The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-07-11
CHAPTER x.
TONIGtIT.


head were as full OF lurid grays which
raced one another I'm sliding chase till
they were lost In the northern mist
drifts. The steamer rolled heavily to
q steep beam sea, and when they could
be seen the iron of her lower decks for
ward and art 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 churning, kissing pond Of green
and cotton white, which the scuppers
could only empty piecemeal,
The time was evening, twenty hours
after the Quelling of the mutlny, and the
three tenants OF the upper bridge were
ahe only human beings on any OF the
outer decks, On the midship grating
stood higher heeled quarterfnaster
wheel. browsing on plug tobacco and
keeping his eyes mechanically fixed
In the jumping compass card. Alter
nately climbing and 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 the waist belt Of his
breeches, AS officer OF the watch
every time ne passed the pinnacle he
faced front and took q regulation peer
round the foggy saucer lip of horizon,
with an utter blank lack OF interest,
and 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 ever
he had ambition, he had lost II years
since. His aim in life was TO hold a
position OF small responsibility and
earn a monthly wage with the smallest
possible outlay OF exertion either men
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 on his chest, his slippered feet
stuck out In front, his elbows crooked
out behind him and hands deep in his
Jacket pockets. Every time the third
mates footsteps neared him his eyes
opened and for an instant flashed round
to the right hand angle Of their orbits.
Between whites 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 clear
nights sleep. This watchfulness was
necessary. for, as the experienced skip
per was quite aware, fully half of the
hands would have gladly tossed him
overheard IL they could have grappled
him without danger to themselves.
Presently, however, he dropped his
dOze with a snap and slowed round to
face the head OF the bridge ladder, en-
tirely wakefuI A head showed itself.
blackhaired. with 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"
mot for me now. Wait till we get
ashore. and then I'll booze with any
mEn 70 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 the ties of duty would allow him
TO depart. Kettle, with an acrid grin,
drew his companions attention to this
move. w
''What'II that chap do tonight when
the fun begins?" asked Cambel.
Bolt like a rat at the first alarm.
He'd show pluck IL he was paid for 1t,
would my third mate, but not being
his own ugly hide. He isn't a fellow
who'd ever like a tight corner for it's
own sake. There's not an atom Of the
sportsman about him"
Cambel laughed. You're the other
way on, captain"
Kettles face clouded. "It's a fact"
he said. Times j am that way, curse
my cantankerous luck"
Your weakness in that 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
what could. 1t was a tempting chance
and II would have been q heap more
profitable TO me than what I'm in for
now. AS for the honesty OF the thing,
there wasn't a pin to choose between
II and this racket of yours and Mr.
Ehclfs. But 1t was that Dutchman's
gall that put me Off II he'd held his
silly Jaw, and those other bladderheads
had let me understand was to hold
the pistol hand over them--well, the
Port Edes would have coral rock spout
ing through her bottom plates this min
ute, and I'd been a man owning a mat
ter or $4,000 TO e6.0O0. That's putting
II straight"
$50" said Cambel, II suppose have
TO thank the said Dutchman for carry
ing q sound windpipe this minute"
No" replied Kettle thoughtfully. II
don't think 1t. / fancy you'd have be-
hayed reasonably over the new deal,
and then I'd have stood by you, espec-
taliy," nc added slowly, as though from
afterthougfIt, especially IL those dogs
thought that you'd have been safer out
Of the way. What" he asked. with
sudden frowns. as though the subject
annoyed him, what have you been do
ing with yourself this afternoon"
-Physicing sick fireman principally
The stokehold temperature was los de-
grees and he amused himself drinking
cold condensed water by the quart to-
gether the somewhat natural conse-
Quence was cramp in the stomach.
They sent him UP by the ash lift, and
your steward dosed him with chloro-
dyne and laudanum and tincture Of
rhubarb. The result wasn't encourag-
Ing"
"Oh, there's never any knowing what
to do with sick stokers inside. But
one OF these drugs ought to have
fetched him.
Perhaps one did. but the other two
didn't seem to at his ailment."
We'll, he had them for nothing, so
] don't see what call he had to COM
plain. Lever saw such a crew for
physjc. They have drunk that big chest
half dry as 1t is, and IL I'd let 'enl they'd