The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-13

nearing the scuIe. came nurrying up.
whats the row. Mr.. Nickerson:'' lie
asked.
This mans drunk. and 1 want to
know where the rum came from"
Mr.. Burke scowIed fierceIy. Look
here" he shouted, lis that so. Are you
drunk"
NO, sir
You're mighty close to it, Why
and here the first mate swore steadily
for full minute. DO you know what
Id do to man that brought rum
aboard vessel of mine? I'd use his
blankety -blanked hide for u spare
tops'l and feed the rest of his carcass
TO the dogfish. 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 il
queer how a shore drunk'll stick to Il
man. I've seen 'em come aboard so
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 il nei-
ther 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 We're so plain that even the first
mate had to admit the fact. Only a
very few of the men We're 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 a good sound
.hrashing 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 no
foolin'. He's man. Hey?''
He liked Bradley, too, and had pre-
scented the latter with a miniature mod
el of a three masted schooner in a
bottle, beautifully done aud such put
tering'' work that it was a 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
MIR. Burke confessed as much to Brad
ley.
They've got rum with 'em, all
right he whispered. But we'll be to
Boston tomorrer, and there amt no
use startin' row till daylight. Then
some of these smart Alecs III find out
who's who in a hurry or my fist don't
weigh what it used to. Better not say
nothin' to the skipper" he added. mo
use to worry him.
1t was odd advice from a mate, but,
as Bradley could see, to his astonish-
ment, there was no need of telling Cap
tain Titcomb. 1t was plain enough
that the latter knew his crews condi-
ton and deliberately ignored it. Men
stumbled past him, and he looked the
other way. Simple orders were bum
gled, and he did not reprove. Only
once that evening did his wrath blaze
out in the old manner. A sailor was
ordered by him to do something and,
instead of the dutiful AYE, aye, SIR
be replied with muttered curse
The next instant Captain Ezra's fist
was between his eyes. and he fell. to
De JerKeu TO MS rect again ana Dacn
to the rail with the shippers hand
twisted in his shirt collar
Hang your said the captain be-
tween his teeth. Till swear Tip
Mr.. Burke came running and whis.
pered eagerly in his commanders ear
Captain Titcombs arm Strengthened,
and tue sailor was thrown across the
deck.
go for'ard," roared the skipper,
land if you want to live you keep out
of my sight! l can't help it, Burke.
I've got some self respect left yit."
That was all, and Bradley wondered
Under such circumstances accidents
were bound to occur. But the one that
did occur was serious. Bradley was
below when it happened. He usually
took the first watch, but tonight Cap
tain Titconb said he would take it,
and Mr.. Burke would stay up with him
for awhile. SO the second mate turn
ed in. He was awakened by a racket
on deck and the sound of voices and
footsteps on the companion ladder.
Opening his stateroOm door, he saw
four men descending the ladder, car.
rying a fifth in their arms
whats the matter?' asked Bradley
who's hurt 2"
Its the skipper" replied one of the
men in frightened voice. HE fell
and hurt his head. He
Bradley sprang into the cabin and
saw Captain Titcomb unconscious and
with the blood running from an ugly
cut on his forehead.
For Gods sake he began, but
was interrupted by Burke, who, with
a very white face, was descending the
ladder
Hush upv' commanded the first
mate. Don't make a row. faint |
nothin' serious. 1 guess. Jest cussed