Mr. Trunnell | Page 3

for one with
such short legs, still letting out a yell at every jump.
The men who had set upon him hesitated an instant before they realized
he was getting away; then they started after him, shouting and swearing
at a great rate. 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 moment he couldn't escape at the rate he was
moving, in spite of his tremendous exertions, so I stepped aside to
watch him as the crowd rushed past in pursuit.
The little mate's legs were working like the flying pistons of a
locomotive, and his bush hair and beard were streaming aft in the
breeze as he neared the corner. Suddenly he stopped, turned about, and
dashed right into the foremost of the crowd, letting out a screech and
swinging his long arms.
"Git out th' way! Th' devil's broke loose an's comin' for ye," he howled
as he sent the foremost man to the pavement. "Don't stop me. I ain't got
no time to stop. Don'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 grappled to get him down. In a
second he was going up the street again in exactly the opposite
direction, having hurled over or dashed aside the fellows who had
seized him.

"Soo--oo--a-y!" he bellowed as he passed. Then he rushed to a doorway
where stood a boy's bicycle. He jumped upon the saddle with another
yell as he pushed the machine before him, and the next instant was
whirling down the thoroughfare with the rapidity of an express train,
bawling for people to "Stand clear!" In another moment he was out of
sight, in a cloud of dust, and his yells fell to a drone in the distance.
I was in no hurry to get down to the dock, so I strolled around the
streets for some time. Then, thinking that the little mate had about run
himself out, I made my way to the wharf where the Pirate lay.
As I drew near the ship, I was aware of a bushy head above her port
quarter-rail, and in a moment the little mate, Trunnell, looked over and
hailed me. He was smoking so composedly and appeared so cool and
satisfied that I could hardly believe it was the same man I had seen
running amuck but an hour before.
"Have a good ride?" I asked.
"So, so; 'twas a bit of a thing to do, though I ain't never rid one of them
things afore. They wanted me to cough up stuff for the whole crowd.
But nary a cough. One or two drinks is about all I can stand; so when I
feels good ye don't want to persuade me over much. Come aboard."
He led me below, where we were joined by the "doctor," a
good-looking negro, who, having washed up his few dishes and put out
the fire in his galley, came aft and assumed an importance in keeping
with a cook of an American clipper ship.
We sat in the forward cabin and chatted for a few minutes, becoming
better acquainted, and I must say they both acquitted themselves very
creditably for members of the after guard of that notorious vessel. But I
had learned long ago that there were good men on all ships, and I was
not more than ordinarily surprised at my reception.
The forward cabin was arranged as on all American ships of large
tonnage,--that is, with the house built upon the main deck, the forward
end of which was a passage athwartships to enable one to get out from
either side when the vessel 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 to the floor in the
centre, where we now sat and awaited the appearance of the agents. Aft
of this saloon, and separated from it by a bulkhead, was the captain's

cabin and the staterooms for whatever passengers the ship might carry.
While we were talking I heard a hail. Mr. Trunnell, the mate, instantly
jumped to his feet and sprang up the companionway aft, his short, stout
legs curving well outward, and giving him the rolling motion often
noticed in short sailors. In a moment there were sounds of footsteps on
deck, and several men started down the companionway.
The first that reached the cabin deck was a large man