New-York tribune., 1884-02-03
CHAPTER XXXII.
A DYkD CALM,

us, and q mans SHADOW was so sIloit lhat IL hOo","
half an hours swim of the sun down the eciIptic
to persuade him that he had one. You felt the heat
when the Trade wind cease to blow. 1t went out
in breath the last of ITS stcam-ike clouds roiieu
away over the sea, and the ocean fell into trance
This was in the afternoon, everybody was on deck
Aunt Damaris among them; but when that wonder
ful calm came along in the wake OF the last soit.
fnint sigh of the wind the hush of it seemed 10 IAN
like the night itself upon the ship. From uhuel 'c
shadow of the awning aft you looked aohg' anu
saw the light blue of the sky dazzling ike sl'er
over tho sea betwixt the main ana lore shI y"
either hand; and. whenever the denca'e SVEN "'
the ship lie steady for space on lever heo' 'ii0
wherever the sunshine poured, you would see III
erect things-the lower masts. the figures OF men
and women the galley chimney, the standing rg-
eipg-yibrating into the appearance OF reVoiVlh9 III
the hot steamy atmosphere, like cOrkscreWs Slowly
turned. The sea went away from the snip s'u' Ia
surface of blue OIL to the sky. ana melted tIor' "
a haze that made the distance look HmeasuTaoio'
The lull WAS 30 soothing that in very short time
Captain jackson was snoring at the top OF his pipes
ont of his wide-open mouth. his wife dozed over
book, Mrs. Marmaduke Mortimer slnmbered on 'he
skyliCht. with her head on the ships ensign every
body uppeared mesmcrzed; the hens, iii their coops
muttered "a Won may hear them IN their ro0sts al
midnight: tho emigrants lay about the deck
wherever the shadows were. the sailors nodded over
their icbs, and an ordinary seaman. groasing down
the fore-royal-mast swung there under the mlghty
violet dome n though slumberng to the luliaoy
chanted by the soft white canvas, rs II gently came
in TO the masts with the gontle heavlhg Oh the
vessel 1t was desperately hot III the cuddy. In spite
of wind. sails and open skyghts. and nothing coma
have taken us 10 it, nor detained us in IT, but am;
NOV The messengers we're not in good temper ana
led table
he stirred and looked into his plate W hat pea
sonp within a stones throw of the equator - ,;1
Nothing like hot stuifs Ill hot ,Wcllntr, sdIu
DopieI from his place at the head of the table {;
" they make yo" feel cool afterward.' r..o,.or
e" say, cat IN" cried Mt thompson car, ,m'Nu,, arc
q any chance Il a breeze, do you know lhere are
more lively tn ngs than being STUCK ike Quo! al
the middle of the ocean . - e., ..., go,
his red face to the skylights; we meyer nope lof
much in the way of breezes hereabouts; A..
Then what are we 10 cXpectF cAclaluY9 Aunt
Danars sharply. she was sit'hs III hoi VI" P'"''
aWIy, ma'am. we're TO expect what they call
catspaws. troublesome currents OF ar Whch Keep
common sailors swearing, answered Daniel. .,
We're in the parallels termed the Doldruns,
said Captain Jackson, with the perSpiration stand
ing in gobules upon his face ocaldhg pTaSII"p $50,
in the DOldrumsV aud nc wiped Ms IoIehcau WIN
large silk ooket-handkerchiet. r..
Il don't think 1T much matters" SAD Aunt pa
maris. snapplshly, "whethcr you call these Gains
Dumdrums or Tantrums. Theyr very annoy!ng
and always make me regret that ain not in
. railed them DoldrumS" said Captain Jackson
warmly though no doubt they occasionally pro-
ducc tantrumS >. -
maris with a giggle; Cand hot pea-sOup does the
same thing, at times, doesn't II, Captain thompson
DOldrums. ndeedr cried she, Suddenly changing
her manner: If sailors give things lmbeclle names
wonder sensible people can be found to repeat
= Steward ~ hawled Captain Thompson tumble
I'D 4 fbprp' %
so, have the mouth of the wind-sall slowed to 1t ;
while Florence whispered to me, How pettish aunt
IL hone there won't he quarrel; and Mrs
Jackson scowed al the old lady. However. the
nayv-man made no answer. and we were hauled
clear of what threatened to be shndy by Ihomp-
son Tuckor saying: IL always heard that the sen
wag mOuntOnOus, but never could have guessed
what real bore il is. How can people be sailors
Think OF getting Gp G'or at 9rg baTg %% von not ~
There are no thea roS no concerts no balls there
nothing 10 expect-no letters. shooting, no hunt
ing no riding there's nothing to do, except TO eat
aud drink and 90 to bed. Who'd he n saiOrT
If there were sailors you'd get no tea nor
surar nor ivory fans, and ostrich feathers and seal
skin cloaks. aud other nice things says mia MIS-
And who'd fight your battles" said Captain
Yes" said Mrs Marmaduke Mortimer. " il tlIere
were no sailors England would be invaded. aud how
dreadful that would be- 10 which her husband
added " Dreadful indeed"
As to fighting my battles" exclaimed Thompson
Tucker all that can say ls Il | can't do that for
know
Pm not going to argue that men are not very KIND
TO put on loose biuo trousers or red coats, and go
ont and shoot my enemies. Whenever ! consider
how little am asked to pay III support OF the army
and navy alwavs feel that it's cheap et-oii for
me. That's why I'm mover ANNOYED whe military
or naval officer gives himself alrs say no. lGt
him be proud of being what be is; he's quito VOL
come to think himself finer person than II he
didn't. he'd call himself fool for yenturlng his life
for trine of money, and suit OF livery which ne
ha to pay for himself and then you see / might
have to do il instead"
cause it looked to be % kind of slap at Captain
Jackson, whom she detested. while Mrs. jackson
declared that she had never heard such sentiments
and Miss Grant piped out, "Oh, / dearly love
soldiers" For my part, could not help laughing
lOudly az the stupid creatures reasoning and
Daniel joining in voley of mirh Sot some of the
others grnniug and tho rest of the diDner-time
passed of without any further marked exhibitions
Amt Damaris was afraid of dow, hut for all that
the heat Of the cuddy proved too much for her and
drove her on deck. 1t was about eight O'Clock, and
she found mo sitting with Florence, but she said
nothing; merely asked me to place a char for her
near her niece. and so joined us.
sTake care you don't catch cold again, aunt. said
Florence.
81 must take my chance" she answered, " / can
not stand the atmosphere downstairs; you could
Here the vessel gently leaned, the mizzen-topsal
and tOpgaant-sail came IN sloepIy to tbo mast, and
shook down shower. of dew that pattored on the
deck like q small fall of rain.
Why, what ~ tbatW cried AuntD6marls. look
ing mp into the broathless black heavens, in hlch
the planets were shining like mOons. while the
myriad oTbs behind them seemed TO convert the
armament into one vast Milky Way.
Dew. J." said | " and am afraid it viii drop upon
Won wherever yon CO. for it collects fast upon the
ropes and rigging a, well as the sails and yards If
YOU have an umbrella in your cabin madam"
~ have, Mr. Egerton; but I'm not an Indian
princess" said she, "with Tetlnue of miserable
black slaves, to hold umbrellas up over me; and
really feel too langud to hold up one myself
You need not do so. Miss Hawke said /. " At
all events after your late bad illness, | am de
termined not to let you any risks, so If you will
allow me to get yOnr umbrella"
"Oh, MIR EgertOn, you arc very kind and attcn-
tive said the old lady, with perfect gush of feel
ing coming out along with her words. am sure
am very sensible of your pOlltenoss, sir am in
deed and another patteT of dew draining down
from tho swing of tho canvas on high she started
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