Morris tribune., 1881-02-10
Besides according to mari.

money cannot be returned to you.
So the unhappy Narcissus left the Sar-
ah Ann, and did not appear until the hour
of sailing, such was his disgust at the un-
character of the vessel, master,
and crew.
When he went to the pier to engage
boat to take him out to the brig, he met
the stoutm whom he had seen IN the
captains cabin. This individual proposed
that they should hire boat jointly to trans
port themselves and baggage to the brig,
and Narcissus consented. He babe fare
we'll to his cousin, and tumbled into the
boat. The stout man followed him.
Have you ever been to sea, sir?" he ask
ed
mo, replied Narcissus; ''and your"
s'Never, sir; this is the first time. l am
going to the colonies to exhibit my wax fig-
ures."
What do they representa-" asked Mar
cissus, mechanically.
THAT" said he, pointing to one--they
were long, narrow boxes, about six by three
that contains magnificent figure OF the
Emperor Napoleon; that, figure OF his
holiness the Pope; that, an Albino, and he
went through the list.
''Well, what do you bother me with 1t ferT'
demanded Narcissus, glad to find some one
to vent his ill-humor upon.
81 only told you because you asked me,
sir" replied the man, submissively.
well, shut up, will you'll" replied the
gentle Narcissus.
''You talk too much!
The stout mans eyes snapped angrily, but
he said nothing. They reached the vessels
side, and with unheard- of precautions the
Snowman had his boxes put aboard He
made the sailors almost expire with laughter
at the gingerly way in which he climbed the
ladder, and his calling the masts ''the poles"
furnished them fresh food for merriment.
At five o'clock in the evening the Sarah
Anne weighed anchor, and set on her yoy-
age. Narcissus remained on deck watching
the sun set, and thus, as he expressed it,
''relighting the touch of poesy in his soul.
But he hadn't been there long before he be-
came extremely sea-sick, and two grim
ming tars took him below.
AS for the Snowman, he remained on
deck amusing the crew by his ignorance of
nautical matters, which was simply dense.
However, as he was about to go below, he
noticed that one of the sheets was working
loose from its cleat. CHANGING carefully
around him, and seeing no one near, he
hauled it taut and Delayed it with the ex-
pertness of an old sailor. Having done this,
he went off to examine his cases: .
|
| Narcissus did not sleep. AS he tossed
restlessly upon his pillow he invoked the
muse.
so muses. nine!" quoth he, pity me, and
send US something romantics tempest, a
shipwreck- anything. have quilted the
realms of pins, needles, and tape, and
abandoned myself to the caprice of the
waves, only that my life may become excit-
no, VIC
Boreas, blow! Lash thy waves, o Neptune!"
1t is doubtful whether eitherthe muses. or
the gods heard him, but it is certain that
something very singular took place almost
upon the heels of his prayer.
The brig was not provided with state
rooms for passengers, so the apartment
occupied by Narcissus consisted only of an
old sail draped around the place tween
decks where his hammock was swung.
This canvas he could see over, and this is
= what took place. The feeble glimmer of a
ships lantern served to illumine the place
without, and its rays fell upon the show
mans boxes, which were dashed up against
the vessels side. Emerging from the dark
ness Narcissus saw the figure of the burly
Snowman.
The base hind" thought he, always
anxious for his business. Here he is eX-
ing the stars in yon azure vault -
Narcissus paused in his poetical flight
His eyes opened widely; he almost ceased
to breathe For the Snowman, after care
fully glancing around him, had opened one
of the boxes, and man stepped out. The
new conner exchanged whispered WORD
with the Snowman, and began to shake his
numb and rigid limbs.
This is indeed romantic" muttered
Narcissus But he felt a cold. sensation
creeping up his back.
The Snowman continued his task Of
opening boxes. One by one the wax figures
stepped forth, shook themselves, and fell
their Joints. When the last box was open.
3D. there were six of them, besides the
!, Snowman. Each man drew out pistols ant
knives, looked to the locks and replaced the
weapons in convenient positions.
"Well," thought Narcissus, that is The
t most wicked looking gang of cut-throats
ever set eyes on. This is altogether too TO-
: mantle. I wish I was home.''
But his thoughts were interrupted by the
sound of the showman's voice:
''All ready?" said he. in a hoarse whisper
'Al ready" was the whispered reply
l ''Then here we CO.!
{ With cat-ike tread they stole away il
2 the darkness.
2 Narcissus would have called out; his ton
t que Glove to the roof of his mouth. HI
would have risen; his head seemed gluet
to his pillow. A cold perspiration brok'
out upon him. He had realized the fac
that his comrades were pirates.
S Ten minutes passed on. They seemed
4 hours to him. Then he heard an outcry
the trampling of feet on the deck over hi
head; the short bark of pistols; mutteret
| i,
t triumph; the sound of conve station; thel
1 he heard at intervals the sound of heav,
s bodies dropping into the water "Splash
s Splash! Splash"
1t was altogether to romantic. Narcissu
tainted away.
t When he came to his senses he had ex
/; perienced a complete revulsion of feeling
> The ocean to him was distasteful. He wa
} enamored of green fields and babblin,
{ brooks He would have exchanged tn
: Atlantic Ocean for the smallest brook tina
J ever ran. His fevered fancy carried him Il
the meadows around his native city; h.
thought of the flowers there; of the smiling
grain and
tBoom!" ..
What was that? 1t sounded like a can
7 non-shot.
lueIt Wds d CTdChlluS sOuuu luc Blu
of the vessel seemed to be bursting in
l The planks and splinters few, and from tn
midst there emerged round shot-a jolly
pudgy round shot, which came wildly skip
ping along the deck toward him. AS i
neared him it made final bound, and i'm
bedded itself in the wood right over hi!
! head
Again Narcissus lost his senses. Fl.
liked romance, but he was getting too mucl
' of it at one time.
3 When Narcissus recovered consciousness
he found himself lying upon the deck O.
| the brig. There we're irons upon his hands
irons upon his feet. On either side of hin
? squatted a swarthy sailor, each with cut
lass, and each watching him with the mos
e hattering attention.
3 Narcissus turned his head. Behind hin
Lay his friend, the Snowman, in the SAM
predicament as himself Ranged in sym
s metrical rows lay the comrades of the shoar
< man, all ironed and guarded. Lying new
the brig was large man-of-war with tn
Spanish flag flying.