Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-03-12

A HOPELESS CASE.

The first person Annie encountered on
the deck was Cargil, and for an instant she
shrank from him, clutching the top of the
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 tho time Of danger the most ter
rorstricken face Of all on board had been
that Of Cargill He grasped tho nearest rope
Of the rigging, and clung to it as if he were
already drowning, and this was the last
straw Of hope. His faboy checks grew yel-
low, and his fishy eyes started in his head
more prominent than cvc.. He had never
contemplated tho possibility Of c wreck.
When the danger was oTer he was the first
to recover his equanimity, and to pretend
that he had nos been a. all disturbed by the
incident.
He lit cigar, and whilst apparently look.
ing on at the hustle which preceded the ar
rival in port, he Lorered about the cabin
skylight and the stair, wishing to go down,
and, for some reason, unable to 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 he would receive
very little grace if he attempted it, Then
he walked back to the cabin skylight and
hoyered about it as before. But when they
were fast in port he met the captain on his
way to the cabin, told him of the dram he
had given to Ross, with many expressions
of 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
1T was foolish thing for you to do,
though kindly meant; but it was a-weel,
We'll ma say nae mair about that. l dinna
want to be in a passion when gang doom to
him. Pm ma gaun to prosecute him, as 1
might do; but out o. this boat he 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 maun hae had a guild wheen 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 right to touch
onything when he was on duty"
'All the same, captain; for your own sake
don't be hard on him."
''Oh, I'm ma gaun to be hard on him, as /
hae told YOU 1 hae had over muckle liking
for him for that. I'll manage quiet enough
but we maun get him ashore; Gamma thole
to hae him near me-"
SO the captain went below, and Cargill,
as before hovered 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.
- che cai6 ovoito6Iy,
and with little confusion. ''Wait a min
ute"
She passed him and ran to the bow, where
the men stood in group, talking and smok.
ing. 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.
Il want you to go down to the cabin,
jock" she said, touching the arm of thick
set, grey-bearded man, land 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 Mern,did); 'but I'll do your bid
ding"
II tell you all, he is not we'll; he was not
fou."
That's Just what L was saying" asserted
II sturdy l6llOW
who had been the lookout at the moment
of peril, "for he was speaking to me ma half
an hour afore he put the wheel wrang, and
he was as sober as a judge"
The man said this doggedly, having just
been contending with much opposition from
his mates.
''You are right, Campbell" said Annie
grateful to find some one who agreed with
her. She had been much disappointed by
the manner in which Jock Burns had obey
ed her; for she had counted upon him as
Ross's friend, and found that he, too, shared
the common belief regarding the cause OF
the pilots blunder.
$50 you up to the town and fetch the best
doctor you can find that will come immedi-
ately'
Then she went back to Cargill, who was
waiting for her with every appearance of
stolid patience in his general bearing; but
the fish eyes rolled restlessly between the
shore and the group Of men to whom she
had been speaking.
1t was the late goaming-tho hour when
sen and land appear most beautiful, touch