Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08

wandered toward his sheath knife in his belt. Mine
wandered toward pistol in my hip pocket.
I'm tore the mast SIR, ne sad; and as
man fore the mast-yes OF course I've had enough.
But I've been aft, and may be att again. Then.
too you may be fore the mast. Well, sir, l know
the law.
".Forecastle LAWYER are your asked de1sively.
"'Yes and morel' he exploded Your superior in
seamanship, you banked whitewashed son of a ship
MY fist shot out; but he lodged it and ran for
ward. sent Delaying pin after him, and it hit him
on the shoulder; but doubt that it hurt him.
TN the next twenty four hours four came aft
to the skipper for medical treatment from the
medicine chest. Redhead had disabled them, in
way another. One had broken rib, the result of
a punch; the skipper set it. Another had lost some
teeth and showed few more that were loose The
skipper called upon the carpenter and his pliers to
remove these, and sent the man forward. Another
carried aft, unconscious from fist blow under
the ear and the skipper could only lay him out on
a cabin transom to wait until he came to. The last
was case of asthma. Redhead had planted his
fist plumb upon his throat and the resultant nf1am
nation threatened to strangle the man. But the
skipper gave him porous plaster for his chest, and
big Cathartic pill by means OF which the man came
around. You know the Yankee shippers formula:
Break your leg or lose your mother-take a pill.
well, the outcome of this was that the skipper
held conference of himself the first mate and my
self. He stated the situation: A man forward was
to the tranquility and the safety OF the
ship. Who would take him down?
1.-The first mate, with look of Patronizing pity at
me- said to the Captain, I'll do this, if nobody else
cam Again the look Of pity. I'll show him who's
who, and what, and which,
"'Wel said the skipper, do So or III be afraid
Il looked on while the mate called that trouble
some malcontent down from aloft, where he had re-
ported the Selling of the fore royal yard adrift
without saying sir to Mr.. Parker. | watched tran
guilty while the big, whskered first mate, meeting
the man he dropped from the fore rigging to the
deck received threshing of fists and kicks that laid
him out. We carried him aft, while Redhead
tired to the forecastle. And we nursed the mate
back to self respect, we heard the prOfane vows of
Redhead to clean us up all of us.
The skipper furious. Have l got to go
forrard and lick that felowe' he said Haven't 1
got mate aft able to do his duty?'
'''W Why not put him in irons Captan?' l asked.
i knocked him off the poop once, and made him
next time That seems to be enough as far as m
concerned
The skipper glared at me. And do you think
afraid of you? He's afraid of the irons and of the
law. But that's just why don't appeal to the
irons and the law in these packets It's point Of
honor with us, and-yes, matter of policy. We
couldn't get crews after time # we ironed and
jailed 'em for each offense. No, that man must be
properly licked and if you can't do it. III have to do
it myself
II can do it, answered quietly, and went for
ward.
MIKE-for that was the he gave-was in
IVA my watch and should have remained on deck.
called him out. He came with bad look in his eyes.
Put your knife on the watertank alongside my
gum l said and come aft where there's clear
space Wen find out who this ship, you or the
afterguard.'
THAT sounds fair he said; but how about the
afterclap? This is not my proposition
- You mean darbies? There'n be none The
skipper wants you licked into shape, you'll be
useful Come on.
We laid our weapons the tank passed it,
and faced each other abreast of the main hatch The
skipper looked on from the poop; the carpenter and
cook out of their shops to witness; and of
the watch, working aloft, stopped work to
1oCl he y,,,1
mild and fair and the ship slid along with very little
pitching rolling: SO it a fair fight.