Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-11-24

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Was Forced to Swim Back to the
Chesapeake.
to swim back to the Chesapeake. He
climbed up the Jacobs ladder TO face
storm Of abuse from Captain Scraggs.
The cable was hauled back aboard
with difficulty, owing to the submerged
skiff AT the end OF Il. Captain Scraggs
and The Squarehead leaned over the
Chesapeake's rail and tugged furious
ly, when the wreck came alongside, but
all Of their strength was unequal TO
the task OF righting the little craft by
hauling up on the light rope attached
to her thwart.
For ten dollars more each me an
Mac'll tail on to that rope an do our
best to right the skiff. After she's
righted, I'll bail her out, borrow new
oars from this here bark an help Netls
row back to the Maggie with the
cable" Mr.. Gibney volunteered. Cash
In advance. as per usual"
you're a pair of highway robbers.
but I'll take YOU" Scraggs almost
walled, and paid out the money {;
whereupon Gibney and McGuhey
tailed" on to the rope and with rau-
cous cries hauled away. As a result
Of their efforts, the thwart came away
with the rope and the quartet sat down
with exceeding abruptness on the hard
pine deck OF the Chesapeake.
II had an !dee that thwarr would
pull loose" Mr.. Gibney remarked.
well, what're you goin' TO do now!'
81 amt licked yet-not by jugful.'
Scraggs snapped. "Halvorsen, haul
down that signal halyard from the miz-
zenmast, take one end Of It in your
teeth, an swim back TO the Maggie
with IL. Wen fasten a heavier line
to the cable, an haul the cable aboard
with the Maggie's winch"
You say that so nice, Scraggsy, old
hopeful, I'm tempted TO think you can
whistle it. Neils, he's only askin' you
TO risk your life overheard for nothing.
'Tain't in the shippin' articles that a
seaman's got TO do that. If he wants
swimmin exhibition make him pay
for Through the nose. An if l
was you, I'd find out how much o this
two thousand dollars towage he's goin'
to distribute 10 his crew. Pers nlly
I'd get mine in advance"
"Adelbert Z. Gibney," Captain
Scraggs Kissed. There's such thing
as drivin man to distraction. Hal
vorsen, are you with mef"
AYE bane-for saxty dollars. Hay
bane worth a months pay Cor take
dat swim"
You dirty Scowegian migrate. Well,
you don't get no sixty dollars from me.
Bear n hand and we'll drop the ships
work boat overheard. l guess you can
tow a signal halyard to the Maggie,
can't you, Neils?"
Neils could-and Gid. Within fifteen
minutes the Maggie was fast to her
prize. Now We'll cockbill the an
Choir" quoth Captain Scraggs, so Me-
Guifey reporting sufficient steam in the
donkey TO turn over the windlass, the
anchor was raised and cockbilled, and
the Maggie hauled away on the hawser
the instant Captain Scraggs signaled
his new navigating officer that the
! hook was free of the bottom.
1.-The old girl don't seem to be max
in Roadway in the right direction" Nc
Guffey remarked plaintively, after the
Maggie had strained at the hawser for
five minutes. Mr.. Gibney, standing
by with hammer in his hand, nodded
afIirmatively, while the skipper of the
Chesapeake, whom Mr.. Gibncy had had
the fOrcthought 10 carry out on deck
10 watch the operation, glanced appre-
housively ashore. Scraggs measured
e. distance with his eye TO the near.
inge Of surf and 1t was plain that
vas worried.
Captain Scraggs," the skipper OF
the Chesapeake called feebly, 'Mr
Gibney Is right. That craft of yours
is unable to tow my ship against this
wind You're losing ground, inch by
inch. and 1t will be only a matter Of
an hour or two. if you hang on to me,
before III be in the breakers and a
total loss. You'll have to get sail on
her or let 60 the anchor until tug
arrives"
II don't know thing about q sailin'
ship" Scraggs quavered.
81 know IL ALL" Mr.. Gibney cut in
'but there amt money enough In tho
world TO induce me 10 exercise that
knowledge to your profit" He turned
to the master of the Chesapeake. "For
one hundred dollars each, McGuffey
an will sail her in for you. sir"