN a glance fun nf
cowsrdly hate as he passed, yet carefully
timed 50 that the mate would not zee Il.
There vac q half frown on the other
fellows face as this took place. an ex-
preston OF sympathy for bis companion
mingled with a look OF half reproach 20
ward the mate. yet with nc anger IN 81.
His own natural anger now wei
aroused. the mate turned 70 him Will
something OF the same Intentions eu'
stopped-the Lac hsd smiled.
Don't you think you're q little harl
on US land -lubbers?" said the second one
cheerily and without the least note OF
fear or dietrust IN his voice as he lean.
&c forward on his broom. - guess were
both . trife green. but I've sure learned
more about affairs on this voyage. 81
least 80 far SIS ships 60 than ever ex-
pected 20 know or ever would have known
n had taken passage back IN some 9TH
er way"
The mates whole expression changed
and completely ignoring the man he had
3ust disciplined. he stopped and talked
Tor some time, answering questions the