The Columbus journal., 1910-01-12
CHAPTER ".
\ Which I Meet My Crew.

n Which I Meet My Crew.
The polite hotel clerk halted mt as
( psssed his desk on the way out with
Information that a drunken naval Off
cer-evidently Sanchez-had been
Their. twice already seeking me. had
Also asked for Lord Darlington. and
would return again at ten O'Clock.
thanked him, smiling to myself. won
da-ing il the English nobleman was
to De- challenged also. and promptly
disappeared into the night without
TIL. unfortunate affair with the ag
Erjeved lieutenant had become a small
matter no longer troubling me.
I nave wandered by night through
mos; of the seapcrts Of the world
knowing well the intricacies and dark
places of Port Said. Melbourne and
Calcutta. but | doubt if even the un
sDeakable orient can equal for dirt
s4ualnr. crime and peril those narrow
crooked alleywayS where sailors most
do consregate against the Valparaiso
waterfront. Here gather in bes:ial
r'orirg the scum OF, the South seas
ard here flourish their parasites. Any
night trip alone through those foul
lanes is of the kind to test strong
Nerves: hut on this special occasion,
tn way filed with pandemonium and
drunkenness. the entire city riot
Of -olsy violence. the populace aroused
10 fierce hate toward all foreigners,
The passage was one Of constantly re-
curing danger The street lights, few
AMI Tar between. were mere blOtcheS
nf color winking feebly at the sur
rounding darkness. the rough cobble-
stone pavement underfoOt vas irregu-
Tar and deceitful, while drunken
crowds. either quarrelsome or maui
d!ilS:y afTectiOnate. surged aimlessly
aocn'. Sesticulating and yelling with
Latin fervor. However. knew the
WAY nell. and kept myself hidden from
observation by lowering close beneath
the ;rOtecting shadows of the build
icsS. drawing well back within door
ways TO permit the nOiser parties of
ra'a:ers 10 pass. and then hurrying
forward along the deserted streets. /
stgmbied over the body of more than
one drunken man. while sounds of
Gua-roling were borne 10 he through
the open door of every low taproom
passed. The scum of Valparaiso had
s;0Ine 20 the top. the fires of hell burn
tag iiercely.
Pedro Rodrigues' den stood some
wnai back from the narrow lane it
froa'ed. fanked and concealed by
taller buildings on either side. IT was
a canshackie, wooden affair. sagging
BADLY At one corner. the half dozen
steps leading to the open door being
only dimly lighted. As ii was a we'll
known resort. freQueated almost en-
tic:.iy by foreign seamen who would
scarcely be safe on the streets such
u night as this. it was no surprise to
discover the taproOm densely
crowded with sailor-men. and to dis
tts:s;,!sh a voice singing Justify in Wig
nrGIs English, to an accompaniment
d; glasses pounding upon the rough
tanls.s. Indeed. q Wild hilarious mob
greeted me loudly as I pressed aside
tia s~c.:!F curtain and stepped within.
ras, a quick, comprehensive glance
over the faces. upturned through the
"a setOpiRg ha1e-Swedes and Firms
from the North sea. Dutchmen Of the
Ratio. hairy Engllshmen from the
channel. Yankees OF the West Allan
tic. oeach-combers from out Of the
South seas. with here and there
negro or brown-faced Kanaka to add
o. he variety. Faith. it was . choice
collection. rs though the wide waters
o' The world had been skinned to
bring together that rare crew of beau
ties. Perched high upon a table. his
Ioug iegs encased in sea boots, seated
asstride chair. sat the singer, his
Wbp % coarse red hair standing erect,
hts ;a4 that OF a bulldog. the scar of
. recent knife wound showing CHASTITY
ACROSS one cheek. his blue shirt open
NJ ~ throat to reveal a hairy chest:
beneath matched brows his eyes
St,nts =! and cleaned in q ferocious at
tempt at good hunOr.
Sing, ye bullies:' he roared. after
on. mourning glance toward ME. bring
Ing as heavy glass down on the back
Of 'ta chair. Lay it out fer the gent.
WAT has just come calm on We. Tune
Gp. y. Sea dogs. I'm no hOpera hartist
here o entertain We. Give US swing
To- the chorus now, Or I'll shy this mug
into ger bioomin' faces. Lift the tune.
M hearties. and show the dagoes out
side Vhut We can DO. Now at it: