Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-02-05


the presence of the whole watch put ia
irons. BY his courage, strength and
decision, Mr.. Cobb overawed the whole
OF us, and perhaps saved some of the
English portion from being murdered.
Order being restored, Mr.. Cobb called
Tor lights; and all Objectionable weapons
being delivered up to him, he conde-
scended to ask what the disturbance
was about; but when he found that in
spite OF his orders and care there were
strangers on board, he began to chide
the second mate and the boatswain for
their negligence.
Inthe meantime the elder of tn lads
had placed his arms around the neck of
the younger, as though to protect him,
both of them looking very frightened.
Mr.. Cobb regarded the pair with look
OF severity, and roughly ordered them
to follow him TO the cabin. When the
walls came into the presence of Captain
Sproul. that officer was in the act of
threatening to disrate the steward, whom
he charged with being incapable and
making free with his decanters; but
directly the captain saw the pair and
heard the account Of the disturbance in
the forecastle on their account, he broke
out with you are a pair OF young loaf
ers who ought to be in Jail. and shall go
there as soon as | reach Calcutta" and
here the captain rose and commenced
boxing the elder lads ears for entering
the cabin without removing his hat, and
had just wrenched the Objectionable
head piece from the boys head, when n
mass of tangled yellow hair fell down
and the younger whined out:
please don't hurt her, sir; she's my
sister,
Captain Sproul staggered back aghast;
"Merct on us ~ he exclaimed; 'have
you no shame or reputation left, to come
masquerading among my crew in mems
clothes Who are you, and what's your
name?'
The girl colored crimson as she re-
piled "Helen Muir" and then related
that having no home, relatives or
friends in England she had run away
from boarding-school near Liverpool,
because through no letters or remit
tances having been received from her
father for two years, her life had been
made wretched from hearing reproach-
es constantly heaped upon their name.
For the same cause her brother had
been compelled to go to sea, and not
wishing to be separated, they had de-
termined to work their passage out to
India and rejoin their father, leaving
their clothes behind, and giving their
last money to the wife of a ship-keeper,
who induced her husband to place them
in the hold of the La Belle Helene.
"But," said the girl, 'Iwill be no cost
to you; for | am clever with my needle,
can make pastry, and do, | think, all
that steward can"
Captain Sproul gave her searching
look, and said;
81 shall try YOU" and calling for Mr..
Cobb, desired him to enter in the log
that John Tattamy was dsrated for
drunkenness, and Helen Muir appointed
in his place. "And the boy" continued
the captain, twill clean out the cabins
and assist her"
The mate burst out laughing, and evil
IDENTITY imagined that his commander
was testing; but the captain looked
sternIy at him, and remarked:
"Mr. Cobb, it's an i'll time for testing
when give orders, MS those who know
me find"
SAY, Ay, sir" returned the other, who
quick y retired to his cabin to make the
entry.
"Now. Helen" commenced Captain
Sproul, "every soul on board here has
to work, and so must you; and your
duty is simple. Take charge OF the cups
and saucers, glass and linen, and keep
them clean. Pass my orders to the
cook, who will come for them every
at six O'Clock sharp. Lay the
table and wait on me. The boy will at
tend to Mr.. Cobb and the second officer.
Now remember"-and the captain
looked terribly in earnest-"outsde the
cabin doors you must not stir without
permission, nor speak to one of the
crew for any reason, or you will be
sorry for it. But if you come to me
when in any difficulty, and do your duty
without fear or favor from any one, you
will be as safe as in your fathers draw
lng-room."
Having admonished the girl with this
laconic speech, the captain found her
cabin, and turned his attention to get
ting her some clothes; and fetching her
a piece dark blue serge intended for his
own use, and an old cloth jacket, he laid
them on the cabin table and commence
ed to fashion a garment which, when
completed, resembled the dress Of a
sister of charity.
In the course of day or two, what
with the captains cloth and her own
clever fingers. Helen was transformed
into a blue-eyed, sunny girl of seven
teen, with wonderfully pretty face and
a waving mass OF light hair. BUTT was
her innocent and engaging manner that
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