The Columbus journal., 1910-06-08

sea s!ort-handed However blind the shipping
commissioner might he in other ways. ne saw
TO Il that the shipping laws were obeyed as 10 the
number of men required for tyres and tonnage ot
ships. man might never have seen the sea.
but il he were not too drunk to say he was an
able seaman and to sign his name to the ship >
articles. that settled IT, He would probably be an
able seaman a dead greenhorn before his snip
reached port.
This official insistence on the letter of the law
sometimes caused the kings to do strange things.
Toward the epd OF the season they were at times
hard pushed FOR one or two men to I'LL out
crew. Then cid all men In sailortown not IN the
kings special favor hunt cover and stay hid un-
iii the last ship was out of sight beyond the par
For Jack and Pete were no respecters of persons
All men looked alike to them, and they sent to
more than one who held himself too acute to
be trapped into unwilling voyage. Well-edu-
Gated. well-Gressed and companionable. the kings
mixed with he best end worst that drifted into
their realms. and once in their clutches no man
escaped from them except by the open sea.
Jimmy Hunter Yale man and cowpurcher.
went down to the waterfront alone day.
against the advice Of the upper town. to see the
sights. He wise to the world and had
years thirst and pay with him. He met the kings.
who were glad to see him. Just one more man
was needed for the square-rirger Good Hope, then
lying in the stream waiting for crew, with her
captain. Black. swearing ut Jack and Pete for
CeiaylnS ILL., Inc klEgS attended 10 ftunteT
thirst and were friendly, even confidential. No
secret was made OF their trade. They told him
stories OF shanghaied saormen and of crews they
had stolen from one ship for another. lie
much interested. Jack took him up to the ship
ping commissioners to see the crew Of the Good
Hope shipped. He was even asked to and did
sign his name twice las a witness"
friend from the upper town risked a broken head
to warn him. But the Sherman boys were also
frends-at least three hours old-and. anyhow.
he could take care OF himself.
At last he caught Pete in an attempt to drug
his whisky and left the kings. with laughing
comment sailortown ways. Well outside the
deadline he stopped in a quiet saloon 1t
late and be and the lonesome bartender had
nightcap together. When he came alive next
morning he was at in the Good Hope and
beefy English mate vas kicking him in the ribs
OF the months that followed Hunter
told much. He learned sailors work; he had to-
He picked up a scar two from the English
mates brass knuckles. Also he acquired a deep
desire to kill the kings Of sailortown. Captain
Black and the mate
At last ne found himself in the consuls office
at Dunkirk. France. dressed in the clothes he had
when he met the Sherman boys. For Won
der they had sent them aboard with him. He
eff. he would square yards with Captain Black.
But-the consular agent a Frenchman who
would neither speak English understand
Hunters French unless he wanted to. Captain
Black lolled in al Office chair and grinned while
Hunter told his troubles. When he had finished.
without a word Of comment the consular agent
spread out two papers. tie ships articles and
advance note" "Ees thees votre nom7" he
asked 1t was He remembered his signing AS