Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-12
VOLUME XVI.


the men like it ; and, what's more, it's
lucky. It's like the land taking leave OF
us, as always say, giving a sort of bless.
ing on the ship at least, Pm plain man,
and that's how | take it. Its the day |
always start, Sunday is"
The purser expressed his hope that he
should succeed in doing his duty, and pleas
ing the captain and Ell his employers.
20, you'll do, young man, | can see
don't you be afraid Won't he, Mr. Car
dew Clear, straightforward eyes, and all
aboveboard."
Mr.. Cardew thought he would do, but he
did not look on the purser at all His
mind was running on very different things
H.
"Joe," said the purser's wife, when
! Pennant returned to his little cottage at
Birkenhead, and announced his new APP
pointment, " | don't know how it is, hut
have got strong presentment, and | wish
you wouldn't go in this ship. | never did
like ships with those sort OF names The
best run you ever had was in the Jane
Parker, and the worse one in the Morning
Star Stick to the plain names. Besides,
it's too early in the season. Now, do OBJ,
lige me, Joe, and give it up. Stay for a
fortnight later get an Australian ship.
It's too early tor Canada. 1t is, indeed
Mrs. Thompson says So"
Jenny, my love, you're silly little wo,
man. \ pretty sailors wife you make
Come, pack mp my kit, for Pm going, that
is the long and short Of it. Nonsense about
sentiments And who is Mrs Thompson, |
should like to kno ? Who wants her
poking her nose here? Why did she drive
her husband away with her nagging, and
temper, and botheration? Tell her to mind
her own business. Pretty thing, indeed
Come, dear, no nonsense pack up my
! kit
But, Joe dear, there was your photo
! graph fell off the nail on Tuesday, that
night | saw shooting star fall, close to
the docks, and it wasn't sent for nothing.
/ Don't go, Joe don't 60"
Go must, Jenny dear, and go | shall,
so don't make it painful, there's a good lit
tie woman. Come, I'll go up with You
now, and kiss George and Lizzy l won't
wake them then Wen go and look out the
good heart you know | shall soon be
back. Pve got nice captain, and smart
first mate"
Why, Captain Thompson, who ever
thought to have found you here, and only
quartermaster ?" said the purser, as he
stood at the gangway of the Shooting Star,
watching the fresh provisions brought in
well, | am sorry to see you so reduced,
sir, | am, indeed How was it 2"
The quartermaster drew him on one side
with ruetul look He was a purple, jol-
ly, sottish-lOoklng man, with swollen tea-
lures.
d" 1t was the grog, Joe, as did it,-all the
Internal grog," he said. Il lost my last
ship. the Red Star, and then everything
went wrong but Eve struck off drinking
now, Joe | wasn't fit TO have ship that's
about it, lost myself, too, Joe and here
| am with my hands in the tar-bucket
again, trying to do my dooty in that station
of life, as the Catechism used to say"
And how do you like our captain and
crew, sir 2" Pennant said, under his breath
"Captain's as good man as ever trod
in shoe-leather-upright man, though he
will have the work done, but the crew amt
much b tween ourselves. -Four of them
first-class, the rest loafers and skukers,
wanting to emigrate, picked up on the
quays, half thieve, half deserters, not worth
their salt. They'll all run when they get
to Quebec. Then there's the first mate, he's
a nice nigger-driver, he is, bound for a bad
port, think. | wouldn't trust him with a
ship, that's all | can say, unless it was a
pirate ship, that he might get on with; but
he is smooth enough before the captain
he takes care Of that,-curse him"
just at that moment there came a shTill
voice screaming curses from the shore.
" Look alive, you skulkers, there" il
cried--it was the mates voice-"or I'll let
you know. We shan't be ready by Tues
day. if you don't hurry Not a drop OF
grog before the works done, mind that
III have no internal grumbling while Pm
mate and what are you doing there quar-
termaster, idIing? Mr.. Purser, see at once
if the stores are all in, and hand in the bills
to me to give to Captain Ritson."
The men, ragged, sullen fellows, worked
harder, but cursed in an underbreath
The moment the captain came on board
the mates manner entirely altered He
crouched and whispered, and asked for or
ders, and spoke to the men with punctilious
quietude.
Cardew had some strange hold over the
captain, as the purser soon discovered
some money matters--Bome threat, which
he held over Ritson's head, about his faith
er's farm in Cumberland, some power tha
the captain dreaded, though he tried to ap.
pear cheerful, trusting, and Indifferent. Al
first tyrannical to the men, Cardew had
= now begun to conciliate them in every pos
sible way, especially when Captain Ritsol
was not on deck.
The p4rser was in his cabin, the TWEEN
tieth day after the Shooting Star had star
= ted. Tie was head down al hia accounts
, and the luminous green shade over th'
, lamp threw a golden light upon rows o
2 figures end the red lines that divided them
: He was working silently, honest, Jealous
n fellow that he was, when low tap cam'
r at the cabin-door. He leaped off his sea
t and opened the door it was old Thomp
son. the quartermaster, who shut it afte
him with suspicious care.
Wen, Thompson" said the epurser, look
:, ing up with an overworked and troubled e1
preston, "what is it ?"
$ The quartermaster sat down with ham
y on either knee " | tell you what it is, MI
l. Pennant, between you and me, there's mis-
II chief brewing
d " Thompson, you've been at the ruu