The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-01-26

sprang TO the stern, and attempted, by
sculling. to keep the sklff's head up 10
the waves. But the weight of the
cable whlrled the little craft around,
wave rolled In over her counter, and
half-filled her: the succeeding wave
completed the job and rolled the sklff
over and The Sauarehead was forced
10 swim back TO the Chesapeake. He
climbed up the Jacobs ladder TO face
storm Of abuse from Captain Scraggs
The cable WIS hauled back aboard
with difficulty. owing to the submerged
skin at the end Of 1t. Captain Scraggs
and The Squarehead leaned over the
Chesapeake's rail and tugged furious
W. when the wreck came alongside, but
all Of their strength was unequal TO
the task OF rlghtlng 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
hest to right the skin. After she's
righted. I'll ball her out. borrow new
oars from this here bark, an help Neils
row back to the Maggie with the
cable" Mr.. Gibney volunteered. Cash
in advance, as per usual"
You're pair OF highway robbers,
but I'll take you" Scraggs almost
walled, and paid out the money I;
whereupon Gibney and McGuffey
tailed" on to the rope and with rau-
cous cries hauled away. AS 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.
IL had an idee that thwart would
pull loose" Mr.. Gibney remarked.
well, whut're you goin' to do nowf'
Il amt licked yet-not by jugful,"
Scraggs snapped. "Halvorsen, haul
down that signal halyard from the miz-
zenmast, take one end OF II In your
teeth, an swim back to the Maggie
with 1t. Wen fasten 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 1t. Neils. he's only askin' you
TO risk your life overheard for nothing.
Tain't In the shippin' articles that a
seamnn's got to do that II he wants
swimmin' exhibition make him pay
for it--through the nose. An II 1
was you. I'd find out how much o this
two thousand dollars towage he's goin'
TO distribute to his crew. pers'nlly
I'd get mine In advance"
"Adelbert T.. G!bney," Captain
Scraggs hlssed. There's such thing
as drivln a man to distraction. Hal
vorsen, are you with me?"
AYE bnne--for saxty dollars. Hay
bane worth a months pay for take
dat swim"
"You dirty Scoweglan migrate. Well.
you don't get no sixty dollars from me-
Bear hand and well drop the ships
work boat overheard. guess you can
tow signal halyard TO the Maggie,
can't you. Neils?"
Neils could-and did. Within fifteen
minutes the Maggie was fast TO her
prize. Now well cockbill the an
Choir" quoth Captain Scraggs, so Nc
Guffey 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.
"'rhe old girl don't seem to be max
in headway In the right direction Nc
Guffey remarked plaintively, after the
Maggie had strained at the hawser for
FIVE minutes. Mr.. Gibney, standing
by with a hammer In his hand, nodded
sfiirmatively, while the skipper Of the
Chesapeake. whom Mr.. Gibney had had
the forethought to carry out on deck
to wa,rh the operation. glanced appre-
hensively ashore. Scraggs measured
the distance with his eye to the near
est fringe Of surf and II was plain that
he was worried.
Captain Scraggs.' the skipper OF
the Chesapeake called feebly. "Mr.
Gihney is right. That craft of yours
Is unable to tow my ship against this
wind. You're losing ground. inch by
inch. and II will be only matter OF
an hour or two, II you hang on to me.
before I'll be In the breakers and a
total loss. You'll have to get sail on
her or let so the anchor until a tug
arrives"
II don't know thing about a sailin'
ship" Scraggs quavered.
u know It ALL" Mr.. Gibney cut In,
but there ain't money enough in the
world TO induce me to 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"
"rll not take the risk. Mr.. Gibney.
Captain Scraggs, II you will follow my
Instructions Wen get some sail on the
Chesapeake. Take those lines through
he leading blocks TO the winch"
y The engineer OF the Maggie came up
on deck and waved his arms wildly.
"Leggo." he bawled. "rye blown out
two tubes. tn be all can do to get