The San Francisco call., 1908-08-30

SAID the eldest man. i saw him meas
ure up the line"
They're going to quit" whispered
another. "See 'em lookin' at that boat"
Trust EN- to quit" said the old sail
or. And then they were silent and
the pumps took up their interminable
"clack. clack."
The mate observed, with a faint sur
prise, that his uneasy scruples yielded
as he went ahead with the preparations
for leaving the ship. Nothing becomes
a habit so quickly as cowardice. Once
his decision was taken. once he had
fallen from his last stronghold. he dis
turbed himself no more. The second
mate was set to guard the poop with
the bo'sun, and he went below to
gather together the things he did not
care to leave The captain and the
steward were already busy with their
bundles, littering the main cabin as
they burrowed among their belongings.
Don't bother to pack your bric-a-
brac!' cried the captain, who was
wrapping his sextant case in a piece
torn from an old oilskin coat. It'll
be tight fit in that boat as it is with
out our dunnage. Say, what water did
you find in her?"
Seven feet" answered the mate.
And gaining at that. She'll not float
three hours more"
The steward Strengthened up and
laughed discordantIy, his fat face
writhing in hideous merriment
Say, if them jays knew" he cried,
wouldn't you have em bowling some?
Well, I guess So
Its nothing to cackle at" said the
skipper, glancing swiftly at the mate
They're dead men, they are, an past
helpin'. An the way the mate used
'em since we sailed they ought to be
glad of it."
Me used 'eml" cried the mate. ME
used EN-! Who was it said he'd got
no use for mate that wasn't driver?
Who was it gave orders to club the
last man aloft and the last man on
deck? Seems to me you've got an al
mighty lot to talk about, Captain Tabb
If you could use your fists like your
tongue you might be some use aboard
a ship"
WAS you talkin' to me?" demanded
the captain.
Why, yes, Bill" grinned the mate
Naturally I am, Bill. Was you think
ing of logging me for disrespect?"
The captain glared at him across the
cabin. but there was no satisfaction
to be gained from the mates hard,
bony face. The steward broke into a.
chuckle again as the two men eyed
each other.
This amt the way to start, If we're
good names when we get ashore" said
the captain.
The mate looked him over with an
unpleasant smile.
ooh, shucksl" he said. what are
you going to do about it? If 1 push
your face in, like will that stewards
if he cackles again, you've got to take it.
You're no good. You amt got no law
TO back you. We're just man and man
till we get ashore, and I'm the best
man of the bunch. D'you get the idea?"
The captain was red and shaking,
but he knew he was powerless.
There's no call to quarrel" he said.
Were all in the same boat"
1t is curious that while all six OF
them could leave the ship with barely
thought for the men who remained
to drown, they were all touched by
shame when it came to provisioning
the boat before the eyes of the crew.
The second mate and the bo'sun, with
revolvers openly in their hands, guard
ed the poop against a rush, while the
others brought up the food and water
and the whisky. But there was no
rush The men at the pumps did not
even abate the killing monotone of
the toll. They locked UP and spoke
among themselves and continued the
dreary swing over the handles which
had worn their hands raw. Under
their scrutiny the others carried up the
gear and placed it in the boat, looking
constantly with eyes that endeavored
to be hard at the watching men. There
was something cynical in their silence.
as though they had expected nothing
better of their superiors.
That's funny" said the captain. ey
ing them with frown of perplexity
he hesitated moment and then
stepped forward and beloved at them
snake that pump up. will you? Limp