The Detroit times., 1912-11-13
CHAPTER VI.
Lsads Us 70 MI.s pubb..


soundings. he lived life OF slippered
unbuttoned, unshaven ease. compli
Gated with Gas has been limited fire
quently). systematic attempts to keel
away symptoms OF malaria. But. onct
he lad given orders to ny for a pilot
he bathed. he did mighty surgical
deeds with razor, and his steward
was hugely busy over brushing the
mold from. boots and wearing-apparel
There was nothing OF the popular
idea Of the mariner In Captain Far
nish's shore rig. He wore a black
tati-eoAt and austerc trousers Ais
waistcoat was cut low (as II to show
the edges OF his economical shirt
'front.', and. displayed a fine gold stud
and pious black bow tie; and afteI
he had taken his false teeth from the
drawer In the chart table where they
travelled when at sea, and clicked
them In between his lips, he would
have passed comfortably for q well
TODD grocer with strong Nonconform'
list tendencies.
He practiced a smile or two at him
self In the looking glass TO make sure
his teeth were working correctly
shipped the squaretopped bowler hat
which the steward reverently handed
him. and went out on deck.
Mr.. Kettle, me man"
-Sir?"
Good old smell, the Liverpool riv.
er. isn't Il? Not an ounce OF fever
in a mile OF t. Er-if you want TO
slip ashore before We dock. that'll be
all right"
II trust you'll allow me to take the
foredeck as usual, sir"
IF you choose to remain on board.
said Captain Parrish dryiy,. should
say a boatswain's chair in a ventifs,
tor would be the healthiest spot for
you. Just remember. me man. that
that blame Dutchman has had a
week ashore at Tampico by this, and
II he hasn't been making the cables
hum, I'll swallow my worries. II
isn't a. II we were In New York,
Z where they always back their own
side. You're in good old England
now. Owen. me man. where. when
a case comes on in the courts. the
stipendiary and the papers always say
the Engllshman's wrong"
you think it'll be a case Of the 20
I lice, sir7"
, I'm pretty sure Of H."
All" said Mr.. Kettle. the mate,
. thoughtfrilly.
, Yes, I quite see what you're con.
sidering. Your idea is that you've
done nothing 70 be ashamed OF. and
that when the police come you'll put
upia fight that half Liverpool would
/. pay sixpence a head 10 come and
stare at Well, In ordinary circum.
stances I'd be the last man to try and
head you off-you having right on
( your side. as we're agreed. But |
want you to remember that you've got
somebody else TO consider now, and
Z that's this Miss Chesterman you've
been sparkling SO hard. I'll own up
at once she's not my clip, but then 1
\ know quite we'll I'm the old style or
\ shellback and you're the new. You
like to sport brass-edged uniform
whether you're on shore or sea, and
dam we'll you look in II, me man.
That ginger-colored torpedo beard
sets you of well, too--makes you look
a kind OF breezy fellow that'd go any.
where TO find a BIT OF trouble. And |
don't see why you shouldn't marry
the girl either She should have
money. by her accent and. IL you've
sense. you'll cut the sea- and find an
occupation ashore II were you, I'd
10 into the corn business. There's
said to be money in 1t, and it's GER
tainly genteel. II only you're in it in
big enough way"
IF every marry, do not leave the
sea. There'll be no question about
that"
You're young, and you've none de-
pending on you. Wait till the Riddles
begin to arrive, and then you'll wish
you'd nice quiet hen farm and a
balance in the savings bank"
Now Mr.. Kettle. the mate, had him.
self thought this matter out very
thoroughly already Like most OFF,
GERS OF the mercantile marine, he was
quite ready To stand up TO all that
came from either man or the elements
on the face OF the waters. but he had
an instructive dread and distrust TOR
English law ashore.
The law according to his view 4.
was always on the side OF the owner
or the crew. and any officer who was
dragged into court was disbelieved
and insulted, and emerged from the
ordeal with his certificate suspendou
or indorsed and his future profess
sional prospects eternally blasted.
or course, too, IL Captain Parrish
appeared before a stipendiary magis-
trate or board OF trade inquiry. that
disgusting mode OF torture known as
q cross-examination would inevitably
bring to light items of his past his
tory-connected with avoidance OF
malaria, for instance-and cause him
to lose his present billet, and newt
ably debar him from ever getting an
other. There Ia small demand these
days for elderly shipmasters-none at
all II they are known TO have their
failings.
Whether the German complained or
not. the Norman Towers Was long
overdue, and underwriters would most
certainly press for an inquiry even IL
owners were inclined TO hush mat
tiers up. Somebody would have to be
sacrificed
n Little, the chief engineer, had
only been kind enough TO die on the
passage home, blame might very well
have been piled on his absent sheui-
ders. But Mr. Little had recovered.
He had not only sloughed OF his mad
ness, but had turned very shrewd and
sane. and somewhat naturally. was
prepared to fight tooth and nail foi
the retention OF his own chiefs certl'
ncata