The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-12
z SHIPS CARPENTER

N,
sar Cardiff, after having completed the
lbst disagreeable of operations, the tax
8 in of a large cargo of Goals. and were
1ly waiting for the tide in order to pur-
q our voyage to Caen. | was pacing
: deck, smoking the first pipe of peace
bad enjoyed in some days. when l
Rrd disturbance at the accommoda-
b ladder which led from the ship to
quay, and in few seconds a wild,
eouth- looking creature. with flashing
ck eyes and long matted hair, came
hing toward me, followed by my chief
Ter.
What's the row, Mr.. Robbins?"
ed, as the stranger, painting and
Sthless, threw himself at my feet.
Can't make him out, sir-that I
t." replied the officer. "He's a
3chman of some sort or other"- "-in
eyes of sailors all foreigners are
kchmen-'' and he comes aboard sayin
low he wants to be taken On as car
ter, COS he hears as how the Sunder-
is a-goin' to French port. We
him as how we're provided; but he
IT take no denial, and says he must
the cap'n."
We'll, my man." 1 said, sternly,
bat is it, We don't want two car
ers-isn't that sufficient2"
Non Dieu! Monsieur lie Capitaine, :"
poor fellow returned, having recov-
his breath, II have come to 90 vid
ps carpenter, or as any mortal sing
like. l do not want money no, /
york for nosing; but l you pray to
me vid you, and if you will listen to
pr Won ten minutes l will tell you for
ere was something so tearfully earn
his manner, and he looked such a
Bic object, that I motioned the chief
to go away, and bade the man say
u he wished. So he continued:
am a scaramouch, l know-I am
il am in rags; but perhaps ven ]
s1Eyou leetle more you may sink diff
mt of me. | come from Rouen, on re
ID; vas snip builder dere-me and
= erozer. We we're not rich, but We we're
Portable, and We lived on re Mont
- tie Catherine vid our only sister, re
Fre Jacqueline. She vas tiancee to a
erne at Rouen, and she vas going to
married in few weeks, ven friend of
lfs, an Englishman, Monsieur lie Cap
Inc, fell in love vid her, and he ran off
III her. and me and my brozer has not
en- zem since. And dis vas tree year
30, and ever since me and my brozer We
we been looking all over re world fir
|m, and if We catch him, w then"-and
VI man looked almost fendish as he
5oke these words and tapped signi6-
lbtly formidable-looking knife which
5ng in a leather sheath at his waist
N. den We shall kill him."
.$Who was he2" asked, 'and what
B his name?"
Ills name vas Curtis" replied the
Richard Curtis; big
"a he vas-big of six feet, and he vas
% re captain Of a ship"
This was strange, for the consignees
my ship at Caen were Richard Curtis
20, and Dick Curtis, who answered
lhe description given by the French
D, had been Al especial chum of mine,
hough Lhad not now seen him for
Fe years.
tBut, my friend" I said, "surely you
on wild goose chase! You might
all over the world for years without
eting him, especially as you say he
captain"
FYes, dat is drue," allowed the
hickman; s'but 1 tink he has been
at Rouen or somewhere near again,
I shall not rest until l find him."
Pick Curtis, knew, had been a bit
scape grace in his youthful days; but
ID not think he was the sort of fellow
un off with a young French girl who
already engaged to another man.
was not going to run the risk of a
detta at Caen. so l firmly told my
pplicant that the ships books were
te full, and that in no circumstances
I'D | take him. He burst, French
like, into torrent of tears and
festations; but was infexible, and
Fent away, looking the very picture
pisery.
|e got off by the evening tide, and
making good way, with the ele-
IS in our favor. Suddenly in the
saw figure spring up the brid ge
Pr, and the Frenchman stood before
L was very angry at first,
swore that he should be i'm
Ped at Caen as a stowaway--fo ]
Pally little anxious for Dick Cur
| had reason to know what re-
,ill Frenchman meant; but the man