The Wide World Magazine, Vol. 22, No. 131, February, 1909Various
History
The Wide World Magazine, Vol. 22, No. 131, February, 1909
Various
Adventure stories -- Periodicals; English periodicals; History, Modern -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Voyages and travels -- Periodicals
Sullivan was the bigger and heavier man, but the Swede was a perfect
young athlete, and had a cruel wrong to wipe out. The muscles of his
arms and neck stood out like strong cords as the two rolled from side
to side.
Not a word was uttered by the officers or crew, who stood calmly
looking on.
Suddenly, by a quick movement, the Swede pinned Sullivan against the
fife-rail around the mainmast, and with his right hand battered his
face unmercifully. Then, seizing him by the throat, he flung him into
the lee-scuppers, where he lay without movement.
The Swede looked at his foe for a moment, then coolly walked over and
wiped his boots on him. Next, turning towards the poop where Captain
Monk and the officers stood, he touched his cap and said:--
“I am second mate of the Swedish ship _Oscar Brandi_, and my father
is captain. I went on shore for a walk, and hearing the music I went
into a saloon and called for a drink. I sat down to watch the dancers,
and knew no more until I found myself on board this ship. What will my
father say or think? What will my employers say?”
He stopped abruptly, and walked forward with his head bent, overwhelmed
with his grief.
Within another minute the two remaining crimps were hotly engaged with
two of the ship’s crew whose relatives had been “shanghaied” aboard the
Britishers. The sailors made short work of the crimps, and fairly wiped
the deck with them.
Captain Monk then ordered the hapless three to be locked up in separate
cabins and fed on bread and water for a few days.
“It will give them time to repent,” he said to the mate. “It won’t do
to put them with the crew yet awhile--there would be murder done. In a
few days they can go forward, and the crew will save us dirtying our
hands with the scoundrels. Our chaps will lead them a dance, and they
will wish to Heaven they had never laid their hands on my crew.”
Just then the mate noticed the young fellow sitting on the hatch with
his head in his hands. He seemed utterly dejected and oblivious of
everything about him. The rest of the men had gone forward, and were
excitedly discussing the matter of Sullivan and his mates being on
board, each one swearing to have his pound of flesh out of the hated
“shanghaiers.”
The captain and the mate walked along to the young fellow on the hatch.
Putting his hand kindly on his bowed head, Captain Monk said: “Come,
come, young man; you must not give way like that. Sailors should always
make the best of everything.”
Lifting his head at the kindly touch and words, the young fellow
replied:--
“Oh, captain, whatever shall I do? I am not a sailor.”
“Oh, never mind that,” said the mate. “You will soon learn here; so get
forward with the others.”
“Oh, captain, take pity on me!” cried the supposed young man,
tremulously. “For Heaven’s sake, take pity on me! I am a respectable
married woman! My husband is Police-constable Hogan of the Newcastle
police.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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