The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-15
THE DAILY STAR
MY SHELL AND SHARK
STORY.
BY A NAVAL OFFICER.
CHAPTER l.
BY A. NAVAL OFFICER.

mo one, I should imagine, possessed
of an atom of common sense"
"What an ideap
80, it's only Markham"
A general laugh followed the last OBJ
servation, which once more brought the
interrogator's head from behind his cur
tain.
But to render the foregoing .intelligi-
hla, and bring me in fair way for spin
ming my yarn, | must ask my readers to
leave dear old England and its fogs, come
through the Mediterranean, through the
Suez Canal Git wasn't open in those days.,
down the Red Sea and Gulf Of Alden,
and on board H. NJ. S. Bee, lying snugly
at anchor under the high bank of Cape
Guardafui.
1t is breakfast time, Is a. m. J, and the
ward-room officers are, with one ex-
ception, seated round the table, the ex-
ception being Markham, who, having
had the middle watch, is not supposed to
make his appearance till Zone bell, y
Is: 36.)
For the benefit of those unacquainted
with the interior economy of man-of-
war, | may mention that round the
ward-room (the mess-place of the super
ior officers below the rank of captain)
there are small curtained niches-yclept
cabins-about six feet square, which are,
so to speak, the officers private quarters;
bedroom, silting-room, library, study,
ETC., all merged into one, perfect "mul-
tum in parvo."
Markham not having completed his
toilet, listens to the remarks his question
has called forth without comment; but
the last, 40, it's only Markham" was
rather too much; so, as | have before
written, out came his head from behind
his curtain.
swell, Doctor" he saps, Suppose it is
only Markham. What then?'
Simply, my dear fellow, Melons re-
mark holds doubiy good"
Mellon was the first who had responded
to Markham's query. He was our senior
lieutenant, and had been disrespectfully
dubbed by the middies "Old Sober
sides"
20, every one knows your ideas, Doc
tor, and if we followed your advice, it's
precious little we should see Of the
shore, except before sunrise or after
dark"
The Doctors crotchet was the sun; he
objected most strongly to either officers
or men being exposed to its influence,
and had on more than one occasion, by
appealing to the Captain, nipped some
pet expedition in the bud; the leading
spirit of these expeditions being nine
times out of ten Markham, whose present
craze was conchology.
Within the last few months Fl. NJ. S.
Bee had been stationed at Trincomalee,
a famous place for shells; here they
are sold in sandal-wood boxes fitted with
trays, and arranged in order. Some OF
us had invested in one of these boxes,
hence the mania.
At Markham's rejoinder the Doctor
quietly chuckled, and remarked:
''There goes 'one bell;' you'd better be
quick out of that den of yours, my boy,
or you'll find your breakfast cold"
'"By Jove! / forgot that; but hold on,
I'll talk to you in moment"
In few minutes Markham emerges
and takes his. seat at the table, EARNED
for the fight and eager for the fray"
"Now, Doctor, Pm ready for you; fire
awaY!"' was his opening remark.
II have nothing more to- say on the
matter" replies Esculapius.
"No? So much the better, then; for /
shall have more time to eat my break
fast in peace" .
File relapses for a moment; then re-
commences:
"Well, who'll come with me? I pur-
pose landing abreast the ship, walking
across the valley (it's only about four
miles, erhaps less, searching the beach
for Shells and then returning. Well
take the interpreter, so that in event Of
meeting any of the natives he can par
ley-voo" them, and I'll take my breech-
loader as some kind of protection-not
that it's likely to be wanted; and as re-
CARDS provender, we'll get the steward to
put us up hamper in which Mr.. Bass
will be duly represented. Now don't all
answer at once. Who'll come@
No one accepting the invitation, he
turned to me.
20 Louis, do come, there's good fel-
low; we're sure to find some shells, and
who knoMs2perhaps some rare speei-
mems. Besides, after all said and done,
it's better than remaining moped up ON
board all day." .....
"Don't you wish you may get itI' the
Doctor chimed in. Louis is too old a
bird to be caught with chaff"
'Your advice wasn't asked" Markham
replied rather angrily; $50 perhaps you
will be good enough to allow Louis to an
swer for himself"
Seeing Markham was really bent on
carrying out his project, after great
deal of hesitation. ,.and sadly against. my
better judgment, | eventually consented.
"What, Louis the Doctor broke forth,
"you surely are not mad enough to eoun-
tenance such freak%'
"Well, yes, Doctor, / answered; "as /
have consented / suppose must 60; but
never fear, our pith bats will protect us
from the sum-"
"And we'll take umbrellas, Doctor