The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-11-01
CHAPTER VII
MERMAID Alloy ~

MERMAID AHOY"
Donkey engines ratting bales Of goods
from quays aboard ships, or Dice UerSG; bar
rcls, boxes, hampers, all flying in the air
and alighting safely in their places amidst
Babel Of tongues and great smell Of tar.
That was the port of Leith.
The bantam-like MCrmdd nestled at its
mooringS, but painting and putting as proud
| " as its neighbors, trying to make itself APP
pear as big as possible, and continually as
sorting It's claim to equal consideration with
any of the huge rivals which lay to right
and left Of it. The bantam was noted
amongst the people OF the port for its neat
ness and sca-worthiness, and for the push
| ing character of its commander Goods put
on board the Me,mdid were considered as
safe as if they had been placed in the hands
/ Of the persons to whom they were cOnsign-
! ed. Thus the credit Of Duncan Murray
| stood high and he valued it more than his
! life-truly more than his life, for it was no
! mere phrase with him. it was a fact. He
valued that credit more than his life,
more even than his daughters life, and that
meant everything human he cared about;
| it included the Mermaid. 1t had come to
| be a saying, las safe as though it was with
Duncan Murray" and that was as much to
| him as if he had been made Lord II Oh Ad-
miral Of the Fleet.
! The fact was remarkable that in the
| whole course of his trading he had never
! lost the smallest package intrusted to his
I care; and as years went on the pride Of this
| fact grew in its proportions in his breastun-
til it seemed as If one failure would have
| killed him.
Annie, with her sailors hat and pea jacket
on, stood on the hurricane deck overlooking
the hustle on board and on the quays Her
father was moving about everywhere; now
scoldng, now encouraging, now lending
hand to move some pile.
At length everything was on board, and
only two people were waiting to complete
the equipment of the Mermaid for her trip.
Where is Mr.. Ross asked Annie after
long consideration with herself
"Ile'll Join rs on the road; he asked me
to let him go out last night and | said, ay,
If he would meet us in time. Nae fear O.
him"
She had no need to ask where was Mr..
Cargll, for Il cab drove along the wharves
as far as it could, and that gentleman APP
pear, in faultlessly fashionable vulgar
check tweed tourist suit He had only
small handbag to carry for his portman-
tcau had been put on board the previous
night
His figure was groteSque; imagine a stOu:
man six feet in height, with heavy jaws and
sleepy eyes, dressed like a lad of fifteen!
This was Mr.. Car-ill, who had an unbound
ed faith in the elegance Of his figure and the
skin Of his tailor
Annie laughed at the sight Of him, and
the captain felt disposed to bid him put
some clacs on as quick as he could. But
recognising in all this the height of aristO-
cratic fashion, he held his tongue and mar
yelled. Captain Duncan would have been
a great tOady If opportunity had offered;
for he had vast reverence for The ''nobeel-
ty" and deep respect for anything which
even re,sotely represented ii. So, with all
his absurd airs, "Jecms' Cargill impressed
the old man as being something out Of the
common-ju just "a poor old Bell Cargil was
impressed, and consequently permitted her
money to flow at his command.
He saluted his hosts, but they were too
much occupied to give him particular atten-
ton, and he had grace enough to recognize
that fact. lie applied himself to the ar
rangement Of his berth, fitting up in it all
the newest contriyances for securing COM
fort at sea. Having done this he went on
deck.
The boat was just casting Off. He looked
around Captain Duncan was doing every
thing and Bob Ross was not therel
Are you going to do without your plot?'
he said to the skipper as he approached
him.
III haze nae time to speak to Onybody the
moo, was the sharp response, as Captain
Duncan hurried to his post on the hurricane
deck.
Cargll quietly followed him. because
Annie wa, there.
I'VE shall have pleasant day." he said,
with as much warmth as II there had been
something very particular ia the remark.
1t looks pleasant enough at present.
she answered, smiling at the weather pro-
phet; but it isa west wind, and those
clouds yonder may bring us such rain as
will spoil the incest clothes"
He observed the smile and was uncon-
scious of the playful alluSion to his gor-
geOu, riIment.
"Ah, ynn are weathCr-wiSc, Miss Murray,
and | ought not to have dared to say word
on the subject. | ought To have asked you
10 tell me how il was to BE-. Butwe may be
happy in the most unpleasant weather when
We are with those we like best In the
world"