Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-26

next to him is bad egg. III lay half Of 'em
Are wanted this minute"
"Ill take Andrews, as long as he knows the
ropes"
MIXED pickles. the rest OF EN-" said the
mate Jest as lief choose 'em in the dark"
Holiday gave terse opinion.
Scum! Scum of the sea! There amt any
more sailors nowadays, mister. But well do our
best to teach EN-"
AYE" said Sullivan, "weM do our best"
He put his tongue in his leathery cheek and
wnked at Brookes, who had Just come on
deck.
mo violence, mind" said Holiday. mo COM
plants when we reach Frisco. This ship has a
bad name. I'm gon to give her a good one
Shes a sweet sailor. or don't know one We're
goin' to drive the hoodoo out Of her an make
record trip. look to the two of you to assist
me- But no violence No belayin' pins"
THEY had both heard this sort of talk before
and knew what it implied. Sullivan was
as compact as If he had been made Of steel
and rubber. He knew when and where and
how to strike and kick without Gripping
Brookes had bulb Of leather the end Of a
thong in his hip pocket, the bulb filled with
lead shot, markless blackjack. Their faces
were Stolid as they listened, watching the line
Of sea scum-frowsy. unshaven, stunning half
|deflant-save for Wilson, A. B. erect and neat
and vigilant-and the smiling Negro, willing
and competent, showing his white teeth in his
good-natured black face
I'll take the chap with the red singlet"
said Sullivan. step out. you! Get over there
alongside Jamaica joe"
The two lines slowly formed
It was the first watch below. The pitching
fo'c'sle reeked with the blended odors of the
untrimmed lamp rank tobacco clothes too long
worn. The Slav, Balta, had brought bottle
aboard, by some miracle untouched He called
1t vodka, but it crude alcohol slightly
diluted, favored with prune juice It went
the rounds, shared by all but Wilson, The
others were still half drunk from their shore
debauchery. Andrews, old and stiff worn out
by seagoing. his skin shaggy as bark and the
color of tobacco leaves crooned in a Senile
pipe:
"A ro-o-uin', q ro-o-Din':
RoUin' has bin my ruin.
III 90 no more q ro-o-pin'
With thee fair maid"
The face Of the larrikin, vicious rat-eyed,
the frontal line of his cresting greasy hair ir-
regular, his teeth scaloped, wide apart and
stained appeared over the edge of his bunk
STOW the yap!" he cried.
He hurled boot 1t struck Andrews on his
faltering lips.
The old man was slow but he had spirit.
He bent, picked up the boot and flung 1t back,
hitting the larrkin on his elbow. He leaped
out Of his bunk, landing like a cat q knife In
his hand
"Ill ave yore cart fer thatl" he yelled.
Wilson caught his wrist twisting the bones
until the knife fell to the deck where he set
his foot on it, picked up the struggling hood
lum and flung him bodily into his bunk.
We'll have none Of that Harris" he said
slowly. mo knife play matey. III take care
Of this
"Give me back my knife!"
"Termorrer mebbe, If you're sober"
yah, you lady lover Spoony over q
blarsted gal, he is, mateys. Got er picture
nailed in is bunk. Yah!"
The retort had no bones in it. Few went to
sea without the photograph Of woman TO
brag about.
The door opened and the second mate APP
peared.
Inspection" he said sharply. Wilson and
Andrews stood up, the latter with touch of
his wispy forelock. The others followed their
example.
1t a swift, incisive look that Holiday
gave as he stood in the companionway thick
set red-haired and red of clipped beard. He
kicked the empty bottle.
mo more of that" he said. IF there's any
more aboard, it goes oversize You'll see to it,
Mr.. Brookes."
"A rotten lot" Brookes said to the first mate
later relieving him. Don't know a brace from
. halyard a clew from a capstan."