The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-04-06
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YES, aud Iel "a shake hAnds upon tbs
bArgsiug returned the Chinese merchant
promptly, bat with an odd expression
~ fAneicd, IN those long sly, coal black
eyes u bis.
Now, lhe proposal iG question was :
tempting one, addressed u & poor fellow
like myself, who bad suddenly slid down
some rounds Of fortunes ladder. J.,
Fraak Hepburn, bred 10 the sea, bad
lately been chict officer Of a noble clip
per ship, the swif1ure, aud with The
certainty Of becoming her captain in two
I voyages more. Our owners, foe old
fashioned specimens Of the British mer-
chant, had become insolyeut through the
failure of some bank, aud their vessel bad
been sold to another trade There was /
reduced TO kick my heels on the quays Of
Shanghai, waiting for al engagement
while my little venture, as part owner Of
the sBifisure, was lost in the general
ruin. What made matters worse was
that was in love and betrothed to
+ pretty Lillian Travis, the niece Of q wor-
[ thy member OF the British mercantile
community, established in that strange
city that the magician commerce has con-
jured up at the mouth Of the great
river, aud that now our marriage seemed
almost hopelessly deferred. was thirty
/ two years OF age, and had nothing left TO
ME but my robust health and professional
knowledge. Quite Unexpectedly Sin-lin-
/ Isl, with whom my acquaintance was the
/ slightest, had accosted me In the blandest
manner, and proposed that ] should
assume command of large and new
steamer, the Cassandra, which belonged
to himself and partner, and was bound
on eoasting voyage to Canton and
! Singapore, with q valuable cargo and
sundry passengers. The salary named
was liberal one and the position, was
assured, permanent one.
1t seemed unreasonable on my part
that hung back, instead of closing
eagerly with so advantageous position,
but then had heard odd stories coupled
with the names Of my wouldbe-employ-
ers, Ahehang and Sin-lin-tsi had, unless
fame belied them, made their money
through queer channels, and were deem
ed to be unscrnpnlous even beyond the
average Of their countrymen. Ah-chang
was an enormously corpulent and silent
old Chinaman, two of whose sons were
mandarins; but the junior partner, who
was fluent in the english language, was
well known in Shanghai as q pushing
man of business, while both were reput-
ed to be rich. suppose that Sin Gas we
iamiliarly styled him in his sbsence,)
read my thoughts, for be lightly laid
his claw-ike finger nails on my sleeve
and said;
Ahal Why you say, Mr.. Hepburn;
why Chinese give steamer to you? just
this, you got stout heart and cool head
plenty much. Not do this Qmitating the
action of drinking; and so save the ship
If storm come or bad thieves come
Chinese trust you.
/ began TO think ii not improbable that
such reputation as ! had acquired for
seamanshIp and steadiness might after all
have been the real reason for the prefer
erence shown me.
A fine steamer was the Cassandra,
glistening in all the freshness of her new
paint aud trim rigging, as, having ac-
ceded to her owners offer, Sin-lin-tsi
took me out into the barbor TO inspect
the craft of which was to be the COM
mander. Two lighter crafts lay along
side OF her, whence the pig.tailed steve
dores were busting like many laden auts
over her gangway. A fine ship, neat
aud taut as though turned out OF band
box, and by no means the sort of vessel
likely TO belong to Ah-chang and part
ner.
Your chief officer, remarked Sin, care
lessly, when had admired the mirrors
and gliding Of the best cabin, will be first
chop seaman. You know Bates.
Not the American? Not Brasidas
BslesS asked with a start. Sin nodded
but | looked and felt grave. That MIR.
Bates, of Baltimore, known as Chinaman
Bates, in Shanghai, parlance, on account
OF his taste for Chinese customs aud as
sociates, was tirst-rate seaman, could
not deny, but he bore dubious charact-
ter, aud had Sin aud his fat partner
made him their captain, with secret sail
Ing orders TO plunder and seuttle every
defenseless junk he sighted, l should
have been less surprised than at their
selection Of myself.
Duckett, sin made haste to say, is
second officer. lie is your old ship
mate.
This was true, aud q good sailor was
Bill Duckett, when the brandy bottle
WAS kept out Of bis reach, but rather
wondered why the cautious Chinese
should have viewed bis besetting weak
ness 50 iudulgently.
And our bead engineerI | inquired,
and the third mate, for three are needed
for so big 3 steamer.
Sin very handsomely len the appoint
meut OF these two functiouaries to my
self aud we parted on excellent terms.
Throughout the remainder Of that day
and the greater part Of the next, the
question wonId keep recurring TO my
miud, aE though come taunling demon
bad whispered Ia my ear: Why did All.
chang and compAnY seek me ont 10 sail