Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR AUGUST 8. 1909

other He and heard then he came for me.
and the rest of the fight the other way fought
as could one handed, for | couldn't even guard
with my right; but it He soon had me
going, and the last l remember of the fight
sickening smash under the ear. l don't remember
hitting the deck; but when came to my senses l
laid out IN the weather scuppers and the skipper
was down off the poop, talking to Mike.
60 the skipper was saying you are Red Macklin.
- are your I've heard of you l also had heard
of him; for Red Macklin's fame international.
He was bullying, murderous scoundrel who had
perhaps killed sailors than any other first mate
on the western ocean, and who. about five years
previous, had foolishly shot his Captain. To kill
sailor is one thing to shoot skipper is another
80 Yes, Sir answered Mike respectfully. I've just
finished my time for that gunpay on Captain Blaine,
and not likely to repeat it. But my prospects
done for, and l had to ship fore the mast.
- You're navigator of course Bring your dun
mage into the first mates room and take his place
Put his dunnage into the second mates room, and
make that duffer in the scuppers bundle his traps
into the forecastle want weakllngs aft with me-.
Il scrambled to my feet at this, but Well,
there's use detailing the argument that followed.
had to go forward peaceably or lose my prospects,
like Red Macklin. And | had chosen the western
ocean trade because of what thought my fitness
for it, and because in these short trips the
quickly attract the notice of an owner. And
he knew l had gun; why he had licked his ship
mates; and the reason of his studied insolence to
Mr.. Parker and myself. He knew the ways Of the
packets, and, while avoiding guns and irons he
sought to attract the shippers attention to his
prowess. | thought it somewhat severe that Mr..
Parker, who had put up no kind OF tight. should be
Parker with two whole fists might still be good for
any on board except Macklin; while l with only
one, couldn't lick anybody 1t was merely the sur
vival of the fttest, and was not fit
However, drew comfort from the thought that
when my hand got well l could win back my berth
in the same manner, and to this end applied at once
medicine chest. He responded like a brother; but
earned none of my gratitude, for | considered the
medicine chest as furnished out of the Marine Hos
pta dues, which had paid for years
Il had noticed that my pistol and Mackns knife
had disappeared from the watertank. and supposed
that he the first act in his new position, had con
fscated them. So, as had for gun while
fore the mast, put the matter from my mind l
meant to sing small-untl my hand was well.
RUT what followed in that ship shows how little
= we can depend upon our good resolutions was
still in the starboard watch having taken Macklins
place forward, while he mate had charge of the
port watch, and Mr.. Parker second, became my
watch officer So far there had been friction be-
tween Mr.. Parker and myself but now found the
man dead down on me, as though he blamed me tor
his licking and his change OF office.
One handed. was almost useless around decks,
and could not steer except in the finest OF weather.
but this made no difference was bounded, cursed,
and struck, not only by Parker, but by the skipper
and Macklin. Some kind of armed neutrality must
have sprung up between Mackn and Parker with
regard to me; but could ascribe the shippers new
personal attitude only dstrust of my philosophy,
which, while impeing me to make the best OF mat
tiers, may have seemed to him the calm before the
storm. | escaped Macklin's abuse, however, except
in the dog watches, when all hands deck.
They damned, deviled, and degraded me, keep
ing me all night on lookout, and rousing me from
sleep at any time of the day watch below to climb
aoft and loose a royal, stop buntlines,
Irish pennant-a loose rope yarn you know-from
any part of the rigging. My nerves went back
from loss OF sleep and futile anger and brooding and
rugged to hold my fist and knocked me down
for protesting, saw red for a moment.
the been included the drill they serving
me. As old hand in deep water ships, | knew the