Previous - Next

gaping at the damp canvas of the foresail.

"No. Where are we going?"

"Fish and make berth, as you'll find out 'fore you've bin a week
aboard. It's all new to you, but we never know what may come to
us. Now, take me - Tom Platt - I'd never ha' thought -"

"It's better than fourteen dollars a month an' a bullet in your
belly," said Troop, from the wheel. "Ease your jumbo a grind."

"Dollars an' cents better," returned the man-o'-war's man, doing
something to a big jib with a wooden spar tied to it. "But we
didn't think o' that when we manned the windlass-brakes on the
'Miss Jim Buck',1 outside Beaufort Harbor, with Fort Macon heavin'
hot shot at our stern, an' a livin' gale atop of all. Where was
you then, Disko?"

"Jest here, or hereabouts," Disko replied, "earnin' my bread on
the deep waters, and dodgin' Reb privateers. 'Sorry I can't
accommodate you with red-hot shot, Tom Platt; but I guess we'll
come aout all right on wind 'fore we see Eastern Point."

There was an incessant slapping and chatter at the bows now,
varied by a solid thud and a little spout of spray that clattered
down on the fo'c'sle. The rigging dripped clammy drops, and the
men lounged along the lee of the house - all save Uncle Salters,
who sat stiffly on the main-hatch nursing his stung hands.

1 The Gemsbok, U. S. N.?


"'Guess she'd carry stays'l," said Disko, rolling one eye at his
brother.

"Guess she wouldn't to any sorter profit. What's the sense o'
wastin' canvas?" the farmer-sailor replied.

The wheel twitched almost imperceptibly in Disko's hands. A few
seconds later a hissing wave-top slashed diagonally across the
boat, smote Uncle Salters between the shoulders, and drenched him
from head to foot. He rose sputtering, and went forward, only to
catch another.

"See dad chase him, all around the deck," said Dan. "Uncle Salters
he thinks his quarter-share's our canvas. Dad's put this duckin'
act up on him two trips runnin'. Hi! That found him where he
feeds." Uncle Salters had taken refuge by the foremast, but a wave
slapped him over the knees. Disko's face was as blank as the
circle of the wheel.

"'Guess she'd lie easier under stays'l, Salters," said Disko, as
though he had seen nothing.

"Set your old kite, then," roared the victim, through a cloud of
spray; "only don't lay it to me if anything happens. Penn, you go
below right off an' git your coffee. You ought to hev more sense
than to bum araound on deck this weather."

"Now they'll swill coffee an' play checkers till the cows come
home," said Dan, as Uncle Salters hustled Penn into the fore-
cabin. "'Looks to me like's if we'd all be doin' so fer a spell.
There's nothin' in creation deader-limpsey-idler'n a Banker when
she ain't on fish."

"I'm glad ye spoke, Danny," cried Long Jack, who had been casting
round in search of amusement. "I'd clean forgot we'd a passenger
under that T-wharf hat. There's no idleness for thim that don't

Previous - Next