Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-10

we'll to the oars on board, you may o.
sure that | kept my weather eye
peeled for II there was to be an OK
petition for cutting out or boarding.
or capturing. or anything else. l was
goin to be in it. now, II ! had to
disobey orders and swim ashore.
First We saw the old man get INTO
the gig and pull over to the nag
ship, askin' permission, maybe anu
then, along about night, saw that
there seemed to be some sort OF con-
sultation and talk among the officers.
] asked the signal quartermaster what
was up. and he answered me poNtely
that | could go and ask the capn
You don't go and ask the cap II many
questions aboard man-o-war, not II
sou know what's good for you-at
least, | never saw any one who did.
Then asked the orderly who was
round the cabin door to run errands
and messages. He told me to go
right in the cabin and ask the capn.
and probably he'd tell me all about IT.
Then | asked an aftcrguard-swceper
what all the rumpus was, and h" said
he was darned if he knew. but he
thought they was gcttin' ready TO go
a fishin'. Well. | felt pretty well
snubbed, and by an afterguard-sweep-
Pr, too,
so watched and waited and pre-
L,,I m ~
cabin. went ait and hung around
he port. heard Capn Gushing talk
ing with some OF his officers, and
found that they were gOin somewhere.
but from their talk | judged that II
they were soin' a-tishin it must b"
for something as big as whale or
A sea serpent. One Of the officers
said:
'Cap'n, wish you'd let me take
charge of the expedition.
"'Who would look out for the ship?
asked the old man.
".Wbv. pardon me, cap'n. l could go
in your place.
Then heard Cap'n Cushing laugh
the sort of laugh that says: guess
YOU don't know ne.
mo. no. said the cap'n You have
vour work to do here. It's great
deal harder to stay behind. and that's
why ! choose you to do it. know
I'm selfish. but l always was in a
case like this. and you'll just have to
put mp with it. ORDERLY
Il heard the orderly come running
aft.
Tell Acting Ensign Jones that |
wish to speak with him, and ask
Acting Masters Mate Howorth to
come into the cabin.
Then | knew that he Was in FOR
something desperate, for those were
two as plucky officers as we had on
board the old Monticello. ! couldn't
really say with justice that they were
the most plucky, for there wasn't
pins point. 1t seemed'to me, to choose
between any of EN-.
Well. l stood and listen d. or
course I knew it wasn't right. but
was bound to find out what they were
I'D to. heard the officer who had
been urgin' that he might so along
rise and sigh and go out Of the door.
Later. when crept back to my sta
ton. l saw him walkin' up and down.
I'D and down and loOkin' on the deck
and shakin' his head, and heard him
say: Just my luck! Just my luck.
From this you can see how many
skeery ones there was in the ship.
In moment Acting Ensign Jones
was in the cabin. and shortly after
Mr.. Howor;h followed him. The en-
sign was ont of breath.
20. cap'n.' he said, 4 hope you're
going to take me.
Take you where asked the old
man. could hear the smile in his
voice.
Wherever you're going. capn. |
know something's up, sir. cant say
what-lll-do, but. Ill-I'li-
There was silence. l peeked in
through the port There was Mr..
IIowOrth standin'. his mouth working
sideways like a dinGey in the trough
of The sea. and actually. if you'll he
iieye me. his eyes were full of tears.
lie n.iyht have known he was goin'.
and cryin'. Dang me. if didn't be-
.:eve ! should boo-hoo over the rail.
too. ii somehow or other ! didn't get
onto that boat.
"'Of course. you're going said the
ean.n and now whom shall we take
alonC?'
The mems names were discussed.
There's so and so. and there's so and
so Finally they mentioned me- My
heart actually stopped beating.
We'll. they're all good fell ows.
said the old man.
".Suppose We call for volunteers,
said ono of inc officers.
THEY'D all volunteer. every man
lack Of en-. said the old man. No.