New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-11-13

difficulty in finding the Falcon. She was
a nice looking brig, and appeared quite
new; at all events she was newly painted,
and that s much the same thing to a
landsman. A gaDgway board stretched
across from the shore to her deck, and
walking across this, was son on board
| A boy was busllv employed doing
nothing, and having asked to see the
captain, that party appeared on deck.
| He was not bad-looking. but had that
loose, roliicking, shifty expression gener-
ally to be found with lack OF conscienti-
BUSINESS.
''Good-day, captain!' observed. 81
hear you are bound for Port Louis, Maur-
titus. If that's so, could you manage to
give a poor fellow lift on the cheap?"
On the cheap, eh?' replied he, taking
stock Of me up and down. "That de-
ponds. What do you call cheap2'
well, I've got little conn., replied.
"But can't afford those mail-boats-
they're too much altogether; besides, 1
want to keep trifle, in case 1 don't get
the work Iexpect when get out there"
swell. will fve-and twenty pounds
hurt you?' asked the captain.
feigned to be Mortified, and offered
! fifteen; but at length we arranged for
twenty pounds, ana he was to ind me
in every thing, l messing with him at
bis table.
Having effected this, promised to be
on board by the Thursday evening, 70
she was to leave harbor on the Frida
morning.
By the appointed time was down at
the port with my modest luggage, which
was soon transferred to little cabin in
the Falcon that I was to occupy. The
captain was not on board when I Joined,
so took possession of my little bedroom
and, putting things to rights as we'll as l
could, turned in, and went to sleep.
The next morning I was aroused by a
sound of trampling overhead, heavy
ropes being thrown about, loud voices.
swearing, and all the usual accompapi-
ments considered necessary by nautical
people to the proper clearing Of vassel
out of harbor.
| In about twenty minutes the noise had
succombed, and there was a gentle heav-
ing motion; so went on deck, and found
that we were at sea-tast leaving the
mouth Of bonny Dee behind, together
with the city Of granite. Then, at the
captains invitation. accompanied him
into the cabin to breakfast. He now IN
troduced me to the first mate, who was to
mess with us. He was dark, surly look
ing fellow, whose appearance I disliked
atonce, even before he opened his mouth.
And when he commenced to speak, his
conversation confirmed my first impress
sions. He hardly ever spoke without an
oath or curse of some kind.
"Well. we've got off all clear, that's
one good thing!" observed the mate.
"Yes: now let's have the wind that
blows;' we've the ship that goes,' and l
dare say one Of US has the lass that loves
sailor!.."
Matters went on in the usual humdrum
way they always appear to me to do at
sea for some time, and began to think
that the company had sent me out on a
Wild-goost chase.
But soon discovered my mistake. I
don't know whereabouts we were, because
| take no interest in nautical matters, and
understand very little about latitude and
lcngitude; but it was about week after
we got into warm weather that, after din
ner, I lay down on the lockers at the
stern of the cabin, to have forty wiuks.
| had not lain there long, however, when
the captain and the mate came in.
Tonight will be the very time,
Hodge," exclaimed the mate. ssThe
weather's calm; we're just in such a
position Tat we could reach" (some place
couldn't catch the name of sin the
boats in couple Of days.
IL don't agree with you, Sharpe" re-
piled the captain. "In the first place, /
should like it to be blowing Just decent
gale. It would be very fshy for a 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 Verd 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 long
shore chap! Let him look out if he's
been istening!''
"Hush!' SAID Hodge; 81 expect he's
asleep. Don't wake him.
And they approached me, in order to
see if I were awake or no. That was a
very unpleasant five minutes. I could
feel that they were gazing at me, and
counting my pulsations, as it were, and
yet l had to lie quiet and calm.
Hes all right" at length exclaimed
the captain. WED better go on deck