The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-11-15
4 MAIDEN FAIR.
CHAPTER x.
A HOPELESS CASE.
BY CHARLES GIBBoN,

cabin stair to prevent herself from falling
backward. He held out his hand to aid
her: but she recovered herself without TAX
ing the proffered hand.
During tn, time Of danger the mos. te,.
rorstricken face OF all on board had been
tina. Of CargilL He grasped the nearest rope
Of the rigging and chung to II as IL he were
already drowning, and this was the last
straw Of hope. His aabby cheeks grew vel:
low, and his fishy eyes started In his head
moro prominent than ever. Ho had never
contemplated the possibility OF wreck.
When the danger was over he was tho first
to recover his equanimity, and to pretend
that he had not been at all disturbed by the
incident
he lit o cigar, and whilst apparently look
ing on at the hustle which preceded the Ar.
rival Ia port, he lowered about the cabin
skylight and the stair, wishing to go down,
and, for some reason, unable 10 do so, strain.
ing his ears to catch any sound that might
come from below. He heard nothing.
He advanced to the captain several times,
as il to speak, but saw that lie would receive
very little grace II he attempted It. Then
he walked back TO the cabin skylght and
lowered about it as before. But when they
we're fast in port he met the captain on his
way - the cabin, told him OF the dram he
had given to Ross, with many expressions
f regret at the almost fatal consequence,
and taking his full share OF blame. At the
same time he offered his flask to the cap
tain, who very willingly took dram whilst
saying
ut was foolish thing for you to do,
though kindly meant; but 1t was a-weel,
we'll ma say nae mar about that. / dinna
want to be in a passion when ! gang doom to
him. I'm IA gaun to prosecute him, as
might do; but out o this boat h, goes this
minute if he has to be carried out"
Don't be too hard on him, captain. He
must have had drop before that he did not
take into account. One glass could never
have had such an effect upon him."
He mann haze had guild whcen draps
afore-confoond him--for You see ! hae taen
a big dram the moo, and Pm heap the bet
ter OF, instead O. being the waur. But that's
ma to the purpose. He had nae rghtto touch
onything when he was on duty"
"A the same, captain; for your own sake
don't be hard on him.
"Oh, I'm ma gaun to be hard on him, as |
haze told you haze had over muckle liking
but we maun get him ashore; Gamma thole
10 hae him near me-
So the captain went below and Cargill,
as before lowered about the cabin, and thus
encountered Annie when she rushed up
from below.
do you want anything-can get it for
you he asked eagerly.
"Na-yes-thank You" she said eXcitedly,
aud with little confusion. Wait min
ute"
She passed him and ran to the bow, where
the men stood in group, talking and smok-
iug As there was to be no discharge OF
cargo till the following day they were all
taking their ease and discussing the strange
events Of the passage
II want YOU TO 20 down tc the cabin,
Jock" she said, touching the arm of thick
Set, grey-bearded man, "and bide with Bob
Ross he is not we'll"
You're flashing yourself over muckle
about him, missy" Chat was her name on
board the NernHid); but III do your bid
ding"
'Itrll you all, he is not well; he was not
fou."
That's mat what was saying" asserted
a sturdy fellow named Camptrll-the same
who had been the ook-out at the moment
Of peril. for he was speaking to me- ma half
an hour afore he put the wheeI wrang, and
be was as sober a Judge
The man said this doggedly, having just
been contending with much opposition from
hi, mates
"You are right, Campbell said Annie,
grateful 70 find some one who agreed with
her She had been much disappointed by
the manner in which jock Barns had obey
ell her; for she had counted upon him as
R0ss's friend, and found that he, too, shared
the common belief regarding the cause OF
the pilots blunder.
eco YOU up to the town and fetch the best
doctor YOU can find that will come immedi.
Rtely."
Then she went back to Cargll, who was
waiting for her with every appearance OF
stOlid patience in his general bearing; but
t.e h.'l eyes rolled restieSsly between the
shore and the group Of men to whom she
had been speaking.
1t was the late goaming-the hour when
sea and land appear most beautiful, touch
ed by the saddest, sweetest most myster-
ious lights and shades. Voices and all
sounds seem hushed, and the st!css plash
OF the sea Is like the low Groom of q mother
singing lullaby The shadows deepen
s,JE', and by and-by all is hushcd and yet
not dark.
Suddenly there comes glory In the sky;
great shafts Of lights Of many co'ors, like
straight rainbow, dart across 1t through
white streams, and tho eyes are filed with
wonder.
This is the fret tlmo have seen tho
Northern Lights, Miss Murray" said Car
gill "a he advanced TO meet her; land they
ere certainly admirable"
3D., they are ine," she answered grave
IL, checking the inclination she feltto show
her dislike for Ms conventional expression
If aOm ration; I'VE who have seen them be-
fore believe they are something more than
cJrirb,c--we cannot pu. our wonder into
Words
That is exactly how feel" he answer
ed, evidently quite unconsc Gus OF the re-
huke conveyed in her simple words but
II ma able as these phenomena are, will
you believe il, there Is something which oc-
rupiss ny mind so much at present that |
~ BILE TO give them proper attention."
'iBieedp