The Republican journal., 1881-08-18


thumb over his Shoulder-''cOme as a
deppytation from the foc'sle. We amt
got no notion O debating to the capting,
but we want to put ye in possession, sir,
of what we're a-thnking about Eh,
mates ?"
"Ay, ay." ......
"We see how it's going to be: This
here wage II never come to no good
end. The Seamew II never again get in
to no harbor; and some day one on them
big steamers Il come across her all a-rot-
ting, wi not i sign o. life aboard but a
cursed striped cat il the rigging. It's
bound to live somehow ;-eh, mates
Well, sir we amt blaming nobody.
It's our luck, and the damned trick O
that Lily. That's bound to be our luck
WI that there cat aboard; but it's not to
be expected as how we'll take it meek
and mild. Well, ye see, sir, they say
'Worser luck if We throw her overheard
Jest 50. But now this is what we were
a-thlnklng: suppose we set her adrtt in
an Old tub"
IhlS dark suggestion he conveyed in Il
low voice, with his hand to the side of
his mouth, after glance around to make
sure the cat was not within hearing. Then
he looked at me with steady, Wsttul
eye; his mates tdgeted and looked over
! the ships sides, as though they felt half
ashamed Of the plot to which they had
given their adherence
! | considered moment. | had, of
course, no real belief that getting rid of
the cat thus would give us a fair wind ;
yet still it was worth trying it involved
only the sacrifice of the cat, and if it did
not change the wind, it would at least
change the looks of my crew. But what
would my little Maggie say? However,
| turned at once to Dick,
You can try it," said l. Il give YOU
full leave though, mark you, | don't be-
lieve in the nonsense. But yet hold of it
without my little girl seeing YOU"
"Ay, ay, sir"
Ali, it was a bad night. The wind
whistled in ropes and cords, and spars
and rigging creaked YEARLY. The broken
water every now and then came smashing
OH our bulwarks, and sWirling and kissing
over Us. All, my hearties, believe me,
| it's better ashore than at sea The cat
was got and put into the tub, and over
| she went into the darkness and rush and
hiss Of the mighty waters, with a dread
full new, that made our flesh creep
was glad did not see the mems
faces. felt i don't know what Then
| went aft a step or two till was close to
the wheel and looking astern. had stood
maybe minute or more, when, 10 and
behold, saw, just where the glimmer
Of the binnacle light fell on the bulWarks,
the head and the staring eyes of that cat ,
| dashed forward Just Oh the impulse.
1t was clambering on board again
"Down, you brute | cried, pushing
at it. oh how it clawed into the wood
'Down, you wretch. YOU devil Y
1t mewed terribly and held on with
every claw, but YES, yes, with furious,
halt-tcrritied hands, tore it away and
! flung it out had not noticed that the
men had come about me.
'Ah. save and deliver US, sir" said
Dick at MY elbow. "You've done for us
now, Lord knows what'll happen r.
In the feeble light | saw his and his
companions faces staring on me with a
CHASTITY terror | felt now like fool and
a criminal. Dick had barely done speak
| ING, and had Just turned round, when a
little white figure appeared. 1t was my
little Maggie.
"Father,' she whispered, 'where are
you? | heard my pussy new and |
can't find her. Where is she Have
you seen my pussy, father"
Your father has thrown her into the
of 10 t,,I
What'll come OF, God knows
How eXasperated was with that man.
you'd better 90 for'ard, you men," was
all | said, however But, before any of
us had time to STIR the crest of wave,
like great white flying name, flung itself
over and drenched us. caught Maggie
IN my arms all dripping, and carried her
below. She said nothing, but looked at
me in way that cut me to the heart
her gaze was frightened, and half turned
away. had no word to say for myself.
| changed her night gown and put her
back into her berth. She shivered and
snuggled down with her head under the
bedclothes. After while she peeped
out and said to me:
"When you are some day angry with
me, maybe you will throw me into the
sea"
could not bear it. "Oh, Maggie, my
child, my darling" cried, taking her in
my arms. 'Don't talk and look like
that. The cat was bad cat and brought
us i'll luck and bad weather"
81 thought" said Maggie, simply, lit
was God made the weather." was
silent. After pause she cried: II want
my pussy back, father. Get me it back
1t was not bad, and liked it,"
81 wish, my DEAR" | said, II could
bring you it back"
Was it Il new | heard, and scratch
ing, or was it only the wind above, and
the dash Of the water at the port-hole ?
Maggie had heard it, too; she sat up,
and her eyes were fixed on the port hole
With some difficulty pulled it open, and
in scrambled the cat
| never was more delighted by the
sight OF any living thing than was by the
return Of that poor, half-drowned cat.
Such a weight of guilt was lifted off me.
felt almost like little boy again, there,
with my little girl beside me. The to-do
Maggie and | made over the poor, out
ragged creature. confess to you truly
the tears came into my eyes. Maggie
kissed it and cuddled it, all wet and
shivering as it was, the brave little swim
mer. | went to the cook and got some
hot mess for it to eat and prepared a
snug little bed before the cabin stove,
and poor grateful pussy licked my hand.
Captain. Captain" | heard eager
ly whispered from the top Of the cabin
steps. should have been on deck, and
! was turning to after glance at
Maggie, with shawl about her sitting
down by her recovered pussy when the
cook stumbled hurriedly down into the
cabin, whispering in terror
"Ihey've got at the spirits, captain,
and they're mad. They've knocked Dick
down for standing up for you, and they're
sure, as you threw the cat overheard, the
only way to save the ship is to throw you
after it.. They're coming.'
I And hofnro tJo, IA I. i