Evening star., 1909-06-06

ing in and out OF the galley during the trouble.
While they were mastering, Willie, with seamans
eye had taken stock of the upper works of the brig
and he noted feature unknown to him in any craft
he had sailed in. At the main royal masthead was
small spar hoisted to the truck like the staff of fly,
and from it depended number of wires, leading to
the deck and into the cabin.
Does any man o ye know, he asked In prellml-
nary what that contraptlon is at the main royal
masthead!
No one knew Wagner the German surmised
that it might be some kind of wind vane; Smith the
defeated did not what it was, the dark man
and brother thought it might be lightning rod: and
the Frenchman and the Italian frankly acknowledged
their ignorance
We'll, to hell with it." said Willie The idea is
to git this brig back SOS can git ashore I'm done
wi gon to sea ag in me will and me choice! Wen
drive this hooker back and won't stop for pilot
dye hear9 Well pile her up on the Jersey sands
and git back to Cherry-st Are you wild me?'
They were with him. even the man at the wheel
yielding to this dominant personality Willie from
the top of the house. gave the orders toward wearing
ship to due west which, whether true not,
must certainly bring the brig into contact with the
coast of North America This done he descended
from his elevation a. met the stripping at the for
ward companion.
Please sir, said the boy I'D like to be with my
father Won't you let me into the cabin?
"Well, kid" said Willie. beamng into the boys
fresh young face with smile of appreciation, 8 are
you the skipper's SOM?
father"
Right YOU are, me boy In you GO now!''
He accompanied him to the after cabin and ad
deck A fine lad" he mused Its pity he'll
grow up to be mani
Its anger had cooled Yet, when he found the
- crew listening to a lecture mutiny from the
rejuvenated second mate, he incontinently bundled
him into the lamproom, and, there being no key in
the lock- nailed the door fast Then he put the fierce
and vociferous little first mate into the boatswains
locker, securing the door in the same manner and
continued the lecture himself
"Mutiny," he said when he had reused their
vering spirits to level with his own is only word
and the punishment is matter o gettin' caught
We won't git caught When did we sail from New
York;"
Passed the lghtship at sundown last night" an
swered Smith.
HAS the wind held steady?'
Yes due north, it is now, all night.
Then, if it holds, we ought to make the coast
after dark to night Wen beach her pull ashore in
the boat, and scatter.
1t seemed feasible There were Chinese cook and
steward to consider but these noncombatve,
and evidently in fear of Wie's big fist On being
sterny questioned they tremblingly promised play
tricks, and were allowed to continue their work.
THE brig slid along at about seven knots, impelled
by brisk beam wind from the north, and all
went we'll for an hour There craft
than the horizon and these seemed all outward
bound, except one, huge warship nearly hull down
in the southeast.
Willie walked the poop in a state of mind unknown
to him before. He in command for the first
time in his life and men actually obeyed his orders.
Not since childhood had he known such pure. en-,
thusiastc happiness. There few minutes of
disquiet however while this potential hour was tick
ing off the clock
A sound from below of boards being broken in
two by some strong mans hands, rasping, cracking
of sound him into the cabin to investigate
The skipper not breaking down the bulkhead;
he quietly seated in a chair. holding book and
his young son seated before strange looking in
strument on table A little disconcerted Willie re-
locked the door and returned to his post of command
AS he looked round he noticed that the warship in
the southeast had brought both masts into one and
heading toward the brig Another-one of the
outbound craft and apparently a small cruiser,
scout or revenue cutter-had also wheeled in her
tracks and approaching; while speck to the