New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-06
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JULY 6. 1913

had kept account on two log states.
Before | was half through | stood back
and gasped. Then, carefully verifying my
work, finished the job, ruling down on the
chart the ships drift, and marking the turn
ing points, with the final position at the
last entry, ~ one o'clock OF that morning.
And when | had conscicntiously obeycd the
CAPTAINS Injunction 20 be sure OF the date, /
locked both log states and the logbOok IN
my trunk, and sat down upon 1t, smiling at
first, then laughing silently but joyously.
Then | turned in, and enjoyed about an
hour OF sound sleep.
wanted chronomcter sights for longitude
and a meridian observation at noon for latl-
tudc. and was glad that Captain Pritchard,
sound asleep in his berth, still left this work
10 me. | had my own chronomctcr, and
brought it on deck waiting for the sun to
show through the gradually breaking storm
clouds 70 the eastward At last | got my
two observations and time OF each, worked
out the longitude. and was equally lucky at
midday. | secured good sight, and found
the latitude Then pricked of the position
on the chart. worked back 20 the last posi-
ton at one o'clock, and was gratiiied TO find
that by dead reckoning alone | had missed
bv only a few miles This was satisfactory,
and laughed again as | locked up the chart
with the log states and book. The gale still
continued too heavy for bending canvas, Mr..
Breach was shakv and incompetent from
deprivation Of his stiwulant, and the Cap
tain still slept; SO 1t was eight o'clock that
evening before | turned in for four hours Of
Sleep With the exception Of that one hour
in my berth had been awake for slXty-Sevcn
hours. But | was happy.
WTE bent canvas next day, and with q
w fair and lcsscning wini stood away
on Our course Captain Putchard still lett
the navigation Of the ship TO me, and | was
satisfied, even though II cost me most OF my
forenoon sleep. Only oncc-and It hap
pcncd at noon when | was writing up the
logbook from an old, cracked slate | had
substituted for the othcrs-did ne ask me
for the longitude. | Chccriully gave it 10
him, and 1t lasted him until we picked up a
Yangtzc pilot and tug. Then navigation
ended. We toWed up the broad, muddy
river, through the cut at Wusung, and up
10 Shanghai where of the American quar-
ter. we dropped the anchor. This done, |
dragged myirunk, packed. locked, with the
| logbook, log states and chart within It, TO
the deck, and hailed a sampan, which scullcd
up to the gangway.
"What does this mean, Mr. Starrctt?'
asked the Captain, as | lowered my trunk
down at the end OF rope. you are not
| discharged. There is work TO be DONE
canvas to unbend, cargo sings sent up,
matches 10 come of. You are not yet dis
charged.
81 was discharged sometime ago, Captain, y
| | answered. AS for the work. do it YOUR
self, or leave it to your other officers. | will
get my pay at the Consuls.'
you'll get no pay! You are DESERVING. "
81 have a witness 10 my discharge, Sir. y
He turned away, his face working, and
young Brand hurried up.
"Can't 60 along, Mr. Starrett?' he asked.
| "No, you stay here. I'll be back for you. y
As the second mate was now in his berth,
recuperating from his debauch, and the
third mate manifestly unacquaintcd with
| cargo work, the Captain was forced to remain.
went to the Astor House with my trunk,
| then TO the American Consul with the chart
and logs. He was a lawyer he informed me,
and | had a half-hour's conversation with
him, at the end of which | left the docu-
ments in his possession and returned to the
| ship. As | reached the deck | found it de-
serted but for a few men smoking near the
windlaSS. | climbed the poop steps and en-
| tered my empty room. The second mate
was muttering in his berth opposite, and
heard voices in the after cabin, the door of
which was open. One was the Captains,
mainly a ChuCklc another was Young