The Detroit times., 1912-12-11
CHAPTER XVI.
(Contlnuedl

ana see tnem well httenueu 10 duu
fed, and serve them out good stifl
tot OF grog. Come away, below, CAT
tain, at once. This lady is Miss
Dubbs."
you must pardon me, miss said
the old man, for being so upset al
the idea OF grub, but you see Chips
my carpenter, l should say--who was
IN the boat with me, was heavy
eater. and he provided the music, and
u was the music alone that kept the
men from turning down the job, and
stepping ashore and staying there
whenever they got the chance. The
captain here. who's a musician him
self, will tell you what Chips could do
with the penny whistle"
"He could play" said the expert
I'll admit that"
He reminded me OF that party IN
the poem that I've seen pictures o.,
" no played the penny whistle SO well
that he lurcd away the rats from a
whole town Gull OF fat old fellows who
at that time were seeing them. Lord.
Captain. me man, fancy getting r
knife and fork In ones fists, and sit
ting down before plate on a table
cloth. No, Steward, don't give me
beef. I've not got my teeth on me
This evening" Yes, some OF that sal
mon. You've no idea how I've thirst
ed and hun.gered after some nice tin
ned salmon. miss. since I've been
threshing about In that numbering
ife- boat. To my mind there's nothing
30 tasty as timed salmon. unless It's
Imam haddte II you put enough vine
gar on II Just TO damp the microbes.
The shaggy man sat at the end o,
he saloon table eating steadily. ca
rg as man only can eat after he has
lived for months on the edge OF star
9ation, and Miss Dubbs and Captain
Kettle leaned elbows on the table on
Pither side of him, and stared gloom.
ly at one another and at him. Con-
ersation came disjointedly, and be
ween morthfuls
II Appeared that. when cargo shifted
n the gabe six months ago, and the
Norman Towers lay helpless on her
|eam enda with the wind bowling over
or, Captain Parrish decided that she
you'd sink, but made up his mind to
10 down with her after the manner
pproved by his tribe. He was "oli
nd useless" He would never get
mother ship" He would be far bet
pr OF comfortably drowned" There
ere institutions which would help
he widow OF a ship-master lost at
pa" While mo institution on earth
kept the workhouse would assist the
lie OF q disrated, out-of-work sea.
nptain." But certain Of the hands
npelledi thereto by the unsteady
tinded carpenter lugged him with
,em into the boat and once there his
trick or seamanship saved the lot OF
em.-"We old shellbacks can handle
pen boats In heavy weather In a way
lat wonld surprise you brass-bounJ
wells ar the newer school, owen, me
an. They too; saw the Norman
overs instead Of turning turtle,
bake her cargo amidships again. and
ow or before the gale. and Farnish
led desperately to follow, but lost
Pr In The driving sea smoke. But he
az then and later bitten with tho
cory that she was either afoat some
here blowing about the seas, or
eatly ashore and offering her cargo
r salvage
Thereafter his wanderings were
prthy OF Homeric verse. He was old,
was not too competent, he had no
lrtieular charm that | ever saw TO
tract men to him. He had neither
onay nor credit with which to buy
DIVISIONS, and on the rare occasions
hen he went ashore--in Las Palmas,
Mogador, at Bathurst, and In the
PYe Verdes--he was received with
|rfsion and insult II seems they
nd for the most part on fish that
ey caught themselves when inshore
ID sun-dried as best they could for
. blue-water sections Of their cruise.
regards water, they risked their
PES a score Of times In running the
ny boat through the surf when mad
tn thirst to fill her breakers.
Why the crew stuck by him is one
those things that seem to be in the
eth OF all reason. His one explain
Ion that they stayed for the mere
easure Of hearing the carpenter toot
the penny whistle is ridiculous, but
hnkly l have neither gain, pleasure,
r advancement TO dangle In front
the crew by way OF lure, and, on
3 other hand, there was very certain
aviation, hardship and danger to be
rned In plenty. One can only con.
nde that for some obscure reason
ey must have loved the old man,
ID for that and no other possible
use they stuck to him.
II must have been the most hope
ss kind OF chase. He was ignorant
Pout the more modern niceties OF
Irrents, unSound on his trade-winds,
bpelessly out OF date on the theory
storms. His dull rule of thumb
ience could not even form q theory
to where they had drlfted to. But
pm some obscure pricklng OF the
umbs he had faith that she was
ther afoat. or neatly cast ashore,
u, at any rate, waiting for him.
Il knew I should hit upon the old
RI at last II only | could induce the
nds to keep on long enough. said
ptain Saturday Parrish. Did you
ppen to find my old pipe in the
art house by any chance, or had the
ggers scoffed It? Chip logged me
ray In such hurry ! hadn't time 10
p II into my pocket. should hate
lose that pipe. It's the one mother
We me the year / earned all my
nus"
I have II In my own chart-room,
top. There was mothers photo.
b. | took that Also"
Captain Kettle swallowed hard.
ention OF that unclean meerschaum
ways upset him.
You're a good lad, owen. me man,
q I'm glad it's you that's met with
a