Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-06-11

lTOm passengefs.' Ana he walked
away.
After this failure tried him with no
more advice. Gradually became con-
vinced that Miss Ellis was in reality n
heartless cOquette, who was amusing
herself with conquest so out Of the or
dinary way as TO interest her from its
very oddity. The conviction that she
was actually capable of this pretty cru
city, made me necessarily revise my orig
inal opinion of her; and ceased to re-
gard her with the warm admiration with
which she had at first inspired me-
The voyage grew dull and tiresome.
AS it drew toward a close / began TO
chaie at any lull of the fair wind that
had followed US nearly across the Allan
tic, and to lose all patience at the first
breath of an adverse breeze. have not
yet mentioned our captain, for the sim
pie reason that he had hardly been seen
by any one of us since we lett Gibraltar
He was an ill-tempcred, ill-mannered fel-
low, who disappeared in his cabin as
soon as we were clear of the Straits, and
entered upon a quiet course of retired
drunkenness, in which he pcrsevered
throughout the voyage. The mate navi-
gated the ship, and was in every way an
intelligent and competent officer. new
er dreamed that we were not proceeding
on our way as rapidly as the ship could
be sailed, until j, 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
Mr.. Jones: 81 knew our chronometer
was wrong, but when the old man is So
Der enough to talk, he swears a blue
streak if say anything about it,"
My newly awakened suspicious that
we were not in the most enviable situa-
tion were unexpectedly verified that
same night. j 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. Pre-
sently | heard voices from the deck close
to my room. OF course | ought not to
have permitted myself to hear-for lis
tening is not the proper term to apply
to my involuntary share in the conlidecce
which the second mate was bestowing
upon Miss Ellis-but l could not easily
help myself.
They had evidently been talking
somewhere else, and had sheltered them
selves brnenth the lea of the house ia
order to continue their conversation un-
molested. Mr.. Jones was speaking when
| first became aware of their close prox-
unity to me.
"l'm agoin' to tell you this" he said,
"because you're not like other women,
thatll holler and raise Ned the minute
they think there's any danger. You're
brave, il know what's brave in a gal
and | ought to by this time. l want you
not to to say word about this to your
father, or anybody, for it amt my busi-
ness to tell passengers anything; but the
fact is, we may go ashore any time to-
night, and | want you to be ready"
"Go ashore tonight !" she cried, Joy
fully. "Oh, that is good! Why, l
thought we were hundred miles from
land"
'You don't git my meanin'," he re,
piled. "What | mean to say is this
The mates chronometer is all wrong.
He and rve suspicioned it for week
back, and to-day we got the longitude
from the bark you was lookn' at, and, if
they was right, we are close on the
coast"
"And what of that ? Shan't we get
home all the quicker 2" she asked gaily.
"Dop't you understand ?" he answer
ed. "The old man-the Captain, /
mean-is gettin' sober, and he's told the
mate not to change his course, or to take
a rag off her. First we know, we'll run
slap onto Hatteras beach, and if it comes
on to blow-as it's goin' to, sure
we'll go to pieces so quick that the old
man won't get chance to get drunk
again"
'Do you mean that we are in danger 2"
she asked, in lower tone.
eyes, do; but don't you get fright
ened. Mebbe we'll go through the night
all right hut if we don't, and anything
does happen, come straight to me. Pll
be on deck, and I'll lay down my life for
you, Miss Mary, God knows"
She asked him quietly: "Why do you
mind what the Captain says, if he is not
sober? Why don't you aud Mr.. Cas-
well (the matc) do as you think best ?"
He laughed grimly. "l've been TO sea,
Miss-man and boy-for twenty years,
and ] never yet went agin my superior
officers orders. The old man says to
drive her, and that's the end of it. Ifhe
drives her ashore, it's his own lookout
and if it warr't for you, wish he
would. When he loses a ship or two,
mebbe his owners will get sober men to
navigate for 'em."
81 am not afraid, Mr. Jones" answer
ed the girl. "If we are wrecked, will
do just as you tell me. You can't think
how l thank you for telling me the
truth"
Mr.. Jones was quiet for moment,
and heard her dress rustic, as though
she turned to go. "Wait bit it you
please, Miss" said the second mate, 81
want to say one word to you"
After pause, he began:
"Miss Mary, you've 10 need to tell me
what am, as one Of them old chaps in
the cabin with you did once, since we've
been out of port. know just what l
am better'n you or he could tell me if
you try your best and keep it up right
on end for a week. Pm an ignorant
brute, that amt fit to touch yer dress