The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-03-31

Ind come yet about that midlght
turning out. That was policy The
mate knew the men would get more
, comfort out Of their food and 10.
bacco Il permitted 10 enjoy them in
tho expectation OF all night in. Hut
Bill Gadgott was humorist. in a
fashion he remembered occasions
when some OF the men had been
less respectful than they might
have been He started hts pipe
burning, and strolled across to the
forecastle door, In which he appear
Ell quite casually as Tubbs laid
down the opinion amidst sullcn
rumble OF approval:
Them as ought 20 know. has
got out. amt they9 There's goin'
20 be some dead sailors IN this
'ooker afore she gets orr. \ bloody
doOd as buys ships 10 work pore
sailors to death amt no sort to
sail chips. Look at th blccdin'
rats. too. Scores OF 'cm come out
o. the atch when We wuz
ave yer smoke an turn in
ssrly. me lads" cut In Bill Cad
eett innocenily. as II he bad heard
nothing. ITS all 'ands again at
: midnight. There's skipper In this
ship. me sons. an don't yer Tor.
git it,
IAN 'ands7 wot the some.
body jumped up and started 10
shout; but the bosun had goac as
casually as he Ind appeared. lcny.
ing trail OF reeking smoke behind
him not half as bitter and hot as
the words that followed him.
The sailors sat on their sea chests
or hunks and giared at each other
dumbly. Some Of the workers look
ed mutnous. Tubhs and Sims drew
Off 10 their own side OF the fore.
castle and talked hotly. one by one
their cronies joined them. SOON
that side was buzzing with fierce.
hoarse. whispered argument. On
the other side. Joe Bunting and
Nick Coombs turned slowly and
faced each other. Joe removed his
pipe and let it hang between finger
and thumb. His tips we're parted.
Nick took his pipe out and rubbed
the hot bowl gently against his
nose. Thus they stared at each
others faces. For a full minute
without word they remained: then
each turned deliberately. lifted his
legs into his bunk. and lay down
10 get what rest he might. One
by one the others OF that watch fol-
lowed their example In all except
tho matters OF the pipes and the
silence. Then Bill Gadgctt re-
appeared for an eloquent second.
barked out as II he wanted the job
done quickly:
Your anchor watch. Tubbs"' and
vanished again
Very surprisingly. there was no
abusive protest.
"All right. Bose" Tubbs called
out promptly, and entered into his
argument again. Men on the other
side Of the forecastle waited in
expectation Of some outburst. None
came. They rolled over to sleep.
The mutineers were windy. but had
no CUTS. They all said that under
their breath as they closed their
eyes.
At midnight the mates knocked
out their pipes and called the bosun.
They had been called by one OF the
apprentices. Neither saw anything
remarkable about that. Some boys
do get on deck promptly. Drake
appeared. shifting at the soft breeze
that blew off the island. stepping
TO the rail to appraisc the tide. The
ship felt buoyant underfoot. The
crew began to troop aft. grumbllng.
some still smoking. some coming
briskly, others slouching as pro
test. Sails and Chips came, then
Bill Gadgett
ART the mems CORN, sirr' he
cried excitedly.
Gone? Nonsenser snapped
Drake. He glanced at tho boat stIll
hanging in the davitg. Twning
and Adams ran down to dim waist
and peered at the men standing in
the shadows OF the piled cargo.
Shall / muster tns men, SIR?
Seems 70 be most OF watch
ndrift," called out Twlning, Drake
aworc heartily, He Riardf. at the
dark shore. The work he had plan.
ned would call for every ounce Of
muscle. ~ well as hearty good will.
And here was Wholesale desertlon.
Ana tho tide was almost at the
tuli. Delay meant missing tina,
chance; and daily the tides grew