The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-05-29

his company; and still nothing happened.
| Twenty minutes more of suspense slowly
succeeded each other-and then, at last,
Mr.. Jolly was seen suddenly to ascend the
cabin stairs.
| To the amazement of the little group
on the quarterback, the doctor held
Mrs. Drabble, the stewardess, fast by the
arm, and, without taking the slightest
notice of the captain or the passengers,
| placed her on the nearest seat he could
| find. As he did this his face became
visible in the moonlight, and displayed
to the startled spectators an expression of
blank CONSERVATION.
Compose yourself, Mrs. Drabble. !"
said the doctor, in tones of unmlstakable
alarm. Keep quiet, and let the air
blow over you. Collect yourself. ma,am
for Heavens sake. collect YOURSELF
Mrs. Drabble made no answer. She
beat her hands vacantly on her knees, and
stared straight before her like woman
panic-stricken.
What's wrong?'' asked the captain,
setting down his glass OF grog in dismay.
3" Anything amiss with those two upfor-
tunate women ?"
Nothing said the doctor. Both
doing admirably WELL"
Anything queer with their babies ?'
continued the captain. care there more
than you bargained for, jolly? Twins, for
instance p
No NOT replied Mr.. Jolly, .mpa-
tiently.
"A baby apiece-both boys-both in
first rate condition. Judge for yourselv-
es,' added the doctor, as the two new
cabin passengers tried their lungs below
for the first time, and found that they
answered their purpose in the most sat
isfactory manner.
What the devils amiss, then, with
you and Mrs. Drabble?'' persisted the
captain, beginning to lose his temper
again.
Mrs. Drabble and [ are two innocent
people, and we have got into the mos
dreadful scrape that ever you heard OFF,
was Mr.. Jolly's startling answer.
The captain, followed by Mr.. Purling
and Mr.. Sims, approached the doctor
with looks of horror. Evep the man a
the wheel stretched himself over it al
far as he could to hear what was to come
next. The only uninterested person
present was Mr.. Smallchild His tim,
had come round for going to sleep again
and he was snoring peacefully. with hi
biscuit and bacon close beside him.
" Let's hear the worst Of it at once
Jolly" said the captain, a little impa
tiently
The doctor paid no heed to his request
His whole attention was absorbed b.
Mrs. Drabble
Arc you better now, ma am ?" b
asked, anxiouslg.
q" No better in my mind" answered
Mrs. Drahble, beginning to beat he
kness again. Worse, if anything.
Listen to me, said DIR. jolly, coax
ingly. "I'll put the whole case owe
again to you, in few plain questions
You Ii find it all come back to your mem
Dry, if you only follow ME attentively, ant
if you take time to think and collec
yourself before you attempt to answer.
Mrs. Drabble bowed her head il
speechless submission--and listened
Everybody else on the quarter deck lis
tened, except the impenetrabIe Mr.
Smallchid.
Now, ma am !" said the doctor
Our troubles began in Mr. Heavyside ;
cabin, which is situated on the starboart
side of the ship ?''
They did, Sir" replied Mrs. Drab
bic.
Good We went backward and for
ward an infinite number of times, between
Mrs. Heavysides (starboard) and Mrs
Smallchiid Cardboard -but we found tina
Mrs. Heayysides, having got the start
kept it-and when [ called oct, Mrs
Drabble! here's chopping boy fer you
come and take him Fl called out star
board, didn't [ p
"Starboard, Sir-I'll take my oath Of
it," said Mrs. Drabble
"Good again. Here's a choppine
boy [ said. Take him, ma am, and
make him comfortable in the cradle
And you took him and made him com
Portable in the cradle, accordingly? Now
where was the cradle?''
SIN the main cabin, Sir" replied Mrs
Drabble.
''Crosswise to the ship? That is to
say, with one side loDgwise toward the
stern of the vessel, and one side longwise
toward the bows. Bear that in mind
and now follow me little farther. No
no! don't say you can't, and your head S
in whirl- My next question will steady
it. Garry your mind on half an hour,
Mrs Drabble. At the end of half an
hour you heard my voice again and my
voice called out, Mrs. Drabble! here S
another chopping boy for you; come and
take him and you came and took him
Iarbeard didn't you?'
Larboard, Sir, l don't deny it," an
sHered Mrs. Drabble.
Better aud better Here is another
chopping boy, said Take him, ma am
and make him comfortable in the cradle,
along with number one And you took
the larboard baby otherwise Smallchild1
and made him comfortable in the cradle
along with the starboard baby otherwise
Heavysidesl, accordingly! Now what
happened after that?'
Don't ask me, Sir" exclaimed Mrs
Drabble, losing her selfcontrol, and wiring
ing her hands desperately.
Steady, ma'am I'll put it to you as
plain as print. Steady and listen to
me. Just as you had made the larboard