The Iola register., 1886-11-05

general cargo consisting chiefly o.
! toys, hardware, Birmingham and Shef
. field cutlery. and metal goods. and 8
stock of pisno-fortes. The ship to my
thinking, was too deep. as though the
owners had compensated thcmselve.
for the want of passenger-money by
taking it ont" in freight readily
fOresaw that We should be wet ship,
and that we should labor more than
was comfortable in heavy sea. The
steerage was packed with light good,
bird cages, and such things-but
space was left in the 'twcen-decka
though the cargo came flush with the
deck in the hold.
However, in spite of being over.
loaded, the Grosvenor had beaten
every thing coming down the river
that day.
came aft. as have said, after leav-
ing the cook. and finding that the skip
per had gone below with the pilot, !
went down the companion ladder to
the cuddy. followed by Duckling. 1t
was dusk in the cabin and the lamps
were lit, although it was still daylight
upon the sea. The skipper sat near
the mizzen mast stirring the sugar in a
cup of tea. The coarse little pilot was
eating bread and butter voraciously,
his great whiskers moving as he
worked his jaws.
Duckling and 1 seated ourselves at
the table. "There's breeze coming
up from the sou'west, sir,'' said he to
the captain, "but I don think there s
enough of it to swing the Ship
"Let it come favorable. and we'll
get under way at once answered
Coxon. "Mr. Royle, what's going
forward among the men? l heard
them cursing pretty freely when they
! were up aloft."
"Thcy are complaining of the ships
provisions, sir" replied. 1.-THE cook
gave me biscuit just now, and
promised to show it to you"
Saving which 1 pulled the biscuit
out OF my pocket and put it upon the
table. He contracted his bushy eve
brows. and, without looking at the bis
cult, stared angrily at me.
"Hark you, Mr.. Royle!" said he, in
voice l found detestable for the
sneering contempt it conveyed. ~
allow no officer that sails under me to
become a coniidant of my crew. Do
you understand"
flushed up rs answered that was
no coniidant of the crew; that the cook
had stopped me to explain the mems
grievance, and that had asked him
for biscuit to show the captain as a
sample of the ships bread which the
steward was serving out.
Its very good bread" said the OBJ
seGuious pilot, taking up the biscuit
while he wiped the butter cut of the
corners of his mouth.
"Eat it thcnr' l exclaimed.
At this CoNon flew into rage. "Eat
it yourself" he cried with violent
oath. "Yol're used to that kind of
fare. should think. and like it, or You
wouldn't be bringing it into the cuddy
in your pocket, would You, sir?'
Imadc him no answer saw that
Duckling sided with the captain and
thought it would be bad look out for
me to begin the voyage with a quarrel
"Ill trouble you to return that bis
cult to the blackguari who gave it to
You, and tell him 10 present Captain
COXop's respects to the men and tell
them if they object to the ships bread.
they're welcome to take their meals
with the pigs in the long boat
Imade what dispatch l might with
my tea, not much desiring to re-
main in company with CoxOn in his
present temper. 1 fancy he grew Il
little ashamed of himself presently, for
he softened his voice and now and
again glanced across at me.
As soon AS possible quilted the
table, giving COxon bow as l arose,
which he returned with 4 sort of half
ashamed stiffness. and repaired to my
cabin to get my pipe for a half hours
enjoyment on deck Having procured
and lit it stepped on the forecastlc to
see that the lamps were all right and
that there was a man on the lookout
The crew were in tae fOrecastie. talk
ing III subdued voices and the hot air
that came up through the scuttlc WAS
intolerable AS l passed it. l then re.
gained the poop, and seated myself
upon the rail leading from the MAIN
royal and top-gal!ant masts.
The sun had gone down now. and
only faint traces of daylight remained
in the westward.
The inmates Of the cuddy still kept
their seats and their voices came out
through the open sky-ligits. l heard
Captain Coxon say:
Il should like to know what sort of
a fellow they have given me for sec
Ond mate. He strikes RE as coming
the gentleman trifie, don't he, Duck
ling?"
To which the other replied: '.Hc
seems \ civil-spokcn Young man, and
up to his work. But guess there's too
much molasses mixed with his blood to
suit my book
The pilot laughed. and said: Here's
your health. sir. Men of your kind are
wanted nowadays, sir.
1t was plain from this speech that |
the pilot had exchanged his tea for |
stronger The captain here
began to speak, but couldn't catch
his words, though l strained my ears.
as | was anxious to gain all the in
sight could into his character, that I |
might know how to shape my beha-
vior.
say this for very weighty reason
Il was entirely dependent on the pro-
fession had adopted. l knew it was
in the power of any captain sailed
with TO injure me, and perhaps ruin
my prospects. Every thing in seafar-
ing life depends upon reports and tcs-
and in these days. when de-
mand for officers is utterly dispropor-
tionate to the immense supply. owners
are only too willing 10 listen to objec-
lions. and take any shippers word rs
in excuse to decline your services or get
rid of You.