Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-08-05
A CHINESE SPECULATION.

tsi-very tempting - said l, hesitating
and puzzled.
Then why you not say, 'Yes'-one
great big 'Yes'-and let us shake hands
upon the bargain ?' replied the Chinese
merchant, promptly, but with an odd ex-
preston, as tancied in those long, sly,
sloe-black eyes of his.
Now, the proposal in question, Oas a
tempting one, addressed to poor fellow
like myself, who had suddenly slipped
down some rounds Of Fortunes ladder.
l, Frank Hepburn, bred to the sea, had
lately been chief officer of noble clipper
built ship, the SlcVJSure, and with the
certainty of becoming her captain in two
more voyages. Our owners, fine old
fashioned specimens OF the British mer-
chant, had become insolvent, through the
failure of some bank, and their vessel
had been sold into another trade.
There was |, reduced to kick my heels
on the quays Of Shanghai, waiting for an
engagement, while my little adventure,
as part owner OF the SlcWtSHre, was lost in
the general rum. What made matt ers
worse was, that | was in love, and be-
trothed to pretty Lillian Travis, the niece
OF a worthy member of the British mer-
camille community established in that
strange city that the magician Commerce
has conjured up at the mouth of the great
river, and now our wedding seemed hope
lessly postponed. | was thirty-tw years
of age, and had nothing left to me save
my health and professional knowledge.
Quite unexpectedly, Sin-lin-tsi, with
whom my acquaintance was of the slight
est, had accosted me in his blandest man
ner, and had proposed that l should take
command of u splendid new steamship,
the CdSSdHdFd, that WAS owned by him
self and partner, and was bound on q
coasting voyage to Canton and Singapore,
with valuable cargo and sundry passen-
gers. The salary named was liberal
one, and the position, us l was assured,
| permanent.
| 1t may seem unreasonable that | hesi-
tated, instead Of closing eagerly with so
{ advantageous proposition /; but then
had heard odd stories coupled with the
names of my would-be employers. Ah-
chang and Sin-lin-tsi had, unless fame
Boiled them, made their money through
/ doubtful channels, and were deemed to
/ be INSCRIPTIONS even beyond the average
OF their countrymen. Ah-chang was an
enormously corpulent and at the same
/ time silent old man. But the junior
partner, who was fluent in the English
language, was well known in Shanghai
as pushing man Of business, whilo both
were reputed to be rich.
suppose that Sin (as we tamiliary
styled him in his absence) read my
thoughts, for he laid his claw-like fingers
on my sleeve, and said :
"Aha Why, you say, Mr.. Hepburn,
why Chinese give steamer to you? inst
this-you got stout heart and cool head
plenty much. Not do this (mitatng the
action Of drinhing), and so save ship, if
storm come, or bad thieves. Chinese
trust youW
| began to think it not improbable that
such reputa ton as | had acquired for sea-
manship and sobrety might, after all,
have been the reason for the preference
evinced for me.
A fine vessel was the CdsSandra, glist-
ening in all the freshness other new paint
and trim rigging, as, having acceded to
her owners offer, Sin-lin- took me out
into the harbor to inspect the craft OF
which | was to be commander. Two
lighters, or RATS, lay alongside, whence
the pg-taied stevedores were bustling,
like 50 many laden ants, over her gang
ways. A fine ship, neat and taut, and
by no means the sort Of vessel likely to
belong to Ah-chang and partner.
Your chief officer" remarked Sin,
careessly, when | had admired the fit
tings oftho best cabin, will be frst-chop
seaman. You know Bates.
] y
asked with II start.
Sin nodded, but | looked and felt grave.
/ That Bates was hrstclass seaman, |
couId.not deny. But he bore a dubious
/ reputation and had Sin and his partner
made him their captain, with secret sail
ing orders to plumber and scuttle every
detenseless junk be sighted, / should have
been less surprised than at the selection
of myself.
"Duckett," Sin made haste to say, "is
second officer. lie your old shipmate,
you know"
This was true, and good sailor was
| Bill Duckett, when the brandy bottle
was kept out Of his reach, but l worder-
ed that the cautious Chinese should have
viewed his besetting weakness SO indul-
gently.
"And our head engineer ?" inquired
"and the third mate? for three are need
ed for so large vessel"
Sin-lin-tsi very handsomely left the APP
pointment Of these two functionaries to
myself and we parted on excellent terms.
Throughout the remainder of that day,
and the greater part Of the next, the ques-
ton would keep recurring to my mind,
as though some haunting demon had
whispered in my ear: Why did All chang
and his partner seek me out to sail their
vessel Even dear Lilan's innocent joy,
and her uncle's hearty congratulations
could not blind me to the fact that there
must be sometime wrong to account foI
the extraordinary appreciation Of nautical
abilities shown by Sin and his partner.
The sort OF shippers whom Chinese
ship-owners like toongage are-well, per