The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-07
Mr.. MeeSol' S Viii.
Bv Il. RIDER HAGGARD.

~Tss," gasped Augusta; 1--WE are the
survivors Of the Kangaroo, which sunk
In n collision with whalcr about q week
ago"
"Ahr' said the captain, with whaler!
Then guess that's where my consort has
gone TO. She's been missing about o
week, and put in here to see II could
net upon her tracks-also TO fill up with
water. Wall. she was well insured, any
wav; and when last we spoke her, she had
made a very poor catch. But perhaps,
miss. YOU WILL at your convenience, favor
me with few PARTICULARS
Accordingly, Augusta sketched the his
tory of their terrible adventure in as few
words as possible; and the tale was one
that made even tho phlegmatic Yankee
captain stare. Then she took him, followed
by the crew, TO the hut where Meeson lay
dead, and to the other hut, where she and
Dick slept upon the previous night.
oval. miss" said the captain, whose
name was Thomas, II guess that you and
tho youngster will be about ready to va
cate these apartments; so, If you please,
will send you off to the ship, the iiar-
poor--that s her name-of Norfolk, IN the
United States. Yo~will find her well
favored with oil, for we are about full 10
the matches; but, perhaps, under the CIR
cumstances. you will not mind that. any
way, my missus, who is aboard-havlng
come the cruise for her health-and who
is an English woman, like you, will do oil
sbe can to make you comfortable. And /
tell YOU what it Is. miss, if was in any
way pious, should just thank the Al
mighty that happened TO see that there
bit Of flag with my spyglass rs sailed
along the coast at sun-up this morning,
for | had no intention of putting in at
this creek, but at one twenty miles along
And now, miss, if you'll go aboard, some
Of us will stop and just tuck up the dead
gentleman as well as we can.
Augusta thanked him from her heart,
and, going into the hut, got her hat, and
the roll Of sovereigns which had been Mr.
Nelson's, but which he had told her TO
take. leaving the blankets TO be brought
by the men.
Then two Of the sailors got into the lit
tie boat belonging to the Kangaroo, III
which Augusta had escaped, and rowed
her and Dick away from that hateful shore
TO where the whaler-a fore and aft
schooner-was lying at anchor. As they
drew near she saw the rest Of the crew OF
the Harpoon among whom was woman,
watching their advent from the deck, who,
when she got her foot upon the compan-
ion ladder, one and all set up hearty
cheer In another moment she was OH
deck-which Notwithstanding its abomin
able smell of oil, seemed to her the fairest
and most delightful place that her eyes
had ever rested on-and being almost
Rugged by Mrs. Thomas, a pleasant look
ing woman Of about 30, the daughter OF 6
Suffolk farmer who had emigrated to the
states. And then, Of course, she hal TO
tell her story all over again; after which
she was led off 10 the cabin occupied 10y
the captain and his wife (and which
thenceforth was occupied 10y Augusta,
Mrs. Thomas and little Dick, the cap
tain shaking down where he could. And
here, for the first time for nearly week,
she was able to wash and dress herself
properly. And oh, the luxury of il No
body knows what the delights Of clean
linen really mean till he or she has had to
dispense with it under. circumstances of
privation; nor have they tie slightest
idea of what difference to ones well being
and comfort is made by the possession or
non possession Of an article so common as
comb.
Having set Dick and Augusta down to
breakfast of porridgo and coffee, Which
both of them thought delicious, though
the fare was really rather coarse, Mrs.
Thomas, being unable to restrain her
curiosity, rowed off to the land to see the
huts and also Mr. Nelson's remains, which,
though not pleasant sight, were I'M
doubtedly an interesting one. with her,
too, went most of the crew, bent upon
the same GRAND, and also on obtaining
water, Of which the Harpoon was short.
AS soon as she was left alone, Augusta
went back to the cabin, taking Dick with
her, and lay down on the berth with
feeling of safety and thankfulness TO
which she had long been stranger,
where very soon she fell sound asleep.