Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-11-01

leaving the mouth of bonny Dee be-
hind, together with the city of granite.
Then, at the Captains invitation,
accompanied him into the cabin to
breakfast.
He now introduced me to the first
mate, who was to mess with us.
He was dark, surly-looking fellow,
whose appearance / disliked at once,
even before he opened his mouth.
And when he commenced to speak,
his conversation confirmed my first inn
pressions. He hardly ever spoke with
out an oath or a curse of some kind.
"Well, we've got off all clear, that's
one good thingp' observed the mate.
Yes; now let's have a wind that
blows, we've the ship that goes and l
dare say one of us has the lass that
loves n sailor.
Matters went on in usual humdrum
way; they always appear to me to do
at sea for some time, and l began to
think that the Company had sent me
out on wild-goose chase.
But soon discovered my mistake.
| didn't know whereabouts we were, be-
cause take no interest in nautical mat.
ters, and understand very little about
latitude and longitude; but it was about
week after we got into warm weather
that after dinner l lay down on the
lockers at the stern of the cabin to have
forty winks.
had not lain there long, however,
when the Captain and the mate came
in. Tonight will be the very time.
Hodge," exclaimed the mate. "The
weather's calm; we're Just in such a
position that we could reach" (some
place | couldn't catch the name of " in
the boats in couple of days"
al don't agree with you, Sharpe"
replied the Captain. In the first
place, | should like it to be blowing
just a decent gale. 1t would be very
fishy for craft like this to go to the
bottom in nice breeze only; and then,
again, in weeks time or so we shall
be getting near the Cape de Verde
Islands,"
"Just as you like, skipper Only, if
you take my advice, you'll do it at once,
and get it over Halo! here's this
'longshore chap! Let him look out if
he's been listeningr'
"Hushr' said Hodge; 81 expect he S
asleep. Don't wake him"
And they approached me, in order to
see if | were awake or no. That was q
very unpleasant five minutes. could
feel that they were gazing at me, and
| counting my pulsations, as it were, and
yet had TO lie quiet and calm.
"He's all right" atlength exclaimed
the Captain. owed better go on deck
again"
"I hope he isl said the mate. "Itll
be bad for him if he amt, confound
his eyesr'
And they retired to the other end of
the cabin, and apparently went up the
ladder on to the deck.
Nevertheless, 1 thought it better to
keep my eyes still closed, and myself
in the same position.
1t was well l did, for at the close of
another five minutes | heard one of
them, who had stayed behind, leave
the cabin and go on deck.
Although no more was said or done
respecting this, | had an idea that they
suspected me after that, and watched
me about in consequence.
Two or three days passed away, when
one evening had been writing up my
diary, as usual, and replaced it, as /
thought, in the private pocket where it
was usually kept.
But by some accident it must have
fallen to the deck, for in about half an
hour the steward came up, and, with
the Captains compliments, would l
| Join him, with the mate, over glass of
grogP
1 accordingly descended, and, inno-
| t1xrn yo1 Tn thnr 4 h.
two men were sitting.
"This book was picked up a quarter
of an hour ago and brought to me-" ex-
claimed the Captain, holding up my
unhappy diary. t" Is it yoursP"
1t was no good prevaricating, or at
tempting to evade, so l determined to
lead off with bold move.
1t does belong to me-" replied,
and, at the same time, snatching it out
of his hand. "And now what have
you to sayP"
THAT you are pays" exclaimed the
mate.
"Now, the question is, how much dc
you know, and how are we to be sure
that you will not peach on us?" said
Hodge.
1.-The question is nothing of the
kindn' | replied, as bold as brass
"The question is; l know enough tc
give you fellows penal servitude. You
dare not touch me; and now what are
you going to do, in order to save your.
selves from punishmentP'
Hodge looked rather blank at this
And, then, in a minute, he said to the
mate, "Sharpe, come for ard bit; we
must talk this over.'
Accordingly they went away out O.
ear-shot, and began arguing, the
mate insisting on something the Cap
tain would not agree to.
At length they returned, and Hodge
said, "Well, Sharpe and can't quite
agree yet. We must talk it over again
And, in the meantime, you must allow
yourself to be pds under arrest in YOU
cabin. No harm is intended you.''
did not desire that the matter should
come to free fight, especially as
thought more than once that | coulC
perceive the butt of pistol peepine
out of Sharpe's pocket, so | consented
and in five minutes was bolted in my
cabin.
At supper-time the mate brought MI
a good plate of food and my usual glas!
of grog.
l ate the meat think it was sea-pit
and drank the grog, and then pre-
pared to read.
But all at once an overwhelming sen
sation of drowsiness came over me. Ii
vain l struggled against it. With my
eyes closing in spite of myself, fel
back across my bunk, asleep.
douglas, awake, my brother. Save
yourself"
Half asleep and half awake, l hearC
my brothers. voice, and replied: Gal
right, Robert, I'll get up directly"
And then was going off again.
douglas, awake, my brother Sav,
YOURSELF
This time the voice reused me more
and was thoroughly awake, but still
under the influence of the narcotic with
| which / had hean drupped