The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-03-13

by the time the tug left them, Bradley
fancied that he noticed a difference in
the state Of affairs aboard the schooner.
The usual rigid discipline seemed to be
lacking There was no rebellion or
sign of mutiny, but merely general
Shiftlessness that Mr. Burke did not
seem to notice Strange to say, Captain
Titcomb did not notice 1T either, or. il
he did, said nothing Bradley did not
interfere He had not forgotten the
advice to "obey orders and ask no
questions"
There was a good wind and smooth
sea, and the captain drove the Thomas
Doane for all she was worth. BY the
afternoon of the following day they
were in Vineyard sound. Bradley's
suspicious had by this time come to be
almost certainties. For two or three
sailors to show signs of drunkenness
on the first morning out of port was
nothing strange, but to have those
symptoms more pronounced the even
ing of the second day was proof that
there were bottles in the O'castle. But
Captain Titcomb, usually the first to
scent the presence of these abomina-
tons and to punish their owners, now,
apparently, was unaware of their pres
ence. And the first mate, too, either
did not see or did not care.
Bradley was standing by the focastle
just at dusk that evening when sailor
bumped violently into him in passing
The second mate spoke sharply to the
offender, and the answer he received
was impudent and surly.
Here you" exclaimed Bradley, seiz-
ing the man by the shoulder and whirl
ing him violently around, do you know
who you're talking to? Speak to me
again like that, and I'll break you in
two"
The mamie was new hand-mum-
bled reply to the effect that he
hadn't meant to say nothin'-
"Well, don't say it again. Stand up.
You're drunk Now, where did you get
your liquor?"
"Ain't got none, SIR
You're liar. Stand up ,or you'll lie
down for good while. Anybody with
a nose could smell rum if you passed a
mile to wind'ard. Where did you get
it?"
The sailor began a further protesta-
ton, but Bradley choked it off and
shook him savagely. The first mate
hearing the Scuffie, came hurrying up.
'Whats the row, Mr.. Nickerson:' he
asked.
"This mans drunk, and l want to
know where the rum came from.
Mr. Burke scowled fiercely. ''Leok
here he shouted, lis that so? Are you
drunk"
mo, sir
You're mighty close to it. Why
and here the first mate swore steadily
for full minute. do you know what
I'd do to a man that brought rum
aboard vessel of mine? I'd use his
blankety- blanked hide for a spare
tops'l and feed the rest of his carcass
to the dogfsh. Git out of here, and re
member I'm watchin' you sharp"
He gave the fellow kick that sent
him flying, and, turning to Bradley,
said in a confidential whisper: Amt it
queer how a shore drunk'll stick to a
man? I've seen 'em come aboard SO
full that they stayed SO for week
afterward"
Il think they've got the liquor down
for'ard here"
Il guess not. If | thought SO, I'd kill
the whole''-half dozen descriptive adj
jectives-''lot. They can't play with
me, blank, blank 'em.'
But in spite of Mr.. Burke's fierce
ness Bradley wasn't satisfied. He be
lieved that if the first mate had let
him alone he would have found the
liquor. However, he thought if mel
Their the skipper nor Mr.. Burke cared
it was none of his business. But he
was uneasy nevertheless.
By $ o'clock the signs of drunken
ness were SO plain that even the first
mate had to admit the fact. Only a
very few of the men were strictly SO
Der. One Of these was the big Swede
Swensen. Oddly enough, this man had
stuck to Captain Titcomb's schooner
every voyage since one trip on which
the skipper had knocked the fight out
of him. The novelty Of good sound
thrashing was, apparently, just what
the giant had needed, and for the man
who had licked him he entertained
tremendous respect and almost love.
"Cap'n Ez, he knock the tar out OF
me-" said Swensen. He stand nc
foolin'. He's man. Hey?"
He liked Bradley, too, and had pre-
scented the latter with miniature mod
ell of a three masted schooner in q
bottle, beautifully done and such put
tering" work that it was wonder how
his big. clumsy fingers could have
made it.
But though Swensen and the Portu
guese cook and one or two more were
sober, the rest of the crew were not
Mr.. Burke confessed as much to Brad
ley.
They've got rum with 'em, all
right" he whispered. But we'll be to
R0ston tOmOrrpr and thara amt mr.