Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1910-08-26

nearly blew the "atcb's head OF when
be ventured to suggest mermaids. The
heimsman-did not feel quite happy, but
he bad to stick TO the wheel. The
watch was pale with terror, but he
kept silence owing to the mates CON-
plimentary references to bis courage
and abilities. Slowly the sound began
to move along the ships side, becom-
ing more and more agonized as it ap-
preached This annoyed the mate, and.
going to the side Of the vessel, be wait
ed until be had located the sound and
then emptied bucket Of water over
the rail. There was a gasp, then dead
silence. and nothing more was heard
that night
When the watch went Off duty be of
course gave detailed and lurid &C.
count of the incident to his shipmates,
who listened as be thought. in awed
silence and then called on one of the
audience for his version Of the matter
This man. Tyne-sider, who dearly
loved a joke and had no respect at
all for hoary superst1hons, had con-
spired with his fellows to play a trick
on the watch. On the night IA ques-
ton he had crepr over the bows with
out a sound. carrying with him the
ships cat secured in q bag. Crouch
Ing under the stays. the joker let the
cats head out of the bag. which he tied
round the animals neck 80 that it
could not escape. He then applied bis
| teeth to the unfortunate animals tail.
Everybody knows the fearsome sounds
an angry cat Is capable Of producing.
and those to which cat whose tail is
being bitten gives vent are among the
most hair raising. The sound was
more or less regulated by squeezing
the luckless beasts body The mates
bucket OF water was as unwelcome as
unexpected and caused the Tyne-sider
10 beat a buried retreat.
Not only is the origin of many sea
suptrstitions "wropt in mystery" but
aso any logical explanation Of cause
md effect. It would puzzle any one to
say why II should be unIucky for the
ships boy 10 whistle on the weath her
TO" except that It Is generally IN
pleasant from Il music lovers point Of
view for boy to whistle on any bow
at all
On one occasion superstition and a
guilty conscience caused practical
Joke to have fatal consequences The
incident arose through one Of the sail
Urs. Nnrwegiau. boxing the ears Of
the ships boy for the aforementioned
crime Of whistlng on the weather bow
Not u'1nhturally the boy was annoyed
and determined to pay the Norwegian
"uI Aided by two other sailors. a
white shirt and some string. very
preSentnblr "ghost' was arranged IL,
rhe f.n'sle on the night the Norseinan
WnS on watch. He was to be allowed
only u glimpse OF the spirit" on enter
Ing the fm''sIe. and II was then to van
lsh from view. l,eing jerked by means
Of a string underneath the bunk of one
Of the jokers Everything was ready.
and the three conspirators lay in their
hunks awaiting their victim. Unfor-
tunately they all fell asleep. to be sud
denly awakened by a loud cry from
the Norwegian. He stood gazing ae
the "ghost." the dim light shed by the
lamp falling on his CHASTITY face The
three were about to call out to him
when he spoke. mo. no." be cried. u
did not mean to kill you. Morgan: Oh.
mercy. mercy" And he rushed madly
from the foc'sIe. Terrified. his ship
mates followed him. but as they reach
ed the deck they saw the Norwegian
throw himself into the eu.--Londop
Globe.
Money.
AFTER all. money amounts to very
little" "Yes. but In the meantime It
amounts to great deal"-Puck.
A Stroke Of Business.
A writer who was very intimate With
Frank. R. Stockton says that when the
Stockton family lived in Bucks county,
Pa, Frank and his brother had a dog
which they trained solely to hunt cats.
The brothers were overhauled one day
by farmer whose cat they were chas.
ing. TO placate the farmer they gave
him dollar for a pig, which they took
home. By driving away their fathers
pags at feeding time they soon made
their. own the latest pie Ia the pep
and sold him at q profit OF 90. Frank
g. Stockton always considered the
DEAL 2 tribute 70 bis business aeuaae,l.