Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-27
which I sadly needed.

II At supper, which we ate on small
folding table in the hall space between
our rooms, and which included, with
the rice and tea, trepang or dried fish,
a huge, emaciated, half-starved cat
bounded down the stairs and into my
berth where, like all cats in strange
places, it voiced its distress in loud
yowls. Pattering footsteps on deck
indicated that it had escaped a real
danger; for nothing is better In Chi
nese stew than cat.
Drive that brute ashore" he said,
angrily.
/ Sanctuary" I answered, calmly
"Tn feed it first"
you'll do nothing Of the kind. I
want no cats on board. They're bad
luck"
1--WE always found them good luck.
Strange cats come to me, and I al
ways treat them well.'
i picked up my half eaten supper
and turned to my door.
do you want your berth here"'
asked Edwards, rising to his feet.
"Yes," answered, facing him with
the plate in my hand.
"Then you do as I say. Drive that
beast ashore or go yourself"
"Are you ready" asked, ITO hand
over a months pay?"
"What?-for half days work?'
I'm on the articles as sailing mas
ter You've got the papers, but you'll
have to produce them on demand.
Ask the consul, Mr.. Edwards"
Captain Edwards" he spluttered.
mister Edwards" replied empha-
sizing the prefix. I'm captain here.
You're managing owner, and until
YOU pay me off, either now or at Yoko-
hama, your rights stop where mine
begin. I'm going to feed that poor
cat"
He stared blankly at me. and en-
tered my room with the food. A few
soft words and gentle strokes quieted
the frightened animal, and it greedily
devoured my supper. Then 1t purred
so gratefully that had no heart nor
mind to drive 1t ashore; so, leaving II
stretched out in my berth for a sleep.
I went out. But Edwards had sought
the deck, and, as I could tell by the
heavy thump of his feet, he was work
ing off his rage by pacing to and fro.
Having conquered him felt no anger
myself and going up, asked him when
we would sail.
I'VE tow down the first thing in the
morning." he answered, much more
civilly than I expected; and for mo-
ment I regretted crowding 80 hard
man who had befriended me.
I'm telling you that" he added
slowly, as though restraining his tenn
per, because you have right to
know. But as you claim other rights
that I'm not sure of, fall back upon
rights Of my own that I am sure OF.
Don't speak to me except about work
while you are in this packet. I want
none O. your conversation"
Very we'll, Mr.. Edwards" I an
swered, tartly, again emphasizing the
prefix. But I expect the same con-
sideration from you."
Then as darkness was closing
down, I went forward, lighted the
port, or off shore side light, as
warning to passing craft, inspected
the mooring lines, set the night
watch, and came aft in a mood to
fight Edwards; but he had gone down
to his berth.
| I offer no excuse for my attitude to-
ward him-only an explanation. All
men, especially those that drink, are
medically insane at times, yet never,
perhaps, legally so. Though my ner-
yousness and headache were gone, 1
was in the illogical, stubborn and
short-sighted condition of mind that
last a man long after he has stopped
drinking Edwards, as my owner and
employer, was entitle to his own
way in regard to the cat. But he had
outraged my one moral command
ment, and with this in mind I smoked
myself into a sullen determination to
meet him not only half way in his con-
versational inhibition, but to do my
work beyond his criticism while with
him, to care for the poor cat, to thrash
him again at Yokohama, and to COM
plain of the quality Of the food. But,
on going down to turn in for the night
1 lost my moral right to the latter, for
at sight Of his bottle Of rum In
swinging tray above the table, I reck-
lessly helped myself, not caring
whether or not he heard me from his
room. Then, lighting the gas in my
/ own small closet of room, / entered
| up the episode Of the cat and the quar-
rel in the brand new log book, petted
the wakened animal to sleep, turned
out the gas, and went to sleep my
self.
In the morning left the cat in the
closed room, until, after a silent
breakfast with Edwards, I ostenta-
tiously fed it; then, after the tug had
taken us clear Of the dock, released
it for run on deck, at the same time
warning the collie crew that If they
harmed it, trouble would come to
them. I warned them collectively,
because Cinnamon, like babies, all
looked alike to me, and l never could
remember their names five minutes.
I said nothing to Edwards. however,
nor he to me. He had heard the warn
ing and possibly was impressed.
1 had a full navigating outfit
charts, books, sextant and chroncm-
eter-and when clear Of the island
I took a departure and the voyage be-
gan, Edwards taking my courses and
directions, and standing one watch
while I and the cat stood the other.
81 But the cat remained my watchmate
only for a time. For when it had
smeled at and became acquainted
with every part and person of the old
craft it manifested the feline disposi-
ton to do nothing that it did not
want to do, and, not caring to waste
u sleen and dignity in chasing 1t to its