Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-26

fellows, but the enthusiasm attending
war heroes after they have become
useless is short lived. Drury could
not do n seamau's work, nor was he,
thus disabled. fitted for an officer He
was invited by his captain TO remain
on board as scullion in the galley, and
I'm this unwarlike position his glory
/ faded
Among a crew made up Of heteroge-
neous elements It was natural that
there should be enmities Notwith-
standing the affection the Eaglets
crew bore Drury there were several of
them who hated him and one who, no
sooner had Jack got about again after
being disabled began to show his
spleen toward him. 1t was the old
story of the sick lion. This man. Par
sons. had been thrashed by Drury and
had suffered the ignominy of having
his nose rubbed in the scuppers. Upon
Jacks disability he had made up his
mind secretly TO get his revenge. But
he knew that with the whole crew be
hind his enemy he must continue to
throw the responsibility of a quarrel
upon him. He began by casting a
slur on everything Jack said. One day
when Parsons had virtually given Dru-
ry the lie the latter turned on him and
said:
'See here. Parsons; this has been go
ing on long enough. You have been
trying to pick fight with me and
have succeeded. But you must be
handicapped to meet my conditions.
Bandage your left eye and tie your
-irrI,3 I,oh
settle the matter with cutlasses."
Parsons agreed, but the crew OBJ
tected on the ground that Drury since
the infiction OF his wounds had never
regained his general health and
strength. But Drury would not listen
to their objection, and a meeting was
arranged 1t must take place when
the captain was in his bunk. He
would not allow fighting among the
crew, since he considered that such
liberty would eventually cost him
every man jack Of them. The Junior
officers were not so particular, and If
the captain could be eliminated their
interference was not to be feared. So
it was agreed that the affair should
take place an hour before the coming
aft of the midwatch, or O'clock in
the morning. At that hour in fair
weather the captain was below asleep,
and the second mate, who w2s in
charge of the ship, had promised to
accidentally fall asleep himself ON the
poop deck
The night before the meeting was to
take place Ralph Bronson stepped up
to Parsons and said to him:
-
fight on a disabled man. Why don't
you take well oneY
so you're going to chip into this af-
fair, are you? We all know that you're
tackled on to Drury and must be treat
ed as lie is treated. After I'm through
with him I'll rub your nose in the
scuppers."
Just as Drury once served you"
Parsons, with a scowl. went off
about his duties. Bronson was disap-
pointed. He wished to pick a quarrel
that he might take Drury's place. Co
ing below, Ralph, who was to be his
friends hacker in the fight, had a
final talk with his principal. and It
was arranged that he should awaken
Jack in the morning.
At four bells Ralph went to Jacks
bunk. Jack was sleeping quietly.
Ralph stood looking at him for a few
moments, then stole away on tiptoe,
took up a cutlass and went on deck.
''What's the matter?" said Parsons
as Ralph approached. "Has he backed
out:''
no; he's asleep. I've come in his
stead"
"Oh, don't want to fight boy. I
must have the man who challenged
me-
you'll fight me before Won fight
him. for I'm between you and him.
and you can't get at him without 60