Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-28
WAFFLES .:
Striking Tale of Sea-Deah Sharks Yawning Jaws

n OtTlk1I1S l. ale Vi
head as he turned 10 his stove and
banged a frying pan viciously to pre-
vent some steak from burning.
The mate recovered a little of his
good temper. He snapped his fingers
and the dog looked up eagerly, lick
ing. his chops.
Come on. Waffies." he said. IF
you've finished, I'll give you a
drink. skipper or no skipper, you're
my dog, and that's all there is to it"
His new-found possession at his
heels. he left the galley and went to
where the water butt stood on it's
racks with square OF canvas
sheitering II.
The wrathful captain was growing
to the sourfaced lean mate, THE
seconds got dog! II the brute
comes aft or interferes With the
ships work. kick it's blasted ribs in,
I'll shoot 1t If 1t comes near me-
To which the mate, somewhat
melancholy individual, aged. sea-
weary. answered: AYE, aye, sir.
Kick his blasted ribs in, sir" The
captain grunted after that and went
below. The Hemro waved wildly,
swinging from side to side as she
raced along. The wind was astern
anu sOHleh ilol BuSly Il
little, the mate walked aft to the
pinnacle and peered into 1t.
Make the course good" he said.
And the heimsman answered as he
spun the kicking wheel. The course
good. sir
Then the mate walked 10 the
for'ard taffrail and cupped his hands
round his mouth. Take another reef
in yer topsls"
Came a faint answer from for'ard.
against the freshening breeze, Take
another reef, SIR
The fore and main-rigging shook
under the shoes of climbing men.
Astern the coast OF northern New
Zealand faded into the horizon.
!; x y
on the second day out Waffies fell
~ foul of the captain. His new
master had taken good care TO keep
the dog shut in the cabin as much
as possible. He allowed Waffies on
deck only when he was there him
self to stop the dog from going on
the poop. But this time he happened
to be asleep during his watch below.
The weather being warm, he had
hooked shut the door before turning
in. The steward had come along to
clean out the room, unlocked the
door. and the whining much i'm
proved Waffies was free and running
excitedly along the main deck.
shifting at everything that came his
way. He must have been a sea dog,
for he exhibited a strange familiarity
with ships gear. The boom of
the wind in the canvas overhead
and the rattle of the blocks in no.
wise worried or frightened him.
More significant than all, he was not
seasick
The captain came down from the
poop and was going for-ard to in
spect the fo-c-sle and see whether
the boy told off to keep 1t clean was
doing his duty. Waffies, eagerly
chasing fragment Of rope yarn
blown across the foredeck by the
legs.
The captain side-stepped hastily.
swore and took a running kick at
the dog, now busy worrying the rope
yarn. The captains heavy shoe took
him in the side and sent him sur
prised and snarling with jar against
the bulwarks. He came back like a
rubber ball, all bristling teeth and
writhing muscles. He snapped at the
leg and ripped his trousers
at the knee.
w TN an Odln the pedrueQ master
sprang for the rail, tore out a be-
laying pin and hurled 1t savagely.
Wafies lodged. Perhaps he had had
such things thrown at him before on
other ships. He rushed again and
nipped the captains calf. The cap
tain kicked and missed and then re-
tired profanely and precipitately for
the poop, Waffies swapping at his
heels.
MY revolver" the captain snarled
as he stumbled down the campanion
from the poop deck to the saloon and
to his cabin. Waff1es sat on his
from the main deck and shifted, his
cooked on one side.
GO way, laddie." called down the
sour-faced mate softly, leaning over
taffrail. GO way, laddie, or yen
find a watery grave. Haven't ye
enough sense not I touch a shipmas-
ter? Shame on We! Shoosh! Go way.
Hopkins The mate called
to an A. B. who was oiling down a
backstay near the mizzen sheer-pole
and watching the scene with amuse-
ment.
The man dropped his fragment of
black waste into his oil pot and came
down to the deck.
Run along and tell the second to
get his dog" the mate said in a low
voice, for fear the captain might
hear him. The seaman nodded and
grinned more expansively.
I'D better take him." he said. The
mate grunted, Good idea
The seaman stepped forward, hest
tated as Waffies growled, and then
stretched forth a cautious hand.
Come on, Waf1es," he crooned.
Come on t. yer daddy fore the skip
per slugs ye. Come back to yer
home. Good dog"
Waffies looked interested. ceased
to growl, wagged his tail. Next mo-
ment the seaman had him under his
arm and was hurrying toward the
second mates cabin, the dog pro-
testing loudly. The second mate
stopped the noise as soon as he was
awakened and told what was hap
pening. And Waffies was gagged
and bound and thrust into a very dark
locker for a while.
All that afternoon the captain
searched revolver in hand, for