, 1883-12-22


with him for morning among his
business friends, and very delightful
l found these visits. 1t was after
one OF them we found Johnny Carter.
we were walking along the quay to
take the boat for our return to the
ship. The quay was lined on the
landward side with gambling dens-
great bare rooms entirely open to the
street. At the far end, a rough
stage lifted into prominence some
times row Of Ethiopian minstrels,
sometimes three or four painted wo-
men singers, sometimes seedy
pianist and a half-starved viOlinist.
Between this stage and the street,
row after row of tables were set out,
crowded with men dressed in red
sh rts, broad slOuched hats, broad
btIlnjand perfect armOry Of wea-
pOns. Cries and blows and struggles
were as common as the twang of the
guitar or the voice Of the singer, and
my father always hurried me along,
trembling as l was, striving to dis
tract my attention from the sights
and sounds that | still recall with
horror.
On this day of which l write, he
suddenly paused before one Of the
dens, and then deliberately walked
into its very midst, still holding my
hand. At a table near the centre Of
the room, he laid his hand on the
shoulder Of Johnny Carter, who was
intently watching the deft fingers of
a quartette Of gamblers. Piles Of
gold dust, eight cornered pieces, and
Jumps of quartz lay heaped upon the
table, and vOuched for their recent
arrival from the outskirts of civil.
izatiOn.
With a wild cry the little wretch
withed himself from fathers grasp
and threw himself into the midst Of
the group, bowling for protection.
In one instant all was confusion.
The men sprang up from their games
on all sides, leaving their gold as
readily and recklessly as though no
more depended on the turn of a card
than in a mere game for the love Of
it. They crowded close around us
great, bearded, swarthy, terrible fel-
lows, who seemed never to have
been born Of woman. Johnny, pour
ing out shrill screams very well
made up Of terror and entreaty, told
a pitiful tale. lie had been beaten,
and kicked, and starved, and thrown
overheard and tOwed he had been
worked night and day he was afraid
Of his life. Only save him! Only
keep him away from that dreadful
ship!
The crowd roareSl fearful oath
that they would stand by him, and
then turned fhe oaths to fearful
threats against my father. He stood
like rock, and |, silent, scarcely
terrified, but terribly excited, clung
to his side. The dreadful faces
surged nearer, the cruel knives be-
gan to CLEAN in sharp curves and
tlOurishes, the unmistakable "click"
of firearms sounded on all sides. A
woman's voice scream from the
stage
ooh, the leetle chile! Take care
the leetle chile ~
Some Of the gruff voices near us
took up the cry. My father did not
raise me to his breast, as he easily
might have done, and thus have
screened himself, but he threw his
arm around me, and slowly and
cody began making his way to the
door. He was a man of splendid
presence, and that always "tells,"
more or less. Tall, finely formed,
with the step, the carriage Of the
head, the glance Of the eye, of those
born to command, he passed their
midst undaunted. There was no air
of reckless bravadO about him. He
wassimply ready for anything, "fear-
ing not what men could do unto
him''and they felt ii. Crowding us, yet
making way for US, threatening him
with eye and voice and death-deal-
ing hand, yet only threatening, we
passed through them to the street.
They went with US, and the very
air of heaven seemed to give them
new wrath. Brdwny arms were
to snatch me from
him; but | had heard the wO-
mans voice and the mems words,
and KNEW well was his protection.
! clung the closer, and know / gave
back from my baby eyes the proud
scOrn Of my fathers spirit. One Of
them swOre a hoarse oath that l was
"a plucky little DEVIL" and then
they cheered me and cursed my
father. Still he went on, and gave
no sign. 1t was but a few steps to
the long Wharf and our waiting
boat There was a swell and a sway
Of the crowd. saw through a gap
the blue waters of the bay, and close
at hand the well-knOwn dark blue
flag, white crossed and red centred,
which was our ships ensign. The
next instant familiar faces rose about
us the young merchants from the
offices we had recently left pushed
their way to US, and CHEEKY voices
cried out:
"Here, captain, Wen stand by you |!
The committed is outs"
The mob gave a wild roar, and
surged in frenzy. My father spoke
for the nrat tima.