The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

tween intervals of work lay alone, in his
bunk. He could not write; for he made
his mark on the ships book; and when
asked whether the can he held in his
hand contained jam or marmalade, he
shook his head vacantly and pointed to
the label for those to read who had
learned how. And it was he who first.
in the scramble for food, reached his
naked hand into the dish, and who first
showed that a modern man, after centu-
ries of dependence on the knife and fork.
can still eat roast beef from his fingers.
A pretty clear-cut model of a rogue. And
the boys were glad of the protection they
got by appearing as bad as he-as un-
kempt as outlawed and dangerous.
Then the ship made her haven and an
chored in the Clyde, until the morning
tide should float her to the docks. The
boys slept-slept tight on their baggage.
But in the night they heard mysterious
noises. and by the lantern that always
burned they saw their dread partner
shaving himself and changing clothes.
In the early morning. as the vessel
warped into her basin, they went on deck.
There by the bridge, heaped round by
valises and trunks stood a mild and
kindly man. in a long black coat of fine
grain, a silk hat and a white tie. The
boys followed him off. On the dock a dis
tinguished but jovial company struggled
lUl DDSStSSloIl VI IIS JlSl III llilt
for the India conference" they were
heard to say. "How did you leave your
own church, brother And how was the
trip?"
pretty rough" responded he. 1.-The
crew We're the lowest type l ever saw.
But checked my baggage with the stew
ard and l didn't let them find out I was
any better than they. 1t was all that
saved me-
He was a ConsreoationaI minister from,
Connecticut Thanks to the same super
stition, he had mstrusted the boys as
they had mistrusted him. On every voy-
age fairly congenial men are kept apart
thus by mutual suspicion. AS matter
of fact. the cattleShip vacation iS--or was.
should say-so popular that on any ves-
sci one is certain to fall in with men as
well bred as himself.
But how about the professional cattle
men? Are there no cut-throats? Are there
no thieves, For ris 1t on the dock, where
they ought to know. laborer tips you off
with Don't let go of your baggage for a
minute. They'll rip it open quicker than
scat. [ tell you. they're awful on this
boat. They'll steal the eyes out of your
head when you're not looking"
Stealing is, in fact, a common offense
But it is very mean sort A seeker after
adventure could get thrill worth whilc
from a theft so original and violent as
the laborer describes. But the hope OF
having ones open eyes snatched out in
vain and can only lead to disappoint-
ment. likelier occurrence would be one
of this kind
Saturday afternoon at the men on q
certain ship received from the steward
a gallon can of orange marmalade and
one of gooseberry apple. A cockney
called Tom carried the two forward to
the forecastle. He raped the jam car
with a knucSle, and spoke:
What | say is that we've got to &c
slow on this and make it last. When
went over before they gave us a can anc
we appointed one man to spoon it out t,
US at tea-two level spoonfuls to eacf
man-and we had plenty all the week
But another time we each helped our.
selves, and the second day at tea time
there wasn't enough left to grease youl
bloody boots with. Some Polack has
sneaked to the can when the rest were
at work and hogged the whole lot
While speaking Tom had cut out the
lid of the can by driving the blade oil
one case knife with the handle OF an
other. All the men had clambered dowr
from their berths, pan and spoon in hand
and ringed him round. All but sicl,
Danish boy, who hadn't stood on his feet
In three days, and whose strange Ian
guage no one in the gang, polyglot as Ii
was, could understand.
The Frenchman tapped Tom on the
shoulder, you spoon for u.s." he said
ardently. The mess assented: Eyes, bette.
have seven tastes than one gorge" And
Tom answered retiringly, well, what
say is that I don't know as I'm the mar
to do it. But If you appoint me, it's your
doings, and I'll kick the bloody 'ead off
the first man see at the can"
They applauded fervently. He dealt tc
each enough to Sprea6 fhip1v ovar -.
slices of bread The next day at supper
little open cupboard, caught the can for
a heavy lift between his two hands. and
started back. balancing it lightly on one
while the horror on his face blushed
through all colors of the spectrum. endina
with purple, for anger.
"Chaps see that? Dye see that. sve,
It's empty. AS my soul lives, it's emptv
Now who the bloody h. has stole n
Didn't tell you somebody'd steal 1t? It's
you! It's youf" He pointed menacingly
at the sick boy You're the only one
as been in here all the time. I didn't
think you'd steal it. I sye. men. what
had we ought to do to him?"
A Large Sample of Beggary
The mess murmured Sick or we'll the
boy had sinned against the first law of
comradeship. He should be rebuked. Rut
unexpectedly he rose in< bed. his face
ablaze. He gestured madlly and talked
loud and fast-words which meant moth
ing to the hearers only they were not in
the tone of contrition. Then he paused
and seemed to reflect. He began again
SLOWLY. with other words:
German cried one.
"Ah, the bloody pig don't listen to him. -
shouted Tom, and edged toward the COM