New-York tribune., 1909-08-08
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR AUGUST T. iso9

wandered toward his sheath knife IN ms belt Mime
wandered toward pistol in my hip pocket
- I'm fore the mast. sir he said, and as
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, know
the law
''' Forecastle lawyer are you: asked derisively
Yes and mOrei' he exploded. Your superior in
seamanship you BANKED whitewashed son Of a ship
owner!'
My fist shot out; but he lodged it and ran for
ward. sent Delaying pin after him. and IT hit hlm
N the shoulder, but doubt that IT hurt hITn.
n the next twenty-four hours four men came aft
TO the skipper Tor medical treatment from the
medicine chest. Reihead had disabled them, IN
way another. One had broken rib. the result of
a punch; the skipper it. Another had lost
teeth and showed a few more that loose. The
skipper called upon the carpenter and his pliers to
remove these, and sent the man forward Another
carried aft, unconscious from INST blow under
the ear; and the skipper could only lay him out
a cabin transOm to wait until he came to- Ihe last
was a case of asthma. kelhead had planted his
fist plumb upon his throat, and the resultant intam
nation threatened to stTangle the But the
skipper gave him porous plaster for his chest and a
big cathartic pill, by of which the
around. You know the Yankee skipper'S formula:
Break your leg or lose your mother take pill,
We'll, the outcome of this was that the skipper
held a conference of himself the first mate and my
self. He stated the situation \ man forward was
menace 10 the tranquility and the safety of the
ship. Who would take him down?
The first mate with a look OF patronizing pity at
me said 20 the Captain, III DO this if nobody else
can +tSalN the iDch Oh pity L II snow MIN VINO
who and what. and which.
" Well said the skipper, do or III be afraid
Of my officers
81 looked while the mate called that trouble
some malcontent down from aloft, where he had
ported the Selling of the fore royal ward adrift
without saying sir to lr. Parker ! watched tran
guilty while the big whiskered first mate meeting
the as ne dropped from the fore rigging TO the
deck, recevel threshng of fists and kicks that laid
him out. We carried him aft. while Redhead
tired 10 the forecaste. And, nursed the
back to self respect heard the profane VOWS of
Redhead 70 clean up, all OF
The skipper furious Have i got TO go
forrard and hex that fellow he said. Haven't /
got a mate af1 able to do his duty:
Why not put him IN irons. Captain ] asked.
j Knocked him of the poop once and made him
next time. That seems To be enough as far as m
concerned.
The skipper slared at And 10 You think
he sand sneerIngy, that he because he
afraid of you He's afraid of the irons and of the
law. But that's inst why don't appeal TO the
irons and the law IN these packets. Its point of
honor with US, and-yeS, a matter of policy. We
couldn't get after time if ironed and
Jailed EN- for each offense No. that must be
properly licked, and II You can't 30 IT. II have do
It myself
II do 1t, answered quietly and went for
ward
MIKE for that was the name he gave-was in
AVA my watch, and should have remained on deck.
found him IN the empty starboard forecastle and