Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-02-27

Because | intended to show the
swine wasn't afraid of him"
81 believe you really like trouble" 4"
The little mate sighed deeply, "l
am afraid | do, sir"
81 wonder where you got your
taste from, It couldn't be from your
upbringing, I'm sure you never got
4 hankering for trouble from either
me or the old woman, though when
one comes to think of it, your pore
father"
Yes, sir?"
We'll, he was Welsh, Owen, me
man, and we'll leave II at that. But
I will say that at any rate there's
nothing OF. the thief about you, and
never caught you in a lie in all
your life Well, Mr.. Mate, don't let
me keep you from your duty"
With which formal dismissal Cap
tain Saturday Farnish drank the rest
of his whisky and water, closed his
eyes, opened his mouth and was
promptly asleep.
The smart, keen, chief officer step
ped out into the sunshine, and from
place to place on the seedy under,
manned steamer went about his many
duties, walking crisply, talking crisp.
ly getting maximum of work done
with the limited means at his dis.
oosal. They were voyaging from
Vera Cruz to Liverpool; had passed
out of the Gulf Stream through the
Bahamas, south of the island of
Nbaco. by that channel known to
he Western Ocean sailor folk as the
lole in the WALL and were well out
II the Sargasso Sea.
So far as the eye could see the
My things that foated on the tur.
noise blue swells were lunches OF
| 'ran"e- yellow weed. The steamer g
nsty black bows sawed regularly I'm
nd down. always pushing a crum
lling cascade of white water ahead
| Nf her.
But this day a portent was show.
ng itself that even Captain Farnish' e
'asy-going temperament could not af
| ord to overlook. The engines had
ong since dropped that steady uni
orm b-a.rumble rub-a-rumble which
L steamers engines should keep ur
rom port to port Cor at any rate
rom soundings to soundings). and
we're giving forth that labored kick
'nd-a-cough which one only hears in
narrow waters and crowded traffic,
And even this was slowing down
Further. there was obvious trouble
| Ia,
lender watches of firemen and trim
nnrs We're punched on the fadler
m: the second and fourth engineers
10Th very young mon. were standin'
'utside the engine room door in tn
)ort alleyway. openly perturbed. oh
viously ignorant of what to do next
81 don't like it. Mr.. Kettle, M
man," Captain Farnish kept on say
'ng, 81 don't like it at all. That ir
| 'ernal Mr.. Little has been at som
| Vt his mad tricks again. and scarce
| I'll those ash cats out of their greas'
| ives. If | send for the fellow, an6
le's one of those luny fits on him
le'll preach Extensively to me on the
'eed of fasting, and it'll mean a row.
md if | don't send for him he'll as
ike as not keep us rolling on here
till do send for him, and that'll TAX
some explaining at Liverpool; and
between you and me, Mr. Kettle, me
man, I'm in devil of a fix"
81 ought to have sent Little to
have meant az. lot of letter writing
and cabling and signing a stack OF
consular papers. / hate signing pa
pers; you never know what they let
YOU in for. don't like to send for
him, but / suppose I'd better hear
what he has to say. Could you-er--
Just get him int the chart house
here, Mr.. Kett'
Yes, sir, understand. Quite in,
formally. Better not send mes
sage, III go for him myself"
That's the idea, Mr. Kettle, me
man, and bring him back yourself
and then stand by while we talk"
Aye. aye, sir"
The mate walked briskly out, and
made for the two white-faced juniors
who were standing at the engine.roon
door.
THE chiefs in his room," said one
of them
"My God, Kettle, he means death
for every man on board" said the
other
"Oh. don't worry your small heads
about that" said the mate confident
ly. THE old mans quite competent
to attend to Mr.. Little and the ship
too"
The chief engineers room was just
inside the door, and stood at the
head of the ladder which led to the
depths of the engine-room below. and
at this moment Little himself ap
peared He was stark naked, his
face drawn and white, his body thin
as an Indian fakir's. He had a
cooks broad meat-ax in his hand, and
his lips we're drawn. back from his
teeth like those of snarling dog
The mate delivered his message as
| oh nt hn