The Skipper and the Skipped - Being the Shore Log of Cap'n Aaron Sproul by Holman (Holman Francis) Day
page 41 of 466 (08%)
page 41 of 466 (08%)
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Ward leaped to his feet and strode toward the fence, his long legs working like calipers. "What do ye want of Pharline Pike?" he demanded, angrily. "None of your business," replied the cheerful sailor. "If this is the way landlubbers take an honest man's hail, ye're all jest as bad as I've heard ye was." "I'm a mind to cuff your ears," yapped the Colonel. The other glanced up the angular height of his antagonist. "Try it," he said, squaring his sturdy little figure. "Try it, and I'll climb your main riggin' and dance a jig on that dog-vane of a head of yourn." This alacrity for combat clearly backed down Ward. In his rampageous life his tongue had usually served him better than his fists. "Avast, shipmate!" called the Cap'n, in his best sea tones. The sailor beamed delighted recognition of marine masonry. "The fact of the matter is, my friend here has some claim--the truth is, he's--" "You go 'long two miles, swing at the drab school-house, and then take the second house--white one--on the left-hand side of the road," bawled Ward, "and you go mighty quick!" The sailor ducked acknowledgment and rolled away. |
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