The Detroit times., 1912-11-19


and the low, as by Law OF the Sea
ordained.
IL is a fair thing 10 say that, on
the run from the Islands 10 the Arrl-
can coast. there were three acutely
uncomfortable people among. the
Wangaroo's az erguard--namely, the
lwo women and Captain owen het,
le: ana there were two-to-Wlt, SIT
George Chesterman and Mr. Nell
Angus McTodd-who both understood
the situation and were cynically
amused at IT, Rex, the big black re-
.riever. who had also strong sense
OF humor, In moments when he was
alone with SIR George showed py
rims and wrigglings that he also was
tightly tickled by surrounding events
captain owen Kettle on his pari
kept up a constant activity. When
once they were clear OF Grand Can
! ary-without interference from the
authorities. by the wayne mustered
all hands on deck. and made an
nouncements.
Men" he said, Sir George Ches-
terton. NJ. p. has chartered this ship
TO 20 and look for a steamboat that
is embayed behind some reefs on th4
African coast You've heard most o.
he tale already, know. because It's
been talked OF In the cabin at meals,
and what's discussed there always
gets forrard NOW it's not likely
the tribes over yonder will give any
trouble. They are the peoples OF the
sus country, and the sultan OF Moroc-
GO has given them such bad time on
NH
down there 10 collect taxes that they
ought to be civil TO every one WHO
doesn't happen 10 come from Mo-
rocco.
Besides, we've got cargo below
II don't mind telling you now-ot
rifles and ammunition which We are
open TO selling 10 deserving tribes
men on reasonable terms. AT the
same time, I'm not taking anything
TO do with colored men on trust, and
II they are anxious for trouble, I'm
exactly the man TO give II to them.
For that reason, / intend to teach you
all how TO get OF a gun without shoot
ing any OF your neighbors, and with 4
reasonable chance OF hitting the mark
you're aiming at. Now then, are
there any experts among you?
There was a pause, and the crew
looked at one another sheepishE.
That's better. like modesty.
; Any one ever even handled gun
A grimy fireman threw the sweat
rag over his shoulder, stood out, and
came 10 military attention. "R.N.R.,
cir. Stoker rating I've learned my
drill, bat I'm MY what you Nigh,
call a fourth-class shot"
You're one OF the men / want.
+ Come now, what are you two on the
hatch grinning about?"
Il was justs aging that | was a
pretty good game shot, sir, before
came 10 sea, and Somers, my mate
here. was the same. In fact, 1t was
| because we was such good shots We
| thought II better to leave where we
| was ashore. But We neither OF US
ever handled rife. Snot-guns was
what We was brought up with
Brace OF poachers. were you, eh ?
! Well, your morals will have had time
TO imprt We since you've been abroad
! V tn me, and your shooting will come
back to you. Step up Now. AnybodJ
/ else?"
A bent, old, bald-headeG man piped
1
on a China boat with q coolie crew,
and two or three times when they or
the Chow passengers got fresh, the
cid mani should say captain-serv
ed out Winchesters to US whites.
never let of mine,z but | got TO know
the handling OF her, and guess II Id
one given me now | wouldn't shoot
any of this crowd, even II II did come
. L. IL nut I Hnn
a. | could hit anything | aimed al
\ unless the mark was mighty close. :
! Captain Kettle from his elevation
started down upon them sOurly:
You're an unpromising lot OF toughs
| wonder what you'd call yourselves
on a census paper. Sailors you Ger
ainly ale not. Well, with the Lords
help, I'll lick you into some kind OF
I, horse marines before I'm through
with you. Bo's'n, break up two cases
CT those rifles from number two hold
and distribute them round. Yol
Reservist, you Black Poacher, you
Red Poacher and you Coolie Driver
| appoint you corporals ior the TINA
being. II you're efficient you'll get an
extra tot OF rum day. II you aren {
and you can't drum sense into you'
squads, you'll hear from me personal
~, and so will they. Now, you've each
got seven men apiece, and two extra
that you can toss for, and your frs
job is 10 teach them which end OF the
rifle to hold, and how TO carry II
about without poking anybody's eye
cut. I'll give you twenty-four hour:
to do Ii in. That's the lot. Get away
and set TO work"
Sailormen are proverbially grum
blers, but this crew Gas Kettle eX
PRESSED IT. had the vice thoroughly
worked out of them by this date
They had come aboard in tho Tyne
bleary, ragged. sullen, mutinous, and
owing 10 the slight mystery which
Lung over their enlistment, thought
they were going to have an easy idle
time of it. Never were crew more
disillusioned.
m frpp diuripItna daaoanAad mr.