The Republican journal., 1881-08-18

They We're dumblounded, and smit-
ten with confusion. They stared at me,
and at Maggie and the cat, and they
shouldered toward the stairs Bill Bow
ser again made himself spokesman.
"Fm blest," said he, "but that cat has
the devil i'll her, as sure as David. But
look ahere, captain, we must Just set her
adrltt again, and tie her in this time"
"NOw,' said |, II won't allow hair OF
that cat to be touched again. And ad-
wise all you mensto Gear out of this at
once, or | shall take note of it, and reckon
1t as an attempt at mutiny.' | spoke in
loud, commanding tone, to rouse Jack,
who was in his berth close by.
''Oh, you will, will you ?" said Bowser.
now snarling out in the rebelious spirit
natural to him, and suggestively lowering
his head and drawing up his sleeve flom
his right wrist | felt sure he had his
knife handy. ''If it's to be reckoned
mutiny, it may Us well be made worth the
reckoning. Down with him mates y
| caught the CLEAN of the knife had
no weapon; | threw my cap in his face,
and the next instant tloored him with my
list. At this juncture, as if in answer to
iilllo -hdSSICS VI /. uuu DllSl JUCk, nall
dressed, revolver in hand
''Halloa Eh F.? What's this?n he cried.
| took the revolver from his hand and
pointed it among the men, who looked
some sulky, some bewildered, but none
inclined to follow Bowsers initiative.
"NoW," said |, II give YOU another
chance. Be off at once to the foc'sle or
80" ! clicked the trigger Of my revolver.
LAY, ay, captain" they murmured and
tumbled up to the deck as fast as they
could. "We didn't mean no harm, sir, =
pleaded those who were nearest to me,
and who We're forced to linger.
No, the lubbers no harm! But if Bill
BoWser had struck me down with his
knife, they would not have moved finger
or tongue to save me, or to keep them
selves from the crimes Of mutiny and
murder on the high seas. Yes: that's
what the merchant seamen have come to,
nowadays, AS for Bill Bowser, he was
OF course put in irons.
Now, soon after daylight, with nasty
sea still running and the wind in the
southeast, the man at the lookout sighted
bark with signals of distress tlving.
She was about two miles off our larboard
quarter. BY and 10y we signalled what
was the matter 'Leaking," was the
answer: ''all hands at the pumps Then
we see the ships letters, and we made
out the name-What do YOU think The
Lilly Could it be the same Lily the
Lily Of Plymouth we had passed on
our other quarter nearly week ago? ? 1t
might be: for ye see, these hurricanes
often, maybe always, work in circle.
Cyclone, dye say All, yes: that's what
we call them when We meet in the trop-
les. Well, we bore down on each other,
and took the opportunity of having a
word or two with my men, to set myself
right with them, and to make them. if !
could, throw Oft that superstition about
the cat. | called them aft
"NoW, said |, ''you needn't look fright
ened; I'm not going to say anything
about last nights affair. | agree to call
it all mistake, if you will give up youl
foolish, old wives notion about my cat
here. say my eat, because am deter
mined to take it home with me, and leave
it with my little girl here. Now look at
it hasn't it the incest little face Il cat
ever had How can ye believe there is
devil in the creature Z"
The DEVIL said one, 'otten hangs out
the prettiest hgureheads, sir"
"Well," said |, "that's true. But now
you're sailors you can't refuse shelter
and you can't surely think i'll of a poOl
dumb creature that was twice thrown
into that sea, and twice came back to the
old ship, and that after all licked the
ye ,-licks it now"
"llooray for the captain :"
'But, my hearties, said l. "therc's an
other thing" And this was my strong
point, 'lou see that bark out there
She's called the Lily, and believe shes
the same as smuggled this cat aboard OF
us. Now, has she gained ANYTHING bv
losing the cat When she's been caught
i'll the same hurricane we have, and she's
come worse out Of it shes driven fal
from her course, and she's leaking dam
gerously."
They turned and looked at each othel
and nodded; they evidently thought
there was something in it,
I've keep the eat, them said .'Nhetn
er the Lily would like it back or no Is
that agreed }"
"Ay, ay, sir.
1t was a bad sea, but we lowered a
boat as we and the Lily approached
particularly wanted to 90 aboard of her
got the basket out in which pussy had
come to us, replaced her as we had found
her, and put the empty champagne bot
ties on top.
The crew of the Lilly were dropping
with fatigue when we went aboard, but,
Lord to see how the skipper and them
about him woke up when they saw us
Astonlshment is no word for it,
"Good God " he exclaimed. ".And YOU
are the SeameW :"
"And YOU are the Lily" said /. THAT
was a nice present you sent me. have
brought back the bottles and the basket ,
and 50 saying, | uncovered pussy, who,
to my amazement, jumped out at once
and bounded Oft. had only intended to
show the skipper she was there The
poor man stared, his jaw dropped, and
he sank down on coil Of rope, with his
head in his hands, uttering a long, hope
less groan.
"Come, my friend, cheer up" said.
"We've almost nothing to eat" said he
"we've been at the pumps two days, and
now that brute has come back There's
no use standing by them any more ou1
voyage comes to an end here, and down,
down we go. We might as we'll have
kept the beast; the old wretch's words
have come true, and we finish in the
middle, as she said.'
| doubted if his mind was wandering
"Come," said |, bestir yourself and give
orders. There's no use staying by the
ship any longer; you must abandon hel
and come with me-"
"What. leave the Lily? She's good
old ship, and she's my own; no, III 60
down with her and that cursed cat Take
Oft the crew, sir, however, and Fll thank
you"
lcould not make up my mind to think
him deranged, and yet-Just then the
cat came bounding along the deck with
something in her mouth, and all the
hands paused and stared. She put it in
the basket at my feet where she herself