THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : TUESDAY , JANUARY 17 , 1890. 9
® ® G < S X > 32iXjX ) ®
THE DERELICT.
AN ADVENTURE OF CAl'T. KETTLE.
IlyCUTCLIFFE IIYNE.
( Copyright , 1893 , by Cutcllffo Hync. ) ,
"Her cargo'll have shifted. " ald the
third mate , "and when ahegot that list her
people will have felt frightened and left
her. "
"She's a ecary look to her , with her
yanlartns spiking every other sea , " eald Cap
tain Image , "and her decks like the side of
a house. I shouldn't care to navigate a craft
that preferred to lie down on her beam
ends. "
"Take this glass , sir , and you'll see the
leo quarter boat davit tackles tire over
hauled. That means they got at least ono
boat In the water. To my mind , iho'a
derelict. "
"I hope her crow have got to dry land
somewhere , poor beggars , " said Captain
Image. "Nasty things , those old wind
jammers , Mr. Stroke. ( Jive mo steam. "
"But there's a pile of money In her still , "
Bald the third mate , following up his own
thoughts. "She's on Iron ship , nnd she'll
bo 2,000 tons good. Lllcoly enough In the
'Frisco grain trade. "
"And you're thinking tho'd bo a nice
plum If wo could pluck her In anywhere ? "
said Imago , reading what was In his mind.
"Well , me lad , I know that as well as you ,
and no one would bo pleaseder to pocket
300. But the old M'poso's a mallboat , and
because she's got about a quarter of a hun
dred weight of badly spelt letters on board
she can't do that sort of salvage work If
there's no life-saving thrown In as an extra
reason. Resides , -we're behind time , as It
Is , with smelling round for so much cargo ,
and though I shall draw my Zper \ cent
on that , I shall have It all to pay away
again and more to boot In flnes for being
late. No , I tell you It Isn't all sheer profit
and delight In being skipper on ono of tfacso
West African coast boats.
Strake drummed at the wtilte rail of the
bridge , lie was a very young man , and he
was very keen on getting the chance of
distinguishing himself ; and hero , on the
warm "windless swells abeam , the chance
seemed to alt beckoning him. "I've been
thinking , sir , If you could lend mo a half
a , dozen men I could take her In somewhere
myself. "
"I'm as likely to lend you half a dozen
nngels. Look at the deck bands ; look at
the sickly trip this haa been. We've had to
put some of them on double tricks at the
Wheel already ; and as for getting any
painting done , or having the ship cleaned
up a bit , why I can see wo shall go Into
Liverpool as dirty as a doordie collier. Mr.
Strake , If _ you have a pennorthof ; brains
etowed away anywhere I wish -whiskers
you'd show 'em sometimes. "
"Old man's mad at losing a nice lump
of salvage , " thought Strake. Natural , I
suess. " So he eald quietly : "Ay aye , sir , "
and -walked , to itho other nd of the
bridge.
Captain Imago followed him half way , but
Btopped Irresolutely with hla hand oa the
engine room telegraph. On the fore main
deck bePow him his old friend , Captain Owen
Kettle , was leaning on the rail , staring wist
fully at the derelict.
"Poor beggar , " Imago mused , " 'tlsn't hard
to guess what he's thinking about. I wonder
If I could fix It for him to take her home.
It might set him on his legs again , and he's
come low enough , Lord knows. If I hadn't
given him a room In the flrst-clasa for old
time's sake ho'd have had to go homo as a
distressed seaman and touched his cap to me
when I passed. I've not done badly by him ,
but I .shall have to pay for that room In the
first-class out of my own pocket , and If he
was to.'take that old wind-jammer In some-
yiJaorcv hc'dforJ | < , out.andveryllko glvo me
a dash besides. Yce , , I win say that about
Kettle ; he's honest as .a barkeeper , and
generous besides. He's a steamer sailor , of
course , and has been most of these years ,
and how he'll do the white wings business
again , Lord only knows. Forget ho hasn't
got engines till It's too late , and then drown
himself probably. However , that's his pala
ver. Where we're going to scratch him up
a crow tram's the thing that bothers me.
Well , we'll see.1' Ho leaned down over the
upper bridge rail , and caned :
"Hero , a minute , captain. "
Poor Kettle's eye lit , and ho came up the
ladders with a boy's quickness.
Imago nodded toward the deserted vessel.
"Fine fullrlgger , hasn't she been ? What do
you make her out for ? "
" 'Frisco grain ship. Stuff the bulk. And
its shifted. "
"Looks that way. Have you forgotten all
your 'mainsail haur and the square rig
gymnastics ? " t
"I'm hard enough pushed now to remem-
iber the theory suma they "taught at naviga
tion school it I thought they would servo
me. "
"I know. And I'm as sorry for you , cap-
taln , as I1 can hold. But you see. It's this.
I'm short of Bailer men ; I've barely enough
to steer and keep the decks clean ; anyway ,
I've none to spare. "
' 'I don't ask for fancy goods , " said Kettle
oagfrly. "Give me anything with hands on
It apes , niggers , stokers , what you like , and
I'll qoon teach them their dancing steps
Let' ' mo go 'round and see. I believe I can
rake up enough hands somehow. "
"Well , you must be quick about It , " said
Image. "I can only glvo you five minutes
captain. "
Captain Kettle ran down off the bridge
and was quickly out of sight -and bard a
his quest for volunteers. Captain Image
waited a minute and he turned to bin third
mate. "Now , my lad , " ho said , "I know
you'ro disappointed , but with the other
mates sick like they arc It's just Impossible
for mo to let you go. If I did the company
would eack mo and the dirty board of trailo
would probably take away my ticket. So
you may as well do the kind and help pee
old Captain Kettle. You see what he'scomb
down to , through no fault of his own. You'ro
young and you'ro full to the coamings will
confidence. I'm older and I know that luck
may very well get up and hit mo , nnd I'll be
wanting a helping hand myself. It's it
rotten , undepcndablo trade , this sallorlng
You might just call the carpenter and go
the cover off that smaller lifeboat. "
"You think he'll got a crew , then , sir , and
i\ot our deck hands ? "
"Him ? Hoil : get some things with leg
and arms to. them It ho has to whittle 'em
out ot klndlln' wood. It's not that that'l
stop Capplo Kettle now , mo lad. "
Presently Kettle came back.
"Well , captain , " he said , "I got a fin
crew to volunteer , it 'you ' can see your wa
to let me have them. There's a fireman an
trimmer , both English ; there's a third
class passenger , a dago of'somo sort , I think
he le , that was a ganger on the Congo rail
way ; a negro stonemason , and there's Mr
Dayton-Phlllpps ; that'll make a good , Etron
ehlp's company. "
"Dayton-Phlllpps ! " said Image. "Why
he's an officer In the English army , am
he's been some sort of a resident or polltlca
thing up la ono ot these nigger towns at th
back there. What's ho want to go for ? "
"Said ho'd come for the fun ot the thing. '
Captain Image gave a grim laugh , "Well
I think ho'll find all the fun he's any use
for before he's ashore again. Now , Mr
Strake , hurry with that boat. You'ro t
tak charge and bring her back , and mind
you're not to leave ( ho captain here one
hli gang aboard If the vessel's too badly
wrecked to be safe. "
The word was "hurry. " The third mat
fended off the boat whilst Kettle's crew o
nondescripts scrambled unhandily down t
take their places. The negro stone maso
who had been a stowaway refused stub
bornly to leave the steamer , and so wa
towered ignominious ! ? la a bowline , and
icn as ho still objected loudly that ho
amo from Sa' Leone and was a free British
lubject , eomo one crammed a bucket over
its head , amidst the uproarious laughter ot
ho onlookers.
Ahead ot them the quiet ship shouldered
umslly over the rollers , now gushing down
II she dipped her martingale , now swoop-
ng up again , sending whole cataracts of
vater swirling along her waist.
The boat was run up canntly alongside
nd Kettle jumped Into the main chalni and
lambcrcd on board over tbo bulwarks.
Now , pass up my crew , Mr , Strake , " eatd
10.
10."I'm
"I'm coming myself next , it you don't
ilnd , " said the third mate. "Must obey
: io old man's orders , " ho explained , as they
teed together on the sloping decks. "You
card yourself what ho Mid , captain. "
"Well , Mr. Mate , " said Kettle , grimly , "I
lope you'll decide she's seaworthy , because
vhatcvor view you take of It , here I'm going
o stay. "
The mate frowned. Ho was a young man ;
ho was hero In authority , and ho had a
; rcat notion of making his authority felt
Captain Kettle was to him merely a down-
n-hls-luck free-passago nobody , and as the
mate was large and lusty bo did not an-
klpato trouble. Eo ho remarked rather
rabbedly that ho v as going to obey his
rdjjs , and went oft along the slanting
CCK.
It was clear that the vessel had been
wept , badly swept. Ropes ends streamed
icro and there and overboard to every dl-
ectlon , and everything moveable had been
arrled away eternally by the sea. But the
latch tarpaulins and the companions were
till In place , and though It was clear from
ho list ( which was so great that ithey could
not walk without holding on ) that her cargo
was badly shifted , there was no evidence so
ar that ehe was otherwise than sound.
The third mate led Ibo way down to the
azarct hatch. Ho got his fingers In the ring
and pulled It back. Then be whistled ,
'Half full of water , " ho said. "I thought
0 from the way she floated. It's up to the
loams down here. Likely enough she'll
have started a plato somewhere. 'Praia it's
no go for you , captain. Why , If a breeze
was to come on half the side ot her might
Irop out , and she'd go down llko a stone. "
Now , to Kettle's honor , bo It said ( seeing
vhat ho had In his mind ) he did not tackle
bo man as ho knelt there peering into the
azarct. Instead ho watted till he stood up
again , and then made his statement coldly
and deliberately.
"This ship's not too dangerous for me ,
and I choose to judge. And it she'll do for
me , she's good enough for the crew I'vo got
n your boat. Now I want them on deck
and at work without any mor paUver. "
"Do you , by gad ! " said th * mate , and then
the pair of them closed without any further
preliminaries. They were both of them well
ised to quick rough-and-tumbles , and they
joth of them knew that the man who gets
the first grip In these wrestles usually wins ,
and Instinctively each tried to act on that
knowledge. But It the third mate had bulk
and strength , Kettle bad science and abun
dant wlrlness ; and though the pair ot them
est their footing on the eloping cabin floor
at the first embrace , and wriggled over and
under like a pair of eels , Captain Kettle got
a thumb artistically fixed In the bigger
man'a wind plpo and held It there doggedly.
The mate , growing- more and more purple ,
lit out with savage force , but Kettle dodged
the bull-like blows llko the boxer he was ,
and the mate's efforts gradually relaxed.
But , at this point they were Interrupted.
'That wobbly .boat was making me sea
sick , " said a voice , "so I came on board
lere. Hullo , you fellows. "
Kettle looked up. "Mr. Phlllpps , " he
said , "I wish you'd go and get the rest of
our crow on deck out of the boat. "
"But what are you two doing down there ? "
"Wo disagreed over a question of Judg
ment. Ho said this ship Isn't safe , and I
shouldn't have the chance to take her home.
1 say there's nothing wrong with her that
can't be remedied , and home I'm going to
take her , anyway. It may be the one
chance in my life , sir , of getting a balance
at the bank , and I'm not going to miss It. "
"Ho , " said Dayton-Phllllpps.
"If you don't like to come , you needn't , "
said Kettle. "But I'm going to have the
"HIS OLD FRIEND , CAPTAIN KETTLE
WAS LEANING ON THE RAIL , STAR
ING WISTFULLY AT THE DERELICT. '
etono mason and'the Dago , and those two
coal heavers. Perhaps you'd better go back
It will be wet , hard work here ; no way the
sort of job .to suit a soldier. "
Dayton-Phlllppa flushed slightly and then
ho laughed. "I suppose that's Intended to
bo nasty , " he eald. "Well , captain , I shal
have to prove to you that we soldiers ar *
equal to a bit of manual labor sometimes
By the way , I don't want to Interfere In a
personal matter , but I'd like It as a favor
If you wouldn't kill Strake quite. I rather
llko him. "
"Anything to oblige. " said Kettle , and
took his thumb out of the third mate's -wind
pipe. "And now , sir , as you've , eo to speak
signed on for duty hero , away with you
on deck and get those four other beauties
up out of the boat , "
Dayton-Phlllpps touched his cap am
grinned. "Aye , aye , sir , " ho said , and wen
back up the companion.
Shortly afterward ho came to report th
men on board , and Kettle addressed hi
late opponent. "Now , look hero , young man
I don't want to have , more trouble on dec !
before tlie bands. Have you had enough ? '
"For the present , yes , " said the third
mate , huskily. "Out I hope we'll mce
again some other day , to have a bit o
further talk. "
"I'm sure I shall be qulto ready. No mm
eVer accused toe of refusing a scrap. Bui
me lad , Just take one tip from me. Don'
you go nnd make Captain Image anxious b
saying1 thfs ship Isn't peaworthy or fae'l
begin to ask questions and he may get yo
to tell more than you're proud about. "
"You can go and get drowned your ow
way. As far aa I'm concerned , no one wl
uess It's coming oft til ! they see It In th ]
4pers. "
"Thanks , " said Kettle. "I know you'd b
Ice about It. "
The third mate went down to his boat and
ho three rowers took her across to the
t'poso , where flhe was hauled up to davits
ijcaln. The steamer's siren boomed out
arewclU , as she not under way again , and
fettle with his own hands unbent the re-
ersed ensign from the ship's main rigging
and ran It up to the peak , and dipped It
hrce times. In salute. He breathed more
reely now , Ono chance and a host ot un-
nowu dangers lay ahead of him. But the
angers he dliregardcd ; dangers were noth-
ni new to him. It was the chance which
urcd him on. Chances so seldom came
n his way that he Intended to make this
ne Into a certainty it the efforts ot despera-
lon could do It.
Alone of all th elx men on the derelict
Captain Kettle had knowledge of the sea
man's craft , but for the present thews
and not seamanship were required , The
vessel lay in pathetic helplessness on her
'de ' , liable to capsize In the first squall
which came along , and their first effort
must be to get her in proper trim while the
aim continued. They pulled away the hatch
covers and saw beneath them smooth slopes
of yellow grain.
Aa though they were an Invitation to
work , shovels were made fast along the
lomblngs of the hatch. The six men took
hcsc and with shouts dropped down upon
he grain. And then began a period ot
lomerlo toll. The fireman and the coal
rlmmcr set the pace and with a fine con-
cmpt for the unhandiness ot amateurs did
not fall to glvo a display of their utmost.
ho'a kept mo down to my bearings In bad
luck ever since I first got my captain's
ticket. Hut he's not cruel , Mr. 1'hllllps ,
and ho doesn't push a man beyond the end
of his , patience. My time's como at last.
He's given mo something to make up for
nil the weary watting ; he's sent me this
derelict ; and ho only expects mo to do my
human best , and then he'll let me get her
safely home , "
"Good heavens , nklpper , what are you
talking about ? Have you seen visions , or
something ? "
"I'm a man , Mr. Phillips , that's always
Bald my prayers regular nil through my
life. I'vo asked for things , big things , many
of them , and I'll not deny they've been
mostly denied me. I seemed to know they'd
bo denied , Dut In the last week or eo
there's been a change. I've asked on Just
as arncstly as I knew how , and t seemed to
hear Him answer. It was hardly a voice , and
yet It was llko a voice. It appeared to como
out of millions , of miles of distance. And I
heard It say : 'Captain , I do not forget the
sparrows , and I have not forgotten you. I
have tried you long enough. Presently thou
shall meet with thy reward. "
Dayton-Phillips stared. Was the mnn goIng -
Ing mad ?
"And that's what It la , sir , that makes
mo sure I shall bring this vessel Into some
port safely , and pocket the salvage. "
"Look here , skipper , " said Dayton-
Phillips , "you are Just fagKed to death , and
I'm the same. We've been working until
our hands are raw as butcher's meat , and
wo'ro clean tired out , and we must go below
and get a bit of sleep. If the ship swims , BO
much the better. If It sinks , wo can't help
It. Anyway , we're both of us too beat to
'
-
"KETTLE STRUGGLED ON WITH THE PUMP , DOING DOUBLE WORK. "
Kettle and Dayton-Phillips gamely kept
level with them. The Italian gauger turned
out to have his pride also , and did not lag ,
and only the free-born British subject' from
Sierra Leone endeavored to shirk his duo' '
proportion of the toll. But high-minded
theories as to the rights of man were re
garded here as little as threats to lay Information -
formation before a Justice of the peace , and ]
under the slcdgo hammer arguments of
shovel blows from whoever happened to be
next to him the unfortunate colored gentle
man descended to the grade of nigger again
and tolled and sweated equally with his
betters.
The heat under the decks was stifling
and dust rose from the wheat In choking
volumes , but the pace of the circling shoT- .
els was never allowed to slacken. They
worked there stripped to trousers and they
understood one and all that they were workIng -
Ing for thdlr lives. A breeze had sprung
up almost as soon as the M'poso had
steamed away , and hourly It was freshen
ing ; the barometer In the cabin was regis
tering a steady fall , the sky was banking
up with ugly clouds.
Kettle bad handled sheets end braces and
hove the vessel to so aa to steady her as
they worked , but she still labored heavily
In the sea , and beneath them they could hear
the leaden swish of water .In the floor of
the hold beneath. Their labor was having
Its effect , and by infinitesimal graduations
they were counteracting the list and get
ting the ship upright , but the wind was
worsening and 'It seemed to them also that
the water was getting deeper under their
feet and that the vessel rod * more slug
gishly.
So far the well had not been founded.
It was no use getting alarming statistics
to discourage oneself unnecessarily. But
After night bad fallen and it was impos
sible to see to work In the gloomy hold
any longer without lamps , Captain Kettle
took the sounding rod and found eight feet.
He mentioned this when he took down
the lamps into the hold , but he did not think
It necessary to add that as the sounding
had been taken with the well on the slant , It
was therefore considerably under the truth.
Still he sent Dayton-Phllllpa and the trim
mer on deck to take a spell at the pumps ,
and himself resumed his shovel work along
side the others.
Straightway on through the night the six
men stuck to their savage toll , the blood
from their blistering hands reddening the
shafts of the shovels. Every now and again
ono or another of them choked with the
dust and went to get a draft of lukewarm
water from the scuttlebutt. But no ono
stayed overlong on these excursions. The
breeze bad blown up Into a gale. The
night overhead was starless and moonless ,
but every minute the black of heaven was
split by bursts ot lightning , which showed
the laboring , disheveled ship set amongst
grcnt mountains of breaking ecas.
Tne sight would have been bad from a
well-manned , powerful steamboat ; from the
deck of the derelict U approached the ter
rific. The men with the shovels worked
amongst the frightened , squeaking rats In
the closed-tn box of the hold.
There were four on board the ship during
that terrible night who openly owned to
being cowed and freely bewailed their In
sanity In ever being lured away from the
M'poso. Dayton-Phillips bad sufficient self-
control to keep his feelings , whatever they
wore , unstated , but Kettle faced all dlfll-
cultles with indomitable courage and a
smiling face.
"I believe. " said Dayton-Phillips to him
once when they were taking a spell to
gether at tbo clanking pumps , 'you really
glory In finding yourself In this beastly
mess. "
"We shall pull through. I tell you. "
"Well , " said Dayton-Phillips , "I sup.
POM you ar * * man tkit'a always met with
uooeo. I'm not I've gift blundering bad
luck all along ; and It there's a hole avail
able I get into It. "
Captain Kettle laughed aloud Into the
storm. "Me ! " he said " '
, "Me In luck ! There's
not been a man more bashed and kicked by
luck , between hero and twenty years back.
I suppose dotl thought U good for me , and
work any more. , , I sh ll bo 'seeing things'
"
myself next. " . l ; > n"f ,
"Mr. Phillips , " M y4 , , tbo , .llttlo sailor ,
gravely. "I know .you don't mean anything
wrong , so I' tako.no offense. ; But I'm a mim
convinced ; I've heard jtho message I told
you with my own understanding ; and It
isn't likely''anything you can say will
persuade mo out of It. I can see you are
tired out , as you say , BO go you below nnd
get a spell ot sleep. But as for mo , I've
got another twenty-hours' wakefulnesi in
me yet , If needs be. This chance has merci
fully been seat In my v/ay , aa I've said , but
naturally It's exprcted of mo that I do my
human utmost as well to see It through. "
"It you stay on at this heart-breaking
work , so do I , " said Dayton-Phillips , and
tolled gamely on at the pump. There be was
still , when day broke , sawing up and down
like an automaton. But before the sun rose ,
utter -weariness had done Its work. His
ileedlng fingers roosencd themselves from the
break , Ms knees failed beneath him nnd ho
fell In an unconscious stupor of sleep on to
the wet planking of the deck. For half an
hour moro Kettle struggled on at the pump ,
doing double work ; but even his flesh and
blood had its breaking strain ; , and at last
ho coutd work no more.
Ho leaned dizzily up against the pump for
minute or BO , and then with an effort he
pulled his still unconscious companion away
and laid htm on the dry floor of a deck
house. There was a pannikin of cold stewed
tea slung from a hook In there , and half a
sea biscuit on one of the bunks. He ate and
drank greedily , and then went out again
along the streaming decks to work , eo far
as his single pair of hands could ac
complish such a thing , at getting the huge
derelict once more In sailing trim.
The shovels meanwhile had been doing
their work , and although the list was not
entirely gone , the vessel at tlm'is ( when a
sea buttressed her up ) floated almost up
right. The gale was still blowing , but It had
veered to the southward , and on the after
noon of that day Kettle called all his hand :
on deck and got her under way again and
found to his Joy that the coal trimmer had
Borne elementary notion of taking a wheel.
"I rate you as mate , " he said in his grati
tude , "and you'll draw salvage pay accordIng -
Ing to your rank. I was going to make Mr
Phillips my officer , but "
"Don't apologize , " said Dayton-Phillips
"I don't know the name of ono string from
another , and I'm qulto conscious of my defl-
clency. But Just watch me put In another
epell at those Infernal pumps. "
The list was less account now and the
vessel was once moro under command of her
canvas. It was the leak which gave then
most cause for anxiety. Likely enough 1
waa caused by the mere wrenching away
of a couple of rivets. But the steady In-
pour of water through the holes would sooi
have made the ship grow unmanageable am
founder if It was not constantly attended
to. Where the leak was , they had not a
notion. Probably It was deep down undeh
the cargo of grain and qulto ungettable , bu
anyway , it demanded a constant service a
the pumps to keep It In check ; and this the
bone-weary crew were but feebly compe
tent to give.
The dreaded bay , flckle as usual , saw fl
to recolvo them at first with a smiling face
During afternoon they rose the brown call
of a Portuguese fishing schooner , and Kettle
beaded toward her.
Let his crow be as willing as they would
there was no doubt that this murderou
work at the pumps could not bo kept up tea
a voyage to England. Jf ho could not ge
further reinforcements lie would have t
take the ship Into the nearest foreign porto
to barely save her from sinking. And then
where would be his slghcd-for salvage
Woefully thinned , he thought , or more prob
ably whisked away altogether. Captain
Kettle bad a vast distrust for the shore for
elgner over questions of law proceeding
and money matters. So ho made for tb
schooner , hove his own vessel to , and
signaled that the wished to speak.
A boat was slopped Into the water from
the schooner's deck and ten swarthy ragged
Portuguese fishermen crammed Into her
Two or three ot them had a working knowl
dge of English ; their captxln spoke It with
ucnt Inaccuracy , and before any of them
iail gene aft to Kettle , who stood nt the
vheel , they hnd heard the whole story of the
hip being found derelict , and ( very natur
ally ) were anxious enough by some means
r another to finger a share of the salvage.
Even ci ragged Portuguese bnccalhtio maker
an have his ambitions for prosperity like
ther people.
Their leader made hla proposal at once.
'All rlght-a , captain. I see how you want.
Vo take charge now , and takc-a you Into
Ferrol without you being nt moro trouble. "
"Nothing of the kind , " said Kettle. "I'm
ust wanting the loan of two or throe hands
o glvo my fellows a spell or two at that
lump. We'ro a bit short-handed , that's all.
lut otherwise we're quite comfortable. I'll
> ay A. U.'s wages on Liverpool scale , nnd
hat's a lot moro than you Dagos glvo among
curatives , and If the men work well I'll
hrow in a dash besides for 'bacca money. "
"Ta-ta-ta , " said the Portuguese , with a
wave of his yellow fist. "It cannot be done ,
ind I will not lend you men. U shall bo
as I say. Wo tnke-a you Into Forrol. Do
not fcar-a , capltan ; you shall have money
or finding ttcep ; you shall have some of
our salvage. "
Dayton-Phillips , who was standing near ,
and know the llttlo sailor's views , looked
or an outbreak. But Kettle held himself
u , and still spoke to the man civilly.
"That's good English you talk , " ho said.
'Do all your crowd understand the lan
guage ? "
"No , " said the fellow , readily enough ,
'that man does not , nor docs he , nor him. "
"Hlght-O , " said Kettle. "Then as thoao
hreo men can't kick up a bobbery at the
other end , they'vo Just got to stay hero
and help work this vessel home ! Aa for the
rest of you 01 thy , stinking , scale-covered
cousins of apes , over the side of the vessel
ou go before you'ro put. Thought you were
; olng to steal my lawful salvage , did you ,
ou crawling , yellow-faced ah ! "
The hot-tempered Portuguese was not a
mail to stand this tirade ( as Kettle antici
pated ) unmoved. His flngcrs made a venge-
'ul snatch toward the knife In his belt , but
Kettle was ready for this , and caught It
first and flung It overboard. Then , with a
clover heave , he picked up the man and
sent hlji after the knife. Ho tripped up
ono of the Portuguese who couldn't speak
English , dragged him to the cabin com-
mnton , and toppled him down the ladder.
Dayton-Phllllpa ( surprised nt blmsclf for
abetting such lawlessness ) captured a second
n llko fashion , and the English flreman and
coal trimmer picked up the third nnd
dropped him down an open hatchway Into
he grain In the hold beneath.
But there wore six of the fishermen left
upon the deck , and these did not look upon
the proceedings unmoved. They had been
slow to act at first , but when the Initial
surprise was over they were blazing with
rage and eager to do murder. The Italian
and the Sierra Lcono negro ran out of their
way on to the forecastle head , and they came
on , vainglorious In numbers , and armed
with their deadly knives. But the two
English roughs , the English gentleman and
the little English Bailer were all of them
men well accustomed to take care of their
own skins ; the belaying pins out of the
plnrall seemed to come by Instinct Into
their hands , and not ono of them got so
much as a scratch.
It was all the affair of a minute. It does
not do to let these little Impromptu scrim
mages elmmer over long. In fact , the whole
affair was decided In the first rush. The
quartet of English went in , despising
the dagos , and quite Intending to clear them
off the ship. The invaders were driven
overboard 'by ' sheer weight of 'blows ' and
prestige , and the victors leaned on the bul
wark , puffing and gasping , and watched
them swim away to their boat through the
clear water below.
"Sot ot 'blooming pirates , " said Kettle.
But Dayton-Phillips seemed to view the
situation from a different point. "I'm
rather thinking wo arc the pirates. How
about these three we've got on board ? This
sort of press gang work Isn't quite ap
proved of nowadays , Is It , skipper ? "
"They no speakeo English ? " said Kettle
dryly. "You might have heard mo ask
that , sir , before I started to talk to that
skipper to make him begin the show. And
he did begin It , and that's the great point.
If ever you've been In a pollco court , you'll
always find the magistrate ask , 'Who began
this trouble ? ' And when ho finds out ,
that's the man ho logs. No , those fisher
men' won't kick up a bobbery when they
get back to happy Portugal again , and as
for our own crowd hero on board , the y
aren't likely to talk when they get ashore
and have money due to them. "
"Well , I suppose there's reason In that ,
though I should have my doubts about the
stone mason. He comes from Sierra Leone ,
remember , and they're great on the rights
of man thero. "
"Quite so , " said Kottlo. "I'll see the
stone mason gets packed off to sea again
In a. stokehold 'before he has a chance of
stirring up the raud ashore. When the
black man gets too pampered , ho has to bo
brought low again with a rush. "
"I see , " said Dayton-Phillips , and then he
laughed.
"There's something that tickles you ,
sir ? "
"I was thinking , skipper , that for a man
who 'believes he's bolng put in the way
of a soft thing by direct guidance from on
high you're using up a tremendous lot of
energy to make sure the Almighty's wlshea
don't miscarry. "
"Mr. Phillips , " said Kettle , gravely , "It
waa understood when he let me know I
was to have this chance 1 waa to do my
human utmost to carry It through myself.
God sends us all Into this world with hands
and heads , and ho Isn't pleased with a
man who doesn't put these to their proper
uses. "
The three captlvo Portuguese were
brought up on deck , and were quickly In
duced by 'the ' ordinary persuasive methods
of the merchant service officer to forego
their sulklness and turn diligently at what
work was required of them. But even with
this help the heavy ship was still consld-
ably undermanned , nnd the Incessant labor
at the pumps fell wearily on all hands
The bay , true to Its fickle nature , changcc
on them again. The sunshlno was swampei
by a driving gray mist of rain , the glass
started on a steady fall , and before ilark
Kettle snugged her down to single topsails
himself laying out on the footropes with
the Portuguese , as no others of his crew
could manage to scramble aloft with BO
heavy a sea running.
The night worsened as It went on. The
wind piled up steadily In violence , and the
sea rose till the sodden vessel rode It with
a very babel of shrieks and groans and com
plaining sounds. Toward morning a ter-
rlflo squall powdered up against them nm
hove her down , and a dull rumbling was
heard In her bowels , to let them know tha
once moro her cargo hod shifted.
For the moment even Kettle thought tha
this time she was gone for good. She los
her way , and lay down llko a log In the
water , and the racing seas roared over her
as though ebo had been a half-tldo rock.
Then to the Impact of a heavier gasp o
the squall the topgallant masts went , and
the small loss of top weight seemed momen
tarily to case her. Kettle seized upon the
moment. He left the trimmer and ono o
the Portuguese at the wheel and handec
himself along the streaming decks and
kicked and cuffed the rest of his crew into
activity. Ho gave bis orders , and the ship
wor slowly round before the wind , and
began to pay away on the other tack.
Great ullls of sea deluged her In the pro
cess , and her people worked llko mermen
half of their time submerged. But by de
grees , as the vast rollers hit and shook he
with their ponderous Impact , she came up
right again , and after a llttlo while shook
the grain level In her holds , and assumed
her normal angle of her ) .
Dayton-Phillips stniRnliHl up and hit Ket
tle ou the shoulder. "How's that , umpire ? "
ho bawled. "My faith , you arc a clever
sailor. "
Cnptaln Kettle touched his cap. "God
ere a hand there , sir , " he shouted through
iin wind. "If I'd tried to straighten her tip
Ike that without his help , every man here
votild have been fish-chop this minute. "
Even Dayton-Phillips , skeptical 'though ho
night be , began to think there was "some-
Itlng In It , " as the voyage went on. To
icgln with , the lenk stopped * They did not
enow how It had happened , and they did
ot very much cnro. Kettle hnd hla theories.
\nyway , It stopped. To go on with , nl-
hough they were buffeted with every kind
f evil weather , nil their mischances were
peedlly rectified. In a heavy sea thi-lr
instnblo cargo surged about as though H
had been liquid , but it alwnjfe shifted back
gain before she quite capsized ,
All hands got covered with salt water
bolls. All hands with the exception
of Kettle , who remained , aa usual , neat ,
; re\v gaunt , bearded , dirty nnd unkempt ,
'hey were grimed with sea salt , they were
laycd by violent suns ; but by dint of hard
choollng they were becoming handy s.tllor-
nien , all of them , and even the negro etono
nason learned to obey nu order without
Irst thinking over Its Justice till ho earned
a premonitory hiding.
"It's n blooming Flying Dutchman wo'ro
on , " said the coal trimmer , who acted aa
mate. "There's no killing tlio old beast.
Only hope she gets us ashore saaiehow and
doesn't stay fooling about at sea forever
list to get Into risks. I want to got oft
of her. She's too blooming tricky to bu
qulto wholesome , somehow. "
In Bristol channel a llttlo spattering tug
vhccled up within hall , tossing like a cork
on the brown waves of the estuary , nnd
icr skipper In the green pulpit between
he paddle boxes waved n hand cheerily.
"Scorn to have found some dirty weather ,
cnptaju ? " ho bawled. "Want a pull Into
Cardiff or Newport ? "
"Cardiff. What price ? "
"Say JC100. "
"I wasn't wanting to buy the tug. You'ro
mttlng a pretty fancy figure' on her for
hat now lick of paint you got on your
rail. "
"I'll take SO. "
"O , I can sail her In myself If you'ro
going to bo funny. She's as handy as a
pilot boat , brig-rigged llko this , and my
crow know her fine. I'll glvo you JC20 Into
Cardiff , and you'ro to dock mo for that. "
"Twenty wicked people. Now look here ,
captain , you don't look very prosperous
vlth that vessel of yours , and you'll prob-
ibly have the sack from owners for mis
handling her when you get ashore , and I
don't want to embitter your remaining years
n the workus , eo I'll pull you In for DO
quid , "
"Twenty pounds , old bottle nose. "
"Como now , captain , thirty. I'm not hero
'or' sport. I've got to make my living. " j
"My man , " said Kettle , "I'll meet you |
and make It 25 , and I'll see you .in Aden
jeforo I glvo a penny more. You can
take that or sheer off. "
"Throw us your blooming rope , " said the
tug skipper.
"There , elr , " said Kettle , sotto voce to
Dayton-Phillips , ' 'you ' see the marvelous-
ness of It. God's stood by mo to the very .
end ; I'vo saved at least 10 over that I
towage , and by James I'vo scon times when |
a ship mauled about llko this would hava
boon bled for four times the amount before
a .tug . would pluck her In.
"Then we nro out of the woods now ? "
"We'll get the canvas off her and then
you can go below and shave. You can
sleep In a shore bed this night , If you
choose , sir , nnd tomorrow we'll see about
fingering the salvage. There'll bo no
trouble there now. We ehall just have to *
ask for a chock and Lloyds will pay It , and
then you and the hands will take your
share , and I by James , Mr. Phillips , I shall
bo a rich man over this business. I shouldn't
be a bit surprised but what ! I linger a snug
500 as my share. O , sir , God's been very
good to mo over this , and I know It , and
I'm grateful. My wlfo will bo grateful , too.
I wish you would como to our chapel some
day nnd see her. "
"Skipper , you'ro a heap better man than
I nm , and if you don't mind , I'd llko to
shake hands with you. Thanks. Hullo ,
there's Cardiff not twenty minutes ahead.
Well , I must go below and clean up. "
II u in n u PcrverMlly.
Chicago Tribune : "There wa.s a time. "
remarked the man with the small valise ,
"when I couldn't wall ; n block without
somebody asking me If I knew wlmt was
* oed for a cold. Not ono person In a mil
lion over apks me now. "
"To what do you attribute the change ? "
Inanlred the other man.
"I don't know , unlos lt' because I nm
a doctor now , mid 1 wasn't then , "
11 After I wui Iniluted < o Irr < 'AHCA
Rr.Tll , I nlll never ho without them In tlir tiouto.
Mr llrcr iri < In a vurr bart tlnpiv itnd mj lit.til
nrlird nnd I had itomui'li trouble Non tlnrcUX *
Ini ! Ca'curcU. I fool Hue Mr nlfo limmltu uted
them Tilth lioncflclal irMiltc tor tour rtomach'
Jus. KuiiiLi.su , I'/'l Cuujires * tit , tit.Louis , Mo.
Pleatunt. P l l ble. Votenl. Taste Good , Do
Good. MsTtr Slcktu , Wcakcu. or Grlpo. lOc , 2i > c , Wo.
. . . CURE CONSTIPATION. . . .
Btrrltil Rfmtit/ > nl 7 , tlittif * , Mtilrtll. N " Y rk. lit
HO-TO-BAG Sold nml Finrnntrrd bjr nil drug.
- - Kim to t.'L'ICi : Tobacco llablt.
For Rats , Mice , Roaches ,
and
Other
Vermin.
IT'Sf KILLER.
After eating , nil vf rroln U water nnd tlie open nlr.
Hence this UUtr It the nest cleanly oneatth.
Per Sate by ill Drucclsts. Price , IS Cents.
NEWTON MANUFACTURING ft CHEMICAL CO , ,
05 William Street. New Voru.
WINTER CRUISE
to the scenes of the
BATTLEFIELDS
of the
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
by the
American Line twin-screw United State *
mnll
S. S. NEW YORK
( U. S. Ancillary Crulicr Harvard , )
palling- from New York , March 4 , U99. for
HA.VANA. SANTIAGO. BIUONKY , BAI-
QUIRI. OOANTANAltO. SAN JUAN.
fOKCK , THE WINDWARD ISLANDS &
JAMAICA ; duration , 31 days.
International Navigation Company
Telephone ) Main US , Chicago. 111. ; 143 La-
Sallo 81.
Nomoncy In advance. Weak ,
ttuutcd , ilmmkcn and fcoble
portlouo of the body quickly
enlarged uml Btrcufithcncd ,
McJIcliH'S ntid Instrument
rent on trial. Medical In
dor.einenta. 1'artlculixn font
lit plain scaled letter. Con
rcipondonco coulldcntlal.
ERIE MEDICAL CO. . BUFFALO. N.Y.
Patronize
Home Industries
Ily PurchnnltiK Knniln Mnilc at the Fol
luivliiK Xulirnnkn Factories I
PLOUK MILLS.
S. F. OILMAN.
Flour , Meal , Feed , Bran , 1013-15-17 Nirth
17th street , Omaha , NCD. C. E. Black ,
Manager. Telephone 692.
IRON WORKS ,
DAVIS .fc COWKIM * IHON WOUICS.
Iron mill Hi-nun Founder * .
Manufacturers nnd Jobbers of Machinery.
General repairing a specialty. 1501 , 1503
and 1505 Jackson street , Omaha , Neb.
LINSEED OIL.
WOODMAN LINMI3I3D Oil , AVOIIKS.
Manufacturers old process raw linseed
oil , kettle boiled Unseed oil , old process
ground llnseod cakea , ground and screened
llaxscpd Icr druggists. OMAHA. NEB.
BREWERIES.
OMAHA ItHUWINU ASSOCIATION.
Carload shipment ! ) made in our own re
frigerator cars. Blue Ribbon , Elite Export ,
Vienna Export and Family Export deliv
ered ti all parts of the city.
BOILERS.
OMAHA HOII.KK WOIUC.S.
JOHN it. : .o\vnnv. Prop.
Boilers , Tanks and Sheet Iron Work.
The Kind You Have Always Bought , and which has been
iu use for over 3O years , has borne the signature of
> and has been made under his per
sonal supervision since its infancy.
Allow no ono to deceive you in this.
All Counterfeits , Imitations and Substitutes are but Ex
periments that trifle with and endanger the health of
Infants and Children Experience against Experiment.
What is CASTORIA
Castoria is a substitute for Castor OH , Paregoric , Drops
and Soothing Syrups. It is Harmless and Pleasant. It
contains neither Opium , Morphine nor other Narcotic
substance. Its ago is its guarantee. It destroys Worms
nnd allays Fovcrlshness. It cures Diarrhoea and Wind
Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles , cures Constipation
and Flatulency. It assimilates the Food , regulates the
Stomach and Bowels , giving healthy and natural sleep.
The Children's Panacea The Mother's Friend.
GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS
Bears the Signature of
The Kind You Have Always Bought
InUse , For Over 3O Years.
. .
THC CCNTAUH COMPANY. IT MUMHAV BTIIttT. NCWVOHK CITY.
"BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF WIT. "
GOOD WIFEI YOU NEED
POLIO
