Fair play., 1921-08-27


were by nature revolutionists, and
where the sword was as often outside
as inside the scabbard. There was
something terrible in a shipboard agi.
tation not to be found in a land-rislng.;
On land there were a thousand miles
of open country, with woods and
houses, caves and cliffs. to which men
could flee for hiding; and therefore the
danger of rebellion was less dominant.
At sea, a rebellion was like some
beastly struggle In one room, beyond
the walls of which was everlasting
nothingness. The thing had to be
fought out, as 1t were, man to man
within four walls, and God help the
weaker!
"How many ships In the fleet are
sworn to this agitation?" Dyck asked
presently.
Every one. It's been like a spread
of infection; it's entered at every door,
| looked out of every window. All the
ships are in it, from the twenty -six-hun.
| dred-tonners to the little five-hundred-
| and-fifty-tonners. Besides, there are
| the Delegates"
He lowered his voice as he used
| these last words.
"Yes, I know" Dyck answered,
though he did not really know. "But
who Is at the headT"
"Why, as bold q man as can be
Richard Parker, an Irishman. He was
| once a junior naval officer, and left the
navy and went into business now he
| Is a quota man, and leads the mutiny.
Let me tell you that unless there's
| good round answer to what we demand,
the More feet'll have it out with the
| government. He's a man of charac-
ter, Is Richard Parker, and the tleetll
stand by him."
"How long has he been at it?" asked
Dyck.
"Oh, weeks and weeks! 1t doesn't
all come at once, the grip of the thing.
1t began at Spithead, and it worked
right there, and now it's workin' at
the Nore and it'll work and work un-
til there isn't a ship and there isn't
man that won't be behind the Dele
gates. Look. Half the seamen OH
this ship have tasted the inside of
Jail and the rest come from the press
gang, and what's left are just the
ragged ends of street corners. But
and here the man drew himself up
with flush-"but there's none of us
wouldn't fight to the last gasp of
breath for the navy that since the days
of Elizabeth has sailed at the head Of
all the world. Don't think we mean
harm to the fleet. We mean to do it
good. All we want is that its masters
shall remember we're human flesh and
blood; that we're as much entitled to
good food and drink on sea as on land;
and that, if we risk our lives and shed
our blood, we ought to have some
share in the spoils. We're great
country and we're great people, but
by Cd, we're not good to our own!
Look at them there"
He turned and waved hand to the
bowels Of the ship where sailors trad
ed with slop-sellers, or Chartered with
women, or sat in groups and sang, or
played rough games which had no vi
tai meaning; while here and there in
groups, with hands gesticulating, some
fanatics declared their principles. And
the principles of every man in the
More fleet so far were embraced In the
four words-wages, food, drink, prize
money.
Presently Ferens stopped short.
Listen! !" he said.
There was cry from the ships side
not far away, and then came little
bursts Of cheering.
"By Heaven, it's the Delegates COM
in here!" he said. He held up warm
ing palm, as though commanding ST.
lence, while he listened intently. "Yes.
it's the Delegates. Now look at that
crowd of seamen"
He swung his hand toward the
bowels of the ship. Scores of men
were sprnging to their feet. Present.
ly there came great shouting ana
cheers, and then four new faces APP
peared on deck. They were faces of
intelligence, but one of them had the
enlightened look OF leadership.
"By Judas, it's our leader, Richard
Parker!" declared Ferens.
What Dyck saw was good evidence
Of the progress of the agitation. There
We're officers of the Arladne to be seen,
but they wisely took no notice Of the
breaches of regulation which followed
the arrival of the Delegates. Dyck
saw Ferens speak to Richard Parker
after the men had been in conference
with Parker and the Delegates, and
then turn toward himself. Richard
Parker came to him.
VI h.n Il
4, genially. IL know your history. We
are out to make the navy better--to
get the men their rights. l understand
you are with us?"
, Dyck bowed. ~ will do all possible
, to get reforms in wages and food put
, through, sir"
> '"That's good" said Parker. "There
? | are some DetitiOnS YOU can draft, anu