The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-04-01

with surprise at the familiarity which
these common sailors had secretly with
the first mate. Old Jacques would
hardly have spoken to sailor even up
on the land, except in the way of duty.
I had for this Mr.. Atkin, as he called
himself, strong dislike. His face had
q smooth badness, but he was fluent OF
tongue, with an appearance of education,
and the Captain smiled at what he said
was childish prejudice. Yet the good
God has given me to read the human
face, and l often have chosen out those
from the crew who I felt would make
trouble to the officers, and was seldom
with mistake.
The second officer was Waters, a man
very young but brave and active. He
too regarded this Atkin with suspicion.
"Ten your father, Miss" he said to me
in private, ''to keep his weather eye
open, and look out for Atkin."
The Captain did but laugh when !
told him, and babe me not to trouble
my little head with fears. But I found
him watchful in quiet way after that,
though there happened nothing for some
time of suspicion.
/ find as I copy from my journal that
l do not sometimes frame these SEN
fences in the exact order that I read
them in books. can not seem to read
lily correct myself, as I have made q
point to put down all the conversation
which I remember exactly as it was
spoken by those of whom I shall write.
It will be q good practice for me. Ibe-
gan to keep my journal three years
since, with view of having better COM
mand of language.
We finally made sight of Teneriffe
Peak among the Canary Islands. It
rises many thousand feet above the sea,
and for miles is visible in the clear
weather.
That night the winds died away and
we were becalmed, and so warm as it
was! I could not sleep, and in the
first watch-that of the Captain-I went
upon deck. Old Dan is sailor who
has been at sea with US great many
years, and the only one that the Captain
wishes me to speak with when he is not
present.
So after had chatted with the Cap
tain little, he went forward a moment
with command for the second mate.
"How do you head, DAMP" asked
of him idly.
"Mostly all round the compass, there
being no steerage way to speak of,
Miss" he made answer.
I yawned, for I had strong desire to
sleep, yet cared not to 60 to the close
air of below.
All at once thought of the life-boat
which swings at the "Petrel's stern,
covered with canvas, and how delightful
to be in it were it possible. If there came
a breath of wind should feel it there
and remembering that had seen torn
fore-royal put into the boat few days
previous, made up my mind what to
do. "Look you, Dan," said, 81 am
going to sleep in the life-boat till you
shall come to the wheel again in the
morning watch from twelve till four, and
then you can call me-"
"Very well, Miss,,'' he made reply,
though he regarded me with little
doubt, "only maybe Cap'n Wray
think"
"He need know nothing of il" I said,
with Impotence, for l have will head
strong, which often causes me after
sorrow. And without other words I
slipped myself within the boat, pulling
the cover in place with care.
"Where is Miss Wrayp" I heard the
Captain to ask as he came aft moment
after.
"She's turned in, sir" was the an
swer of Dan.
Then the Captain began his walk of
the quarterback with vain whistlings
for the breeze.
But it was charming, laying upon the
old sal, listening to the twitter of Mother
Cary's chickens and the cool swash of
the sea about the rudder.
1t is not a wonder, then, that I fell in
to fast sleep, only to awaken by the bell
striking "one, two, three, four, which
knew had the meaning of two o'clock
of the morning, and had some regret
at my foolish whim, for it had become
quite cool and damp. Yet knew I
might not release myself until four
o'clock, when old Dan again had the
wheel.
l raised corner of the cover and
peeped out. Spanish Joe stood with one
hand upon the wheel, looking sideways
in the half darkness of the nig ht. The
light from the pinnacle was upon his
swarthy face with strength, and I told
with little shiver, that it was
the face of . brigand, such Is had
gazed upon in some gallery of pictures.
But figure to yourself my feelings q Mr..
Akin, after listening moment ut the
open window of the stste-room of the
came directly behind the
Wheel, and seating himself upon the
taffrail, 50 near that could touch him,
began with an absent drumming of his
fingers upon the cover Of the boat it
self!
Everybody is sound asleep but you
and I, Joe," he said, in half whisper.
"Bueno," was the reply of Joe; can
now s'pose you say what you have think
bout US try to get dis money you tell US
of, eh?'
swell, Joe," he answers, and you
can not imagine to yourself how like oil
was his voice, "I've laid the thing out
about this way. Tomorrow night, when
Dan is steering and the Swede on the
lookout, we'll give young Waters little
u A.