Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-05-20
(copyrIght. DOdd. Mead Company

night.watchman. thoughtfully. THE
men call IL bullying an the officers
call II discipline. but It's the same
thing under another name. Still, It's
fair In way. II gets passed on from
one 10 another. Everybody aboard
almost has got somebody to bully, ex-
cept. perhaps, the boy; he as the
worst of II. unless he can manage to
get the ships cat by itself occasion
ally.
Il remember. good many years
ago now, was lying at Calcutta one
time in the Peewit, as fine a bark as
you'd wish to see. an We 'ad fust
mate there as was disgrace to Is
sects. A nasty, bullying. violent man,
who used to call the hands names as
they didn't know the meanings Of
and what was no use looking in the
dictionary for.
There was one chap aboard. Bill
Cousins, as he used to make a par
tikler mark OF. Bill 'ad the misfortin
TO ave red air, and the way the mate
used TO throw that in is face was
disgraceful. Fortunately for us all,
the skipper was very decent sort Of
man, so that the mate was only at
is worst when he wasn't by.
We was sitting In the fo'c's'!e at
tea one arterhoon, when Bill Cousins
came down. an We see at once ed
'ad turn with the mate. He sat all
by hisself for some time simmering,
an then he broke out. One O. these
days I'll swing for i'm; mark my
words
Don't be a fool, Bill ses Joe
Smith.
of I could on'y mark i'm ses
Bill, catching his breath. Just mark
i'm fair an square. II could on'y ave
I'm alone for ten minutes, with no
body standing by to see fair play. But
O. cource. If 1t i'm it's mutiny.'
You couldn't do 1t II 1t wasn't,
BILL ses Joe Smith again.
He walks about the town as
though the place belongs to 'im,' said
Ted Hill. Most of us is satisfied
to shove the niggers out O. the way,
but he ups fist and its 'em II they
comes within a yard Of i'm
"'Why don't they 1t i'm back? ses
Bill. 4 would II l was them
Joe Smith grunted. Well, why
don't you?'. he asked.
"''Cos I amt a Niger ses Bill.
"'Well, but you might be- ses Joe,
very softly. Black your face an
'ands an legs, and dress up in them
cotton things, and so ashore and get
In is way
of you will, I will, BILL ses a
chap called Bob Pullin.
"Well, Bill was bit flattered, the
being a very superior sort
of a man, and quite an artist in is
way, an Bill sat down an let i'm
do i'm with some stuff out Of can
that made i'm look like a Hindoo
what 'ad been polished. Then Bob
Pullin was done too, an when they'd |
got their turbins on. the change in
their appearance was wonderful.
We'll, the two Of 'em went ashore |
arter dark with the best wishes.
1T must ha' been near IL o'clock.
was sitting with Smith on the port
side o. the galley, when we heard a
ubbub approaching the ship. 1t was
the mate just coming aboard. He was
is at; IL necktic was twist
ed round is car, and is shirt and Is
collar was all torn to shreds. The sec.
ond and third officers ran up to him
10 see what was the matter, and
while he was telling them, up comes
he skipper.
"'You don't mean to tell me, Mr..
Fingall,' ses the skipper, in surprise,
that you've been knocked down like
hat by them mild and meek Hin
loosT
Hindoos, sir?' roared the mate.
Cert'n'y not, sir. I've been assaulted
ike this by five German sailor-men.
And / licked 'cm ALL
Its the mates PRIDE ses the car
,enter. He didn't like being knocked
about by Hindoos.'
I'VE thought It was that. but we
lad to wait nearly another hour afore
he two came aboard, to make sure.
There was a difference In the way
hey came aboard, too, from that Of
he mate. They didn't make no noise,
md the fust thing we knew Of their
coming aboard was seeing a bare,
lack foot waving feebly at the top
II the fo'c's'le ladder feelin' for the
Itep.
well, you done It, Bill ses Joe.