The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-06-02

IIllic
1t would have been amusing, had it not
made me indignant. to note how the man
watched tor aer appearance. AteVery step
that sounded from the companion-way he
would turn, with look Of expectation in
his face that the dulest witness could not
tail to understand. When she did appear,
he would soon contrive to carelessIy APP
proach her, and would never be absent
from her side, except for few moments at
a time, while the two were on deck. BE
was pcrpetually bringing mattresses for her
to rest upon, and shawls TO wIap around
her. L have known him to keep sailor
IN the mlzzen-chains for hours at a time,
catching floating bits of sea weed and stray
! Jelly fish, for her amusement What was
more cIeditable to him, he never abused
! the men IN her presence, and rarely swore
while she was within hearing. More than
once, at the warning touch Of her hand
unon his arm, he dropped his raised hand
and suppressed the half uttered oath about
to be launched at some unhappy fellow who
had committe. an unusually irritating Of
tense against the laws Of good seamanship.
This moth and candle business went on
! for several weeks. Mary Ellis was, or at
| fected TO be, totally UNCONSCIOUS of the
conquest she had made. Neither Dick
nor myself felt at liberty to demonstrate
with her in behalf of the peace of mind Of
the second mate. | did, however, venture
! one day toward Mr. Jones of the attention
| his conduct had attracted. We had grown
quite friendly by this time, and [ fancled
that the kindly interest | took in his wei
| fare would rather fatter him than other
wise. He listened to what | had to say
with his hands thrust into his pockets, and
his gaze directed miles away toward the
/ distant horizon. And so, Mr. Jones,
/ concluded, you must see that this sort
of thing won't do. The lady is quite out
OF our sphere, and either don't suspect that
/ you care particularly for her, or else is
| amusing herself at your expense"
lie turned and looked at me silently.
Mister, said he, at last, slowly and re-
fectively, like enough ycu mean all right,
50 | won get mad about it. But you re
making tool Of yourselves Why, I'm a
man, amt |? And white man. too?
And she's woman, amt she? What
yer spheres got to do with my bein' perlite
to the young woman? | expect she gifts
tired Of your Internal jaw somctimes-I
know | do, anyhow and she don't mind
| listening to me Bit for healthy change.
| " hat | think Of her ain I your business,
! nor yet nobody else's; but amt agoiu to
let any man say she's playin' it on me.
cnough. t don't allow no interierin from
passengers, nor no body" And he walked
away.
After this failure, I tried him with no
more advice. Gradually | became c0uyine-
ed that Miss Ellis w0s in reality hem tess
cOquette, who was amusing herself with 4
conquest SO out Of the ordinary way as to
interest her from its cd iity. The conviction
that she was actually capable OF this petty
cruelty made ne necessarily revise my orig
inal opinion of her; and | ceased to regard
| her with the warm admiration with which
she had at first inspired me.
/ The voyage grew dull and tiresome. As
1t drew toward a close | began 10 chafe at
any>lull Of the fair wind that had followed
Us nearly across the Atlantic, and to lose
all patience at the first breath Of an adverse
breeze. | have not yet mentioned our
| captain, for the simple reason that he had
/ hardly been seen by any of Us since we had
| left Gibraltar. He was an ill>tempered,
| lil-mannered fellow, who disappeared in his
cabin as soon as were clear OF the straits,
and entered upon quiet course of retired
! drunkenness in which he preserved through
out the voyage. The mate navigated the
/
and competent officer. | never dreamed
that we were not proceeding on our course
as rapidly and safely as the ship could te
! sailed, until |, one day, saw the mate chalk
certain figures on a board and hold them
up to the sight of a passing vessel. Her
| people Immediately answered by displaying
a series of totally different figures, the sight
of which elected a hearty oath from the
mate, who said to Dir. Jones: II knew
our chronometer was wrong, but when the
| old man Is sober enough to talk, he swears
blue streak if J say anything about it.
My newly awakened suspicious that we
were not In the most enviablc situati0n
were Unexpectedly verified that same night
had not felt well during the day, and soon
! after dark went TO my state room, which
was in the house on deck, and lay down in
my berth. Presently [ heard voices from
| the deck close to my room. OF course,
ought not to have permitted myself to hear
for listening is not the proper term to
apply to my involuntary share in the con-
fiience which the second mate was bestow-
ing upon Miss Elis-but | could not easily
help myself
They had evidently been talking some.
where else, and had sheltered themselves
beneath the lee of the house in order 10
continue their conversation unmoested.
r.Jones was speaking when first became
aware OF their close proximity to me.
Il N goin' to tell you this" he said be-
cause you re not like other women, that'll
/ hoilcr and raise Ned the minute they think
there's any danger You're brave, if
know what's brave in gal-and | ought
/ to by this time. | want you not to say
/ word about this to yer father, or anybody,
! for it amt my business to tell passengers
/ anything but the fact is, we may go ashore
at any time to night, and | want you to be
ready"
Go ashore to night" she cried ioyfully.
4 20, that Is too good! Why, thought We
were a hundred miles from land.
y ou don't git my meanin, he replied
Nv hat L mean TO say is this the mate 5
cETonometer Is all wrong He and ! We
suspicloned it for a week back, and to-day
we have got the longitude from the bark
you was lookin' at, and if they was right,
We re close on the coast
And what of that? Shan't we get home
all the Quicker?" she asked gayiv.
Don't you undcrsIand2' he answered.
The Old man-the captain, | mean-is
setlln sober. and he's told the mate nat 10