BILLY AND THE CAPTAIN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 24, 14 June 1890, Page 18

BILLY AND THE CAPTAIN.

HE l'nite.l State* Revenue Cutter Joe Lane had for several years been cruising along the Pacific coast between the Columbia River and Lower California. She had now come up from the Santa Barbara Channel, and on this April day in 1357 lay anchored off San Ftanciscrs. Captain ‘Keyes had recently bees transferred to the Atlantic coast, and the Lane was awaiting rhe arrival from the East of her new commander. Captain Ichalwd Barnstable. The Pacific Mail Steamer John L. Stephens, from Panama was rounding Fort Point, and rapidly steaming toward her whart. The wardroom. officers of the Lane were .gathers*! on the .leek. watching the -learner with spy-glasses to catch, if possible. a <ight of the new captain, wio was expected bv the Stephen-. • Just look at Billy '.' said Liem-enarn; Wilsoa. ‘ o-e would snpf.ee he knew what was going on. I wonder what he will think of " ♦ »id Barney 1~ ' • It would be more to the purpose to inquire what "<»id Barney will think of him. remarked Mr Harris, the first lieutenant. • Some captains don’t like pets on board.' ‘ * *h. but Billy's soeh a well-bred youngster I don't see how any >cs ■■an object to him f replied Mr Wilson. ’ \ e». he'll make his way if any one can. bat we mast keep him in check till we find oat the captain’s temper. The -abject of the conversation »t-' a yovng, quartergrown Wack bear, which had just climbed up to the afterhammock netting, where he -tool upom his hind feet, with his forepaw - at»n the head of a davit. His Wack ears were ereet. r.t- -mall ooee scented at everything about him. his -cart* little eyes roved over the ship, or gazed intentlv at the in coming -teartier. When he was a very -mall cub he had been bought from an Indian .-n Paget Sound, for an old red shirt, a pocket mirroc. and a plug of tobacctx. The little animal wa- verv -stnat ured and pfayful. and had become a favourite. He was given free range over the -hip. where hi.- position was tnat which in nantteal phra-e IS Known as • in evervbody's me* and nob.»lv -watch.' Billy was esnous to the last degree, and. despite all re'■uff». w.eild investigate every quarter, and -crape acquaintance with every one who eatne oa board. The late commander. • aptain Keyes, had been very fond of him. aEd bad granted him the utmost lieewc even in the cabin. There Billy had been m the habit of -ailing at all hoars of the day. frequently disturbing the captain's slumber-, and even at times sharing his berth.

since the departure of t ax-tain Keye* -everal week.- before, the cabin had been closed. bat BiUy was often seen no-ino absxit the companion-way. When he f**and that he could not get in. nor seem hi- oh! friend the cat-tain. be would erect himself and look out over the rail, as if watching for him to come on boar*L Billy had all the playfulness and more than the intelligence of yonrrg bears in general. He was forever in mischief. He was often seen to - tail on ’ to a twat-fall with his teeth, and would climb oat on a swinging boom. and scramble down into the dingey with the men in the morning to wateh them scrub the oatside of the ship. He was quite expert at working the head pomp, and would often steal upon the top-gallant forecastle ami take a few pulls upon the brake, if it had been left shipped. He generally - fell in ’ at small-arm drill, and under the careful instruction of the sailors, with a broom for musket, went through the manual in a style highly amusing to his shipmates

In fact. Billy's disposition ami aceomplisiinients had made him a prime favourite. •.►n this day. be had noted the preparations to receive the new captain with much interest, and his curiosity was evidently piqued. * There's a handkerchief waving on the Step-hens : That may be the captain now. Answer it with the dag. quartermaster.' cried Mr M ilson. peering through his spy-glass. ‘ Yes. it must be he : there, he waves it again, in driver. ’ ‘ Call away the gig.' ordered Mr Harris : ‘I must go in it to meet him.' The boat, manned by five smart seamen in white shires and caps, lay at the gangway. As Mr Harris steppe-i over the side he noticed the bear, which was hurrying down to follow him into the gig. * Hol-l Billy back, and see that he is chained up* to the forecastle." he ordered. ‘or he will be climbing all over Captain Barn-tatde as soon a- he gets on deck.' Away went the gig. while poor Billy was dragged forward, whining and vainly endeavouring to return aft to go with the boat, as he had done so often. The gig soon returned with Captain Barnstable and his luggage. As she swept up to the side the new commanding officer came briskly up the steps ami descended to the deek. raising his hat as he did so in answer to the respectful salutes of the officers, who were drawn up to receive him The boatswain loudly blew his whistle, and two side boys stood by the step in honour of the captain: all in the fine old style of those days—a style now obsolete. The new -roniman-ler was a hale, portly man well on in the fifties, with a pleasant, genial face. He was well and favourably known in the service, and was much like! br hijuniors. His nickname of ‘old Barney' was used in an affectionate sense, and never in disrespect. The officer- of the Lane had never met him before, bat his manner was so hearty and pleasant that it was easy to make his acquaintance. The captain told Lieutenant Harris that he would not assume command on the day of the arrival. He spent the time in necessary visits and'in conversation with the officers, who gained a very favourable impression of their new commander. The eap*tain retired to his stateroom when the evening was well advanced. There wa* one among the ship's company whe*-wa.* not at all happy under the new dispensation : that was Billy, the rear, Aever before m his experience on the ship had he been so restricted and neglected as on this day. He had found consolation during the aftern*»n and early evening in the companionship of rhe sailors, bat after eight o'clock, when he wa.- left practically alone, he heard the n«*i-e of conversation in the wardroom with ill*>*nceale*l curio-dtv. and gradually worked himself into a 0-0-1 it ion of great discontent with the situation. When all wa- quiet for the night. an-i nothing was bean! bat the tramp or the wateh. Billy began to cry in a way that threatened to disturb the -funder- of all on h*ar*l. As the readiest means of stilling hi* noise. several of the -ailors loosed him. an-i began to plav with him. In hi* gambols he soon reached the poop. w&ieh he suddenly ascended and ran aeraa, an-i to the consternation ct the wateh. disappeared down thd eiaenponion hatchway in the direction of the captain's cabin.

The surprised sailors remembered too late that they had untied him without leave, and might thereby get into trouble. Bat as no mean* of quietly getting the tear out of the cabin -ecurred to them, they crept forward, an-i kept their watch as far as possible from the cabin. ■ Help Murder ' Help f The quiet was suddenly broken by the meet startling outcries from the cabin. They were so loud and energetic that they instantly roused from" their slumbers the inmates of the wanirooru. an-i even penetrated as far as to the hammockon the berth deck What coaid be the matter * Was the captain in a nightmare, or had he gone entry ‘ Whatever the trouble might be. he certainly must be helped. springing from their reds, the officers rushed through the foldint: doors and to the eap*tain's statenom. whence calls for assistance continues! to come. The head- of the four officers *oon crowded through hi* stateroom door. • *ne had seize*! the wardroom night lantern and held it overhead, throwing a strong glare into the captain's berth. It disclosed the cause of the comm**rion—a sight that proves! to- much for •■ffieial discipline. and eau-ed an involuntary burst of laughter. The captain lay on hi* back, his hands clutching the berth beard on one ride and the air-port on the other. ~ His bulging eyes glared straight at Billy, who had climbed into the berth, and seated himself directly on the captain * stomach, as the best mean* of making his acquaintance. ‘ Help : Take it away t For Heaven's sake, help ! C»h. take it away, ami help me oat of this :' cried the captain. The officers were almost helpless with laughter for a moment. The captain began to realize something *x' the situation, and his terror change: to wrath. The etiquette of the service was forgotten, and he roared : ■ Take him away, yoa i-iiots : Why do you stand guffawincthere. when you see me in -act: a fix a* this f This language, so different fnxn the eeremoni>xt* thougii sociable one of the hour before. bn*ught the men to their senses at "Mice- Lieutenant Wilson stepped to the berth, an*! reached for the bear, intending to hustle him oat and upon deek.

Bat the noise and the entrance of the officers had in nowise disconcerted Billy, who had the best of intentions, and regaried the whole affair as a frolic. After the manner of of rear* he was expert at sparring, and he fancied that the present occasion had been selectei by Mr Wilson for a eomponion set-to with him. Quiekiv facing about, to the seriou* disarrangement of the bed-clothes. Billy reared up»*n his hind legs, and steadied himself on the rolling support of the captain's stomach by clutching rightly with his fomii-lalde hind claws. This called from the eap*tain fresh roar* of remonstrance. Parrying Wil-on's first incautious grab, the bear returned him'a caff which, though playfully meant, tore the officer's sleeve, and landed him in one corner of the stateroom. Wil-on returned to the charge, re-enforeed by the others, but Billy was in high spirits, an-i sparred so vigonxisly that they could not get within reach. AH this rime the captain was accompanying the contest with a running fire of objurgation*, which would have -oan-ied both terrible and funny had not the bear exacted the undivided attention of ail his audience. -Just how the struggle, if left to its natural course, would have ended, is nneertain. The bear had all its own way until in making an uno-mm-oaiy far-reaching pass at Mr Wilson, he lost his balance and eame to the So-r. dragging with him the bedelothes, lambrequins and curtains. A rush of the officers and a -hover of kicks so demoralized Billy that he scramble*! out of the room ami up on deck, where he was ignotninic-a-ly bundled forward, re-chained an-i left to ruminate over the treatment he had received. t'apxain Barnstable's wrath was beyond full expression. However, he develops! an unsaspeete*! power of denunciation, and the whole ship's company was included in his lefthanded oxnp-liments. The officers edged away a- quickly as possible, and wondered what would happen in the m«>rning.

L>i*regar*ting his announcement to Mr Harris that he should not take exnmand of the ship until next day. Captain Barnstable, in a eostome composed principally of a red woollen blanket, followed that officer to the deelL ‘ Does that animal belong to the ship, sir f he demanded. ‘ Ye-e-s. sir.' returned Harris. ‘ Have him killed at onee '' ‘ Very good, sir,' -aid the lieutenant. • How -hall I dispatch him'" * I don t care how you do it, so long as he is killed.' -nap ped the cap-tain. ' He i* -eeurely chained now. sir. May I wait till m«*ming. when we can see better r' asked Harris.' - You may wait till then. sir. l*ut I shall hold you re*p.*nsible if that bear gets adrift again.' With this parting a*imonition the captain retired to the cabin, taking the pre caution to close his stateroom door. »/uiet **n-.e more settle! upon the ship. The officer wa* very reluctant to kill Billy, and thought of the duty with a heavy heart. He f<xmd an excuse to postpone the task in the earlier port of the morning wateh. and looked sadly at Billy, wh«>. on the t**p*-gal!ant forecastle. and all unexiseious of his sentence, was clambering to and fro the length of his chain endeavouring to start a game with everybody that passe*:.

Running IO the pomp the little creature -at upright and begantohelp the men at the brake. He abandoned this to a corn-broom that lay near, nse on hi- hind legs, bring the broom to a carry and begin to 'do sentry athwartships ittst abaft the pomp. . Hams eyed his mameuvres trom tue poop with a sad smile rhiakinp how mueh he would miss Billy s antics. He was startled bv a hearty laugh just behind him. and turning saw the captain, who had eome quietly on deek. and was watehin ’ Billv with mueh interest ami amusement. He had evidently kvi a good-night - rest despite the mtenupn..n. ami his" natural good-temper had reasserted itselr. 1 brood and kindiv smile came over his teatures as he returned the lieutenant s salute and said : -Is than the pinxe- Mr Haftls, xhax b»*Anie«i me night and came near .rapturing me ami my officers Y . Yes- sir. He's a greax favourite, sir. an*i perfectly narmless ’ said Mr Harris, mueh astonished at the turn things were taking- ’lt 'was ,>n! . v cariosity that led him to your verv amusing,’ said the captain, genially. -1 think you made a'mistake in not presenting hum to me. ami so compelling him to introduce himself. Hi- hour tor calling, thwtrh-was a little unseasonable.’ *He was supposed to le chained up. sir. said tne lieutenant. ’ I don't know bow he got adrift. ■ Well, be kind enough to see that he does not part his - But the order for killing him. sir; must I carry that "'-Ha' ha L J am afraid I sentenced him without giving him a fair hearing- You may suspend his sentence until further notice.’ The subject of execution was never arterwaru brought up. Billv as was predicted. made his own way with the new O .m'mamier. who henceforth was one of his best friends. Vnd when finally the bear grew so big that larger quarters t han the ship afforded had to be found in the menagerie or a -reat public park, no .me parted from Billy with more regret ri- an • aptain lehabod Barnstable. r Clarence Pullen.