Mr. Trunnell

I found myself, not so many years ago, "

question is suggested, I will say that I was not a very dissipated young fellow of twenty-five, for u

n the first vessel bound out, I had remained ashore until a threatening la

apers. These, together with an old quadrant, a nautical almanac, a thick pea coat, and a pipe, were all I possessed of this world's goods, and I car

s, who were sending aloft her canvas, which, being of a snowy whiteness, proclaimed her nationality even before I could see her hull. On reaching the wh

, from the sounds that came down from there, I coul

She had come into port a month before and had reported three men missing from her papers. There were no witnesses; but the sight of the rest of the crew told the story of the disappearance of their shipmates, and the skipper had been clapped into jail. I had heard of the ruf

yards nearly ninety feet across, I thought what a splendid ship she was. It made me angry to think of what a place she must be for the poor devils who wo

iry face and bushy head set upon the broadest of shoulders. As for his legs, he appeared not to have any at all, for the rail was but three feet high and his shoulders j

look at," I ans

noring my meaning. "It's always so with every hooker if she's deep. Some takes it forrad and

d up the mizzen channels, wh

I suggested, r

er guard; we'll get a crew aboard early in the mornin

he captain

ead his short legs wide apart, and thrust his gre

ad job, too." Here he made a motion with h

rde

nod

staying any longer

I see," he said

him I h

be looking for another to match me. I saw what ye were when I first rai

d horizontally, I saw he had no poor opinion of h

with the skip

t though, quien sabe? The agents will hail us to-night and settle m

le mate was not overpowering. I was not exactly of a timid nature,-a man seldom rises to be mate of a deep-water ship who is,-but I always dreaded a brutal skipper on account of his absolute authority

w my course and la

e agents will be along about then-Sauers and Co.

elating to the merits of various ships, the Pirate in

as gracious as could be expected, at the same time expres

ere for a berth; but the time flew so rapidly that I found myself on

ed him. This promised much in the way of diversion, and I stopped to see what hidden force lurked behind the door of the saloon. As I did so, a short fellow with a great bushy head emerged, struggling with half a dozen men who bore down upon him and tried to surround and seize him. The little man's face was red from exertion and liquor, but when I caught a glimpse of his great squat nose and huge mouth I

ate. He was up to me in an instant, and as he dashed by I narrowly missed a clip from his hand, which he swung viciously at me as he passed. I saw in a mom

beard were streaming aft in the breeze as he neared the corner. Suddenly he stopped, turned about

't stop a little bumpkin buster what's got business in both hands. Stand away, or I'll run ye down and sink ye," and he tore through the men, who grabbed him and grap

ll as he pushed the machine before him, and the next instant was whirling down the thoroughfare with the rapidity of an express train, baw

streets for some time. Then, thinking that the little mate had abo

little mate, Trunnell, looked over and hailed me. He was smoking so composedly and appeared so cool an

ood ride?

y wanted me to cough up stuff for the whole crowd. But nary a cough. One or two drinks is abo

ho, having washed up his few dishes and put out the fire in his galley, came a

acquitted themselves very creditably for members of the after guard of that notorious vessel. But I had learne

l was heeled over at a sharp angle. Next came the mates' rooms on either side of two alleyways leading into the forward saloon, and between the alleyways were closets and lockers. The saloon was quite large and had a table fastened

mpanionway aft, his short, stout legs curving well outward, and giving him the rolling motion often noticed in

" stood up to receive him. He took no notice of the cook, however, but looked sharply at me. Then the mate came in with two other men who showed in a hundred ways that they were captains of s

," said the large man, roughly, "say so

ithout the freight money

whole of it accor

e's ju

r captain, who was one of the agents. "Colone

aid the stout skipper,

or no

n the morning as he promised. I'll send Captain Thompson along this evening, or the first thing in the morning. I

's him," said

s with you?" as

id them upon the table. He glanced at

s evening and report at the office at n

t pounds for second m

, sir," I

followed by all except the "doctor," who remained with me until they were ashore. Mr. Trunnell came aboard again in a fe

signed on. After that, the night being young, I strolled along the

nell and the "doctor" had gone uptown, he said, for a last look around. I turned in at the

his head into a bucket of water and tried to get clear of the effects of the bad liquor

sked the mate, bawling into my

ny one come abo

gside in a few minutes; so yo

a moment later a steady tramp sounded along the main deck,

th rosy cheeks and light curly hair followed thro

ear look of a man who never is exposed to the sun. But his eyes were the objects that attracted my gaze. They were bright as steel points and looked out from under heavy, straight brows

ow arisen and stood in the doorway of the stateroom. His voi

te, with drunken gravity, sobering quic

the younger companion opened the door leadi

for that," said Trunnell; "the old man

couple, then, say f

an hour or two at best, for the tug will be alongside in a few minutes. We're cleared, and we'll get to

"He'll be along shortly, will he,-and you are all ready.

," answere

ow and full of meaning, and he leaned toward the mate in a menacing manner; "and if I have to speak to you mo

d his voice to its full volume. The liquor was still in the stout little fellow's head, and he drew back one of hi

sk for a passage?" he demanded. "I meant no disrespect. Not a bit. No, sir, not a bloody bit. I'm

has dealt with desperate men and knew how to get along with them. At the same time he knew his position and was careful not to go too far.

at him, and appeared to thi

you'd lay a very straight course, hey? isn't that it? Not a very straight course. But with

second mate. Didn't you

ple of hours ago. Just

u know what's expected of you. I don't interfere with my mates af

er the agents had taken at a pinch, it was just as well for him to keep to himself aft, and let his mates stand watch as they should on every high-class ship. The young man, or rather

ill be third mate, Mr. Trunnell, and I'll put him under your care. He will go ashore now and see to the trunks. But let me know the

k up town, and half an hour later returned with a cab containing a trunk, which was put in the after-cabin. The

will be sorry for it," he said, in his menacing voice,

eir dunnage for liquor and weapons, and after finding plenty of both, I bundled the entire outfit into the forecastle and let them sort it the best they could, with the result that they all struck a fair averag

see objects distinctly, I couldn't tell what was taking place in the waist, for I had to attend sharply to the work

at Mr. Trunnell, and then seeing that the mate had command of the ship, he looked into the forward cabin and came to where I stood bawling out orders to the men who were passing t

e money?" And I smiled as I thought of his

as I signed on, so will I work. I nev

He was a young man and had probably not learned enough about ships to have such delicate scruples. H

ng. Get to work and sho

s and get into a jumper

ntin

ven't

help loose the maintop

r a moment and then sta

. "What are you about? Don't you kn

to me and spok

fore the mast-only as co

n to say that you've passed yourself o

nod

rd, until we had taught the landsmen something. The whole outfit was such a scurvy lot it made me sick to think of what would happen if it should come on to blow suddenly and we had to shorten down to reefed topsails. The Pirate h

t him aft to help where he could, and he lent a hand at the braces in the waist under the direction of Mr. Trunnell, who stoo

and by dint of great effort and plenty of bawling we got the canvas on her fore and aft and trimmed the yards so as to make each one look as if at odds with its fellows, but yet enough to mak