Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-10-08

IL was dark Wnen 1 Went 20 the
wharyes with Captain McGaw to see
the Pluribus Unum He'd show Ine a
tug cheap at ten thousand cash
stores all complete. steam up, engineer
on the premises, though he'd stepped
ashore for a drink. Cute cabin he'd
got on the bridge. cunning little glory
hole forrard Why, everything was
real handy. so that | only had to bat
him behind the ear with a Delaying
pin, and he dropped right down the
fore hatch. All wanted now vas a
navigating officer | could trust.
Which brings me to Mr.. Mcmillan,
our own second mate, buying dozen
fried oysters in card box with wire
handle, all for twenty-five cents,
though the girl seemed expecting a
kiss.
Hello, Frankie" says I, slapping
him on the back. A foremost hand
can make his officer act real dignified
with less. Say. Macl Dye know
what Greed done?" / grabbed his
oysters. Greed. he choke puppy"
says I, and in my mind ! seen the
gulls wheel around the wreck, where
something's lying huddled Come on.
puppy" says |, waving frankie down
the street with them oysters. so all
the traffic pauses TO admire, and our
second officer Is running good. More
things said. escorting him maybe
mile aboard of the Pluribus Unum.
And there | ate them oysters while
he was being coarse and rude. but all
the time / seen the wreck heave sick
and sodden on the swell of the gulf.
the circling gulls, and how they drove
down. pecking at a huddle Of torn
clothes beside the wheel.
Up thar on the tugs masthead was
owning TO being in the wrong, while
frankie Mac was promising faithful
to tear my hide off over my ears when
I'm caught.
Please, sir" says I. at amt so
much the oysters worries me, It's
this yer Cap'n McGaw | done en-
bezzIed. Cayn't call it kidnapped cause
he's over sixty. but | stunned him
Illegal with a belaying-pin. and I
hears him groaning- when you
stops to pant"
But frankie Mac wouldn't believe
one word until he went down in the
| fore peak to inquire. while | applied
the hatch, and battened down.
So you see I'd got tug. and the
crew aboard. so the next thing was to
take in the hawsers, shove off, and lot
her drift o. the ebb.
| It's a caution to see how many taps
and things tesets an engine-room. all
of 'em heaps efficient. The first thing
handled proved up plenty steam. for
my left arm was pink and blisters for
week Next ] found tap called
| bilge-valve injection. which let's In the
sea when you wants to sink the ship.
| | turned him full. and went to sit on
the fore hatch while sucked my arm.
and had chat with the crew.
| They was talkative, and .battering
at the hatch with an ak. so I'd hardly
word Ia edgeways. Then they got
scared we'd blow up before we
drowned Allus in my mind I'd see
them gulls souawkln' around the
wreck, and mother fighting them.
That lieaped thing by the wheel was
dsa. sor | seen the whites of his eyes
as tire ship lurched him. An the
gulls
Cap'n McGaw was pleadin' with me.
then Mr.. Mcmillan. They swore they'd
take me to the wreck for nothin'.
they'd give their Bible oath, they'd
sign agreements. McGaw had a wife
and family ashore. Mcmillan was in
love.
turned of, the bilge-valve injection,
opened the fore hatch. and set them
two to WORK They was quite tame,
and that night slept-only to wake
up screechin' at the things | seen in
dreams.
Seven days we searched for the
| wreck before we gave up and quit. at
least the captains did Then night
came down black overhead, with the
swell all phosphorescent, | allus think
of mother in a light sea under black
sky, like It was that night, when Qua
tug run into the wreck by accident
| jumped first on board The poor
hulk lay flush with the SVEN. lifting
and falling just enough to roll the thir
green water. all bright specks, across
and across the deck. Mother was
there. her bare arm reaching our, hen
left hand lifting her skirt. her face
looking up. dreaming as she turned
and turned, and swayed. in a SLOW
dance. It's what they calls waltz
ard seems. as stood watching. Ii
almost see the music swaying her q:
she wove circles. water OF stars pour
ing over her bare feet. Seems though
the music stopped. and she cam,